Time limit on disputing error in parking ticket from machine

serapis

Hi all,

This is a quick question that I hope someone can easily answer.

I'm having a bit of a spat with Indigo parking over the fee they have charged me for parking at one of their locations. The sign says £2.50 but the price their app charged was £3.70. They are being very difficult but they also highlighted something that I suspect is a breach of consumer rights. They claim that you can only dispute an incorrect charge up to 2 hours after the ticket is issued. Their exact comment being:

... please note that customers have a 2-hour window after being overcharged or unable to park to request a refund - this is on our website under our FAQ's on refunds.

Its obvious that terms and conditions do not trump the law, but is there a legal timeframe you are entitled to bring up such a claim? I can't see how this 2-hour window is legal.

In addition, if this does turn out to be illegal, who can I report Park Indigo to as I suspect they are using this condition to get out of making refunds to people they overcharge.

agrinnall

Please ask for this to be moved to the Parking sub board and read the sticky on there first.

serapis

agrinnall wrote: »

Please ask for this to be moved to the Parking sub board and read the sticky on there first.

Thanks and Done.

shaun_from_Africa

serapis wrote: »

The sign says £2.50 but the price their app charged was £3.70. .

When you paid using the app, did you have to state how long you wanted to park for?
Some Indigo parking locations are £2.50 for up to 4 hours and £3.70 for 4-24 hours so is it possible that this was the case and you chose the wrong option?

soolin

I have moved this to the sub board for more responses.

The_Deep

Have you contacted Trading Standards, all of these companies are scammers

waamo

Was this at a railway station car park?

serapis

Sorry everyone for the late responses.

This was at a Hospital and the parking signage states £2.50 weekends. There is no other mention of times. Monday - Friday does have the up to 4 hours and then up to 11 hours but this is not present for the charging on weekends.

Umkomaas

This was at a Hospital and the parking signage states £2.50 weekends.

Get photos - the sign is the purported legal contract between the driver and the PPC.

Complain to PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service) at the hospital - get them to intervene to get the ticket cancelled.

serapis

I do have photos and I am writing a formal complaint to the hospital in question as they are interested in my experiance. Whether or not something comes of this, I don't know but I'm more interested in this 2-hour window to complain for a mistake they make. I don't understand how that could ever be legal.

Umkomaas

I'm more interested in this 2-hour window to complain for a mistake they make.

If you want definitive Consumer Law advice, it's Trading Standards.

There may be better sub-forums here on MSE for Consumer Law discussion - I don't think we've come across this previously, and it has wider implications beyond just private parking.