Gemini - hospital parking

Blossom1963

Hello, I received a letter from Gladstones Solicitors commencing legal action requesting 120 pounds as I was parked without paying at my local hospital (which incidentally is my place of work). The incident date is the 3rd November and the letter dated 16 November. There was no parking ticket left on the vehicle. It says that I failed to settle the debt that is owing but this is the first communication I have received on this matter. Also I would like to point out that there is no signage in the area where I parked. Is there a standard reply I can use please. Thank you for your valued guidance.

Blossom1963

Ps the letter is entitled Letter before Claim

Coupon-mad

Complain to your Facilities Manager to get it cancelled.

And if you have moved house and/or the car is registered to an old address, update Gemini and Gladstones when you send the SAR and holding letter that the NEWBIES thread already tells everyone to send at LBC stage.

Blossom1963

Hi coupon and
I'm afraid the Trust absolve themselves of any responsibility regarding parking.
And I haven't moved house or changed address.
I'm afraid I don't understand what action you suggest I take. Please can you explain in greater detail.
With thanks

Coupon-mad

I'm afraid the Trust absolve themselves of any responsibility regarding parking.

They can't.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-patient-visitor-and-staff-car-parking-principles/nhs-patient-visitor-and-staff-car-parking-principles

Contracted-out car parking
NHS organisations are responsible for the actions of private contractors who run car parks on their behalf.

Blossom1963

I'm a member of staff not a visitor. I'd had to park close to place of work due to a badly sprained ankle. I'd put contact details in the windscreen of my car. Clearly it wasn't sufficient reasoning for not paying

Coupon-mad

I know you are staff, that's why I said complain to 'your Facilities Manager' not PALS.

Did you read the NHS Car parking principles, which cover the interests of staff too?

Blossom1963

I've spoken with facilities who were somewhat helpful but couldn't promise they could turn the decision around. They suggested I speak to Gladstones immediately in order to stop things progressing and because I hadn't received nothing on the windscreen nor any prior documentation. What do you think?

Coupon-mad

I think speaking to Gladstones is utterly and completely pointless and the Facilities Manager has no idea whatsoever of what they are doing & that staff and patients are being lined up to be sued.

You should send a SAR to the parking firm though, using the email on their privacy page. Were they writing to an old address, is your car registered to a wrong address?

And the letter from Gs is only another same-old DRP letter, if it asks for payment to DRP...

Blossom1963

As the Trusts Facilities dept are not willing to change their mind regarding the fine please can you tell me what is a SAR and a DRP in order to respond to Gladstones. I am aware that I now need to respond to Gladstones ASAP. The only hope I have of getting this turned around or reduced is by the fact there is no parking sign at the entrance to the area. Thank you.

The_Deep

It is the will of Parliament that these scammers be put out of business. Hopefully that will take place in the near future. The Bill has passed through the HOC without hitch, and goes to the Lords soon. In the meantime involve your MP, the poor dears are buckling under the weight of complaints about these scammers. Read this one which I wrote earlier

This is an entirely unregulated industry which is scamming the public with inflated claims for minor breaches of alleged contracts for alleged parking offences, aided and abetted by a handful of low-rent solicitors. Is has been suggested by an MP that some of these companies may have connections to organised crime.

Parking Eye, CPM, Smart, (especially Smart}, and others have already been named and shamed in the House of Commons as have Gladstones Solicitors, and BW Legal, (these two law firms take hundreds of these cases to court each week), hospital car parks and residential complex tickets have been especially mentioned. They lose most of them, and have been reported to the regulatory authority by an M.P. for unprofessional conduct

The problem has become so widespread that MPs have agreed to enact a Bill to regulate these scammers.

Sir Greg Knight's Private Members Bill to curb the excesses, and perhaps close down, some of these companies passed its Third Reading in late November, and is now and, with a fair wind, will become Law next year.

All three readings are available to watch on the internet, (some 6-7 hours), and published in Hansard. MPs have an extremely low opinion of the industry. Many are complaining that they are becoming overwhelmed by complaints from members of the public. Add to their burden, complain in the most robust terms about the scammers.