CP Plus - PCN Scotland

stealthhaggis

No help needed just a thank you!

I had parked (or had I?) in the Moto services in Stirling as I was having a couple of meetings. Its a good location etc etc. Anyway, being totally unaware of the time I left after a couple of hours, didn't even register the 2 hour free parking signs etc.Anyway cut to 2 weeks later and I received a PCN from CP Plus. At first I was thinking great, just cost myself £60 for being 22 mins over the free 2 hour allowance. Then I got annoyed because I didn't recall noticing the signs and went into Google to see if there were any other cases etc and came across this forum. At first I was sceptical as in the NEWBIE thread it says don't Appeal if in Scotland. In fact it says ignore! It does say complain though to the retailer (in this case Moto) so I did, I went via the feedback section and made my case. Too politely as it turns out as I got this back...

Dear Mr Haggis,

Thank you for contacting us about the parking penalty you recently incurred at our Stirling Service Area. The notice would have been sent to you as the registered keeper of the vehicle.

If I may explain the parking policy in place at Stirling and indeed all of our service areas which is accompanied by clear signage, which we have endeavoured to make as visible as possible. I can confirm that there are 40 signs erected across key areas of this particular site i.e. the entrance to the car park, within the car park itself and the entrance to amenity building.

The purpose of service areas is to provide immediate rest and relaxation and is not for long term parking, with the exception of breaks for lorry drivers, so parking in all service areas is provided free for the first two hours. If we did not control our car parks in this way they would quickly become full, and there would be no spaces left for other motorway travellers in need of a rest stop.

Unfortunately, the parking areas at Motorway Service Areas across the UK, are increasingly not always used in the way for which they were intended. We have a number of different initiatives across our network that are assisting to control this matter, however, I must make it clear that it is not our intention to target customers stopping to use the services and as such the 2 hour free parking policy would normally be more than adequate to cover even a longer than average visit.

Parking charges at service areas have been in place for many years, in fact since the 1960’s, and the vast majority of customers at our site observe the clear notices and pay the appropriate charges or park for free under 2 hours.

The parking control system installed at Stirling Services means increased security for our customers, but it also records the registration number of vehicles that overstay the two hour free parking limit without paying the relevant parking fees. We also allow an additional grace period on top of the free two hours parking, to allow customers time to park and leave the area within the allocated time scale. With this in mind, we feel that the parking charge is justified however, we do have an appeals process in place and therefore if you feel you have cause to appeal please e-mail: appeal@appealpcn.co.uk as instructed on the notice received.
May I thank you for taking the time to contact us, and I hope that we may continue to welcome you to our facilities again in future.

Yours sincerely

Customer Services Moto

Somewhat miffed went back and checked back through the threads and upon further reading I saw that a previous poster had said to make a formal complaint. That was my mistake as I had just complained so, did that (went for it mentioning grace periods, small writing etc) and got this....

Dear Mr Haggis,

Thank you for your e-mail.

I can confirm that as a one off gesture of goodwill parking notice number 2000009847*** has been cancelled in full.

Kind regards

CSM


Now that ladies and gentlemen is thanks to you in this forum, so thanks very much. :beer:

DoaM

So "the driver of the vehicle" visited those services?

Well done.

Redx

the fact is that 2 hours is a joke and even if there should be a limit then it should be greater than 2 hours, especially at night when people may be tired and need to sleep (like that barrister did who took Parking Eye to the cleaners)


I could understand it if it was say 4 hours during the day (like one of our local retail parks) and say 8 hours overnight (say 2000 to 0800) but I cannot believe that the government allowed this sc@m to happen, so hopefully they will address it in the new parking CoP

stealthhaggis

DoaM wrote: »

So "the driver of the vehicle" visited those services?

Well done.

Yes, I enjoyed being ambiguous!

stealthhaggis

Redx wrote: »

the fact is that 2 hours is a joke and even if there should be a limit then it should be greater than 2 hours, especially at night when people may be tired and need to sleep (like that barrister did who took Parking Eye to the cleaners)


I could understand it if it was say 4 hours during the day (like one of our local retail parks) and say 8 hours overnight (say 2000 to 0800) but I cannot believe that the government allowed this sc@m to happen, so hopefully they will address it in the new parking CoP

It's madness, it is actually cheaper to be fined for parking in the cities than in that car park as well!

The_Deep

Read this

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4835050/Parking-firm-took-lawyer-85-fine-lost.html

and complain to your MP.

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 become so widespread that MPs agreed to enact a Bill to regulate these scammers. It has cleared Parliament and hopefully, this will become law shortly.

Coupon-mad

Unfortunately, the parking areas at Motorway Service Areas across the UK, are increasingly not always used in the way for which they were intended.

That is just untrue, utter sh1te being spouted! ''increasingly'' eh?

What the heck are they talking about, and if it is true, it shows that enforcement and parking charges are not stopping the imaginary 'problem', seeing as:

Parking charges at service areas have been in place for many years, in fact since the 1960’s,

stealthhaggis

Indeed, standard waffle response.

I also got a letter in the post today from CP Plus confirming cancellation and apologising for any inconvenience caused!

Really daft, surely some common sense has to be involved at some point but I guess people just pay regardless so they make plenty from it.