ParkingEye at Premier Inn Enfield

Flicker20

Hi all - advice please!

The registered keeper received an invoice for £100 (reduced to £60 if within 14 days) for staying in a Premier Inn car park for 41 mins.

The driver's dad and his family were staying at the hotel overnight, he came to pick him up to take him somewhere - but, as one of his kids was feeling a bit unwell, he was there longer than he thought.

It was initially menat to be a pick up but it took longer than he thought. The driver didn't pay anything as he didn't see a tariff sign for people who WEREN'T staying. His dad, however, was a patron of the hotel for the night.

What would you recommend I do?

Thanks all

Fruitcake

Edit your post to remove information about who did what. Only ever refer to The Driver and The Keeper, who are two different people.
Do this before you do anything else. Parking scammers read this forum.

What happened when you complained to the hotel?

If the hotel won't help, then please read the sticky thread for NEWBIES before sending the blue appeal template from The Keeper that you will find there.

If/when it is rejected, read up on how to make a second stage appeal at PoPLA.

Flicker20

Okay, edited

I haven't complained to the hotel yet - but my thoughts are if the driver didn't pay anything then surely he deosnt have a leg to stand on? He's happy to pay for the 41 minutes, but £100/£60 is excessive.

What exactly would I be complaining to the hotel about? I don't live near enough to check out the signs and see what the tariff is for non-patrons

Thanks

Redx

it isnt excessive according to the Supreme Court 2 years ago in the BARRY BEAVIS case, so that argument is dead in the water

the patron can still complain to the hotel and try for a cancellation

the KEEPER should foolow the advice in the NEWBIES FAQ sticky thread, appealing as KEEPER

the driver is not involved unless the keeper names them (which doesnt happen in most cases)

if this were to be cancelled on appeal (or in court), it would be on a technicality, so look for one , like poor and inadequate signage , check if the NTK failed POFA2012 etc

Fruitcake

Flicker20 wrote: »

Okay, edited

I haven't complained to the hotel yet - but my thoughts are if the driver didn't pay anything then surely he deosnt have a leg to stand on? He's happy to pay for the 41 minutes, but £100/£60 is excessive.

What exactly would I be complaining to the hotel about? I don't live near enough to check out the signs and see what the tariff is for non-patrons

Thanks

If The Driver didn't see any signs because they were inadequate, had charges in small font, were damaged, insufficient in number, damaged, hidden behind bushes or high up on poles facing away from the vehicles parked, is it really the driver's fault?

If it is not possible to get back to the site, do an internet search to see if there are images already available.

As Redx says, check the NTK to see if it is a "golden Ticket" as shown in the NEWBIES (in other words, it doesn't have the POFA wording.)

In any case, the hotel are responsible for allowing a PPC onto their site to scam genuine customers. Mentioning that a child was taken ill and delayed the driver from leaving might persuade the hotel manger to cancel.
You won't know unless you ask.

MistyZ

Key thing is that this was not opportunistic parking on the part of someone who had no business at Premier Inn. Nor was it a case of a guest purposefully trying their luck by parking for quite some time without paying to park. It was just a simple, relatively brief oversight that was very likely due to poor signage.

If hotels allow the parking scammers to deter well-meaning guests or those who are picking them up then their reputation will be damaged accordingly. They all like to come across as 'welcoming' places. They really should cancel the charge, I think there's a good chance that they will.

The_Deep

it isnt excessive according to the Supreme Court 2 years ago in the BARRY BEAVIS case, so that argument is dead in the water

But Beavis was a free car park for 2 hours. Mr Beavis overstayed by 50 minutes. PE paid £1,000 week to London Land to "farm" the car park, it was their only source of income. OP was picking up a guest. I am not sure that Beavis is pertinent.

Flicker20

Thanks for the advice all

I phoned the hotel and spoke to the manager - she said there is nothing she can do and advised me to contact them. She said they are only responsible for booking the cars registrations in, nothing more - everything else is dealt with by ParkingEye. She suggested I say to them about the sick child, or even that the driver was in the restaurant as the restaurant has 3 hours free parking (have to book the car in on a tablet upon entry, however)

I am reluctant to contact them...

What is the best option here please?

Also, apologies for not following the Newbies thread - I really don't understand a lot of what it says!

Fruitcake

Did you contact the hotel manager? What about the hotel CEO?

Some places will have the ability to cancel a PCN by someone higher up the food chain. You just need to get to that person.
Have you left negative feedback on the hotel website/social media about genuine customers being scammed?

In any case, as already advised the keeper needs to send the appeal template in blue from the NEWBIES thread without missing the appeal deadline.

Flicker20

Fruitcake wrote: »

Did you contact the hotel manager? What about the hotel CEO?

Some places will have the ability to cancel a PCN by someone higher up the food chain. You just need to get to that person.
Have you left negative feedback on the hotel website/social media about genuine customers being scammed?

I contacted the Hotel themselves and spoke to the manager.

I will now make some feedback on Social Media

MistyZ

Flicker20 wrote: »

I phoned the hotel and spoke to the manager - she said there is nothing she can do and advised me to contact them. She said they are only responsible for booking the cars registrations in, nothing more - everything else is dealt with by ParkingEye. She suggested I say to them about the sick child, or even that the driver was in the restaurant as the restaurant has 3 hours free parking (have to book the car in on a tablet upon entry, however)

Terrible advice from someone who knows nothing about parking charges or is trying to fob you off or both. Parking Eye don't care about any of this and it would be playing straight into their hands.

As others here have advised, take your complaint higher up the food chain to the company's management i.e. Premier Inn's CEO or their team.