Car Park Operators - do I bring them in?

waamo

Deastons wrote: »

This is actually illegal - even on private land, you can't block someone's access to a public highway.

Close but no cigar. The Protection of Freedoms Act makes it illegal to charge for releasing a vehicle, either by a clamp or some mechanism blocking them. There are some other caveats too but that's the essence of it.

As long as you don't charge it's simply a motoring incident.

cubegame

Install droppable posts and a sign saying "Customers only parking for up to 30 minutes, Posts may be raised at random after 30 minute and whilst release will be free of charge the key holder is only available between 1845 and 1850 on alternate days and four working days notice is required for release." Then list a premium number for them to call for release.

parking_question_chap

Could you not put up a sign and get a clamp yourself?

I appreciate this isnt legal, and you will have to release them without charge, but eventually people will get the idea and not want the hassle.

Highly doubt the police would be interested in charging you if you release the cars upon request, after a delay of course.

Nodding_Donkey

However much reassurance they give they WILL ticket your customers. Like someone else said, using these parasites cost the Co-op a lot of money.

Ergates

When non customers park on your land, just kill them and eat their flesh.

Not only will that discourage future offenders, but your food bills will reduce too.

DUTR

G1DGO wrote: »

I would appreciate some feedback please. I am a small business owner and have 8 allotted car park spaces close to a busy high street. I'm round the corner to a train station and there is a local hall / venue which holds day time events.

Invariably some of my spaces are taken by non customers which is fine if they are only there for a short period and I still have empty spaces for customers. However, recently and more frequently all 8 spaces are taken up even when there is nobody inside my shop. Other times cars park in my spaces all day and there is nothing I can do. I've even had cars parked for a week at a time!

I have had so many comments from my loyal customers who tell me that they would come in more frequently but they can never find a space to park in.

I've been approached by a car park operator (I'm not going to mention their name but they are one of the larger ones). They have offered to put up cameras whereby anybody who parks and then walks off without coming into my shop will receive a ticket as they will have video evidence to show this. They assure me that real customers will not receive a ticket. No receipts will be required as their cameras will track them coming into my shop.

Assuming their cameras work properly I am leaning towards taking them up on their offer as us retailers are struggling enough with online competition.

I know car park operators are unpopular but my business needs help. Should I allow them to put up their cameras and film people using my car park spaces? What other options do I have?

Has it crossed your mind that the cars may belong to the operators? Sounds a bit like a protection extortion scheme.
There was an electrical independent store that had a problem with parking, they introduced some clampers before it was fashionable, customers would frequently phone the local consumer radio program saying they got a ticket even though they used the store, probably other factors too, but the shop is closed now.

Roland_Sausage

vikingaero wrote: »

I can't see a parking cowboy viewing CCTV for hours on end and matching your customers to cars. ANPR isn't reliable and now you want to rely on ANPR & facial recognition.

They tried it at a retail park in Perth. They were actually ticketing people walking to a different part of the same retail park. The policy was eventually scrapped after a lot of bad publicity.

https://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/fp/motorists-hit-100-fines-tayside-car-park-due-bizarre-terms/

twhitehousescat

do not let an operator on your site , you will loose custom

now , clamping IS illigal for private companies , but it is not illigal for someone to place A CLAMP ON THERE OWN CAR , have some decent signs made up , no name on them , clearly stat which shop owns the land , buy an old banger and clamp it !!! , this will deter non customers , regular customers , you can laugh and joke in shop , strangers will not know if clamp is genuine or fake , alternate is to clamp staff members cars at random days

[Deleted User]

Ergates wrote: »

When non customers park on your land, just kill them and eat their flesh.

Not only will that discourage future offenders, but your food bills will reduce too.

How does that help?


Their car is still parked in one of the eight spaces:p

knightstyle

Can you block the exit from time to time and then mislay the key!
Make them wait while you "look" for it!