Parking Charge Notice on private land

Angry_motorist

As much as I research I cannot find a specific answer to this particular issue......

So the driver parked on a private car park that is for users of a medical centre in Loughborough only. The car park can space around 120 cars and the medical practice reception is full with about 20 people. There is no pay and display for any non medical practice visitors to help contribute to the upkeep.....

The Driver parked in the car park to pick up a partner and 6 month old child after partner had walked into town and the baby had a melt down. It was a Saturday and the medical centre is not even open. There was about 15 cars parked and over 100 spaces left clear......Not a problem so the driver thought. The car was literally purchased only 30minutes earlier and came straight from the dealer to the car park in question. Returning to the car with the partner and child, there found PCN (glossy paper) on the windscreen time stamped at literally 4 minutes before my return......

Yesterday ( Saturday 18th may) the registered keeper received a letter through the post with details to pay £60 if paid within 14 days.......the letter is dated 30th April.......

The driver and registered keeper have tried to call the company to appeal to receive a message that the answer phone cannot hold any more messages. The Driver and Keeper have also tried the online appeal process as detailed in the "Notice to Keeper" letter.......The website has issues and won't allow me to submit my appeal.......

How can this be resolved, as clearly the "Comprehensive Management Service LTD" which in the bottom of their letter shows the IPC symbol seems to be somewhat of a cowboy outfit.....

Fruitcake

Unless the medical centre allows people who are not using their facilities to park there, you should have parked elsewhere. You may well be one of the reasons why these parking scammers exist.

You should edit your post to remove information about who parked. Only ever refer to The Driver and The Keeper, who are two different people.

Once you have done this, and not before, read the sticky thread for NEWBIES then send the appeal template in blue text from The Keeper. Try again in a few days, but don't miss the appeal deadline.
If it is impossible to appeal, send them an email from the keeper telling them there is a problem with their system. Copy it to the IPC as well.

Worst case, send the appeal first class from a Post Office counter and obtain a free proof of posting.

Never ever 'phone a parking scammer.

What was the date of the alleged event?

NeilCr

Fruitcake wrote: »

Unless the medical centre allows people who are not using their facilities to park there, you should have parked elsewhere. You may well be one of the reasons why these parking scammers exist.

Quite.

By any chance are you or your partner a patient at the practice? That might help

Umkomaas

This scenario is increasingly playing out across the country. Everyone is going to have to read the signage shown at any private car park and comply with the wishes of the landowner (albeit the tricky rules of the parking company) .... or else face the consequences.

Private parking companies earn their living almost exclusively from issuing tickets. They will concentrate their efforts at times when they can maximise their earnings - in your case, at weekends when the medical centre is closed and when (seemingly) no parking is permitted. Do you have your own photos of the signage? If not, get some.

Just out of interest @OP - why did you think you could park your car there? Why do you feel an 'Angry_motorist? Angry with whom?

Angry_motorist

Ok so a few points......

I am very new to the area and was unaware that I was unable to park where I did as there are no barriers, it was a Saturday and the practice was closed with another 15 or so cars also parked there. I would have put money into a pay to park machine as I was only going to be 15 minutes to pick up my screaming child which as far as I was concerned as a new parent took priority over reading a notice for 20minutes......

Angry motorist because despite all my efforts to appeal I cannot contact them, even the emails to their customer service email address on the letter are being rejected.
Also because in my 17 years of driving I have not picked up a single parking ticket or motoring offence.

I had read the newbies section and am still reading the many links. But thank you for your sarcastic responses.

We are all registered with the practice yes. But as it was closed I didn't think there was any issue with parking here.......ehy have spaces for over 100 cars and not allow anyone to park if the practice isn't even open??

NeilCr

You could try going into the practice to see if they'd consider cancelling the ticket (if they own the car park) as a patient who was waiting for partner as child had had a meltdown

Just because the car park was empty at that time doesn't mean that is always so. Perhaps it was empty because of parking control. Perhaps, occasionally, it opens on a Saturday or there are "events" there. It is still private land and up to the landowner what they do with it - or who they prevent going in there etc

Le_Kirk

Might be worth a punt at the practice to see if they will cancel it for you. It is not a very nice welcome to the area and to the practice, which you hope to use in the near future. Just because you popped in there to check out the arrangements in a calm manner before having to do it in a rush should the need arise one day! But maybe not as Angry_motorist but as concerned_local.




ETA. Must learn to type quicker - beaten by NeilCr - nice to see great minds think alike.

Umkomaas

But thank you for your sarcastic responses.

That's a good start in getting experts in this field to give voluntarily of their own time, especially at the weekend, to help you with your problem. Although we put in a huge effort here, this ticket is not our problem.

In letting the red mist descend, you failed to answer my question, which will be one of the most crucial in lining you up to deal with this parking charge.

The_Deep

Nine times out of ten these tickets are scams so complain to your MP.

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, persistent offenders denied access to the DVLA database and unable to operate.

Hopefully life will become impossible for the worst of these scammers, but 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.

Fruitcake

Look at it from the aspect of the landowner.
There are no barriers on my property, or a pay and display machine, but I would be very annoyed if a random motorist decided to park on my driveway to walk down the shops or meet their family members.

Now, you have come here for help but we need certain information from you to do this. You have been asked some pertinent questions about this event. Please answer them.

I also gave you advice about editing your initial post, and advised you to do this before you went to look at the NEWBIES, but you have ignored this very important advice and instead decided to have a pop at the people on here who give up their time to help others for free.
That is not the best way to go about getting the help you want.

Coupon-mad

1. They are a cowboy outfit.

2. Stop trying to ring them.

3. Ignore debt collector letters (see post #4 of the NEWBIES thread).

4. Take them seriously if they try a small claim (see post #2 of the NEWBIES thread).

5. Gen up on the facts about on-street parking and stop seeking out private car parks, at all. Did you not know that picking up passengers is what double yellows are for (and single yellows) as long as there were no kerb blips banning stopping? I have no idea why people seek out car parks when they are allowed to stop on street to collect a passenger.

Next time, use the street, that's what it's for, as long as drivers avoid bus lanes, zig zags, taxi ranks, suspended bays, red routes (London) and any yellow lines with kerb blips.