Park with ease saying I didn't pay when their machinery is faulty

Slimwicked

Used a car park in Devon on the 26th of August, when we went to pay we realised that the machine wasn't taking card transactions(had this have been clear when we approached we would have parked elsewhere as we didn't have change) I had to walk up the hill to get change. Upon leaving the car park I got out of the car, the machine asked me to type in my reg and as I did it showed only one reg almost identical to mine but missing a letter. I tried again, and again the only option was the one almost identical, assuming it was a fault with the ANPR camera I proceeded, paid and went on my way. Yesterday we received a 'notice to owner' stating we had not paid.

We emailed them to explain the issue with their equipment and her is their response...

Upon entering the site you entered into a contract to pay for the parking that was due at the time or up to 48 hours following your departure (online) or pay a parking charge notice (reduced if paid within 14 days).

Having checked all the payments made during you visit I am unable to see a payment for your registration or anything I might assume is an incorrect entry of your registration, therefore the parking charge has been issued correctly.

You can pay your parking charge notice or by sending a cheque or postal order to Park With Ease, Unit F, The Court, Kestrel Road, Trafford Park, Manchester, M17 1SF.

The Independent Appeals Service provides an Alternative Dispute Resolution scheme for disputes of this type. As you have complied with our internal appeals procedure you may use, and we will engage with, the IAS Standard Appeals Service providing you lodge an appeal to them within 21 days of this rejection.

If you believe this decision is incorrect, you are entitled to appeal to the Independent Appeals Service (IAS). In order to appeal the IAS will need your parking charge number, your vehicle registration and the date the charge was originally issued.

Please note, the 14 day reduced period is not held whilst an appeal is in place.

My wife thinks we should just pay


Can anyone help??

Thanks:money:

Redx

do you have proof of payment ?

if so, was the full payment made ?

and if you do have proof, does it mention the VRM attributed to this paid for ticket ?

dont bother with the IAS unless you have a cast iron case , with proof

if you do not pay this pcn, PWE have 6 years to try an MCOL

Slimwicked

What's is an MCOL??

Slimwicked

We didn't get a receipt!!

What's and mcol?

KeithP

Slimwicked wrote: »

What's is an MCOL??

Post that question into google.

Redx

please also read the NEWBIES FAQ sticky thread , post #5 especially (acronyms)


but google is the easiest way to find info out (or alexa , siri , cortana etc)

Coupon-mad

Slimwicked wrote: »

What's is an MCOL*??

Is the NEWBIES PLEASE READ THESE FAQS FIRST thread at the top of the forum invisible again tonight? It has all the usual acronyms, plus it tells you already about IAS, and why to sit tight and not use it.

None of these questions are new, and your case is the same as any IPC firm PCN, BUT:

Send the parking firm's Data Protection Officer (DPO) a SAR* along these lines:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/74796514#Comment_74796514

Then - assuming the results of the SAR when they come back from the scammer firm, do reveal the close-match VRN you saw, send the DPO a 'rectification notice' as explained in umpteen recent GDPR threads, demanding that they restrict data processing while they 'rectify the error' in their data system, which they 'KNOW to be inaccurate'.

A trader's DPO must reply to a SAR, and it's free.

A trader's DPO must restrict data processing, if the data subject asks them to, while they investigate a 'rectification notice' telling them to rectify inaccurate data they hold about the data subject (i.e. once you have the SAR results, you will be telling them to 'rectify' the wrong VRN their faulty system displayed and has retained).

If they fail to play the game, report them to the ICO*. Easy to fill in a complaint online.



*see the acronyms in the NEWBIES thread, saves our poor typing fingers.

Slimwicked

After you mentioning the ICO and DPO I contacted the ICO.amd confirm that my request was valid.. we sent an email to Park with Ease requesting the non matched transactions and VRNs from the day and also the CCTV footage of us leaving the car park with stopping to pay... they continued to send letters pushing for.payment and never replied to us. We appealed with the IAS and they have now combined the PCN has been withdrawn!

Thank you so.much, the wife was just gonna pay it our of fear, but we stood up to them and got justice! Thank you!:money:

System

We appealed with the IAS and they have now combined the PCN has been withdrawn!

That's a very rare win or perhaps it was a withdrawal. Can't have people publicising that the machinery is faulty.

The_Slithy_Tove

PWE's technology isn't very reliable, IMO. I don't use their car parks often (about once a year in the Lake District), but have had maybe 50% complete "success" rate, i.e. the system recognises the VRM and displays the correct amount to pay.

On one occasion, it wouldn't find the registration number of our car when we came to leave. I just left. Later that day I checked on-line, and miraculously the VRN was there, so I paid online.

On another occasion the same happened. This time it never appeared online either, so I never paid, and never heard anything. This may be down to the fact it was tipping down with rain with loads of spray, so may not have picked up my entrance/exit properly at all.

System

On one occasion, it wouldn't find the registration number of our car when we came to leave. I just left. Later that day I checked on-line, and miraculously the VRN was there, so I paid online.

Interesting. PWE usually have a note on their signs that say you can pay up to 48 hours later (also some PE sites too) . Wonder if they are sorting the ANPR errors later using humans to fix it.