ParkingEye Charge Notice

Jointhediscussion

I received a parking ticket for staying in a free public hospital car park - clearly signposted "Visitors and Patients Only" for 1 hour and 15 mins. (Free for 4 & 8 hours?.... read on)

I received the parking notice titled "University Hospital of Wales - Staff 15b"

I have re-visited the car park and took pictures of the signs clearly stating "Public Car Park 15b Patients & Visitors Only" and NOT staff.

The parking charge is for £70 (£35 is paid early).

I sent the pictures and the hospital appointment letter to parking eye appeals; proving I was a visitor with a patient and parked in the appropriate area which clearly states parking is allowed free up to 4 hours.

Parking eye have replied stating my appeal was unsuccessful and I have reached the end of their internal appeals procedure because I have not provided sufficient evidence to prove i was authorised to use the car park/area. They state that the terms and conditions detailed on the signage says the car park is for authorised vehicles / permit holders only.

On second review of the signage's.
1. There are two signs on the way into the car park. a) "4 Hour Max Stay, for use by patients & visitors only" and b) "Patients and Visitors Only, see signage in car park for details.
2. The signage inside states "Public Car Park 15b, Patients and Visitors Only" and below this (in small writing) "All patients & visitors who have parked in car park 15b must register for every visit on arrival at Glamorgan House or Monmouth House to qualify for 8 hours Parking"... yes, a different sign states 8 hours and not 4...

My concerns are:
1. I don't think the hospital will want to penalise genuine patients and visitors for parking in the correct car parks.
2. The signage states "4 hour max stay for use by patients and visitors" in nice big writing. And then contradicts this by stating people should register on arrival for free parking "up to 8 Hours". - i didn't need 8 hours, or 4 for that matter. I only stayed 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Car park photo evidence by AMPR.

Parking eye have also stated in their appeal refusal letter that they have extended the the discounted period as a gesture of goodwill for a further 14 days - but they have only reduced this to £40 when in fact 50% discount on £70 is £35 and not £40.

Do I have a case?

Quentin

Everyone is asked to read up on this in the newbies faq thread near the top of the forum before starting a new thread

Go there now for advice on how to deal with this.

#3 there covers the second stage appeal to popla

As you will see in #1 there a complaint to the hospital pals should be made if not done already.

Coupon-mad

My concerns are:
1. I don't think the hospital will want to penalise genuine patients and visitors for parking in the correct car parks.

Why not?

They didn't care when their previous parking scumbag firm, Indigo, sued nurses!

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/more-70-doctors-nurses-taken-13338896

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/nhs-nurse-hospital-parking-tickets-university-hospital-of-wales-cardiff-indigo-park-services-150000-a7845126.html

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showtopic=116348

Parking eye have also stated in their appeal refusal letter that they have extended the the discounted period as a gesture of goodwill for a further 14 days - but they have only reduced this to £40 when in fact 50% discount on £70 is £35 and not £40.

The BPA CoP says they only need to give a 40% 'discount' (BRIBE TO STOP APPEALS).

Sounds like your photos will be useful in your POPLA appeal.

wriggly

From the map at http://www.cardiffandvaleuhb.wales.nhs.uk/uhw-patient-visitor-parking-map it appears that 15b contains a Visitor section within a larger staff car park. If the signs do not indicate this clearly, you would have a very good case if this went to court. I'm also not sure how they detect this using ANPR, since I'd expect the cameras to be at the entrance to the entire car park.


The next step is POPLA. You should make the point that the signage (and map) are misleading, which is against the BPA Code of Practice:

9.5 You must not use predatory or misleading tactics to lure drivers into incurring parking charges. Such instances will be viewed as a serious and sanctionable instance of non-compliance and may go to the Professional Conduct Panel.

It's pointless contacting PALS. The hospital states that they are "unable to intervene" http://www.cardiffandvaleuhb.wales.nhs.uk/parking-appeals a statement which, if true, indicates that they are careless contract negotiators, and, if false, builds up a huge future liability for the health board.


Apart from POPLA, you should contact your AM, as the Welsh Government claims to have provided free parking at hospitals in Wales.

The_Deep

IMO, PE signs leave much to be desired. I doubt that many judges would agree that they are capable of forming a contract, read this

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5972164/parking-eye-signs-oxford-road-reading

and enlist the support of your MP as they are obviously trying to scam you.

Parliament is well aware of the MO of these private parking companies, and on 15th March 2019 a Bill was enacted to curb the excesses of these shysters. Codes of Practice are being drawn up, an independent appeals service will be set up, and access to the DVLA's date base more rigorously policed, and persistent offenders denied access. Hopefully life will become impossible for the worst of these scammers.

Until this is done you should still complain to your MP, citing the new legislation.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2019/8/contents/enacted

Just as the clampers were finally closed down, so hopefully will many of these Private Parking Companies.

Coupon-mad

It's pointless contacting PALS

That's never pointless and we see loads of Hospital parking charges cancelled by complaining to PALS in the first instance.

GlynDwr

Pals (Concerns) at UHW usually fob you off saying we don't deal with parking! They forwaqrded my complanti to their parking office :-.Parking.officePermits@wales.nhs.uk
You could try that. I also recommend contacting your Welsh Assembly Member and MP, which in my case helped get mine cancelled. Take care not to identify who was driving.