MET fine, complaining to Nuffield Health...advice needed please!

savesome4me

Hi all,

Complete newbie to posting but long time appreciative purveyor of all the insight on these forums! Had a good look at the Newbie post and also read up on the successes in complaining to retailers but having a little less luck with the driver's Gym, Nuffield Health!

The driver's home gym is one in central London but for Nuffield corp memberships they allow use of other gyms in the same tier. The driver's local gym has a car park managed by MET parking services which they parked in whilst working out. Reason for ticket was failure to clearly display a valid permit. The driver's been using the gym for a year and prior to that had a week's free trial there with induction and no permit was ever mentioned! Stung with the standard £100 (£60 within 14 days)!

In a complaint email to the CEO which was cobbled together from some great previous posts, raised the following points:
- No mentioning of a permit by any staff since the driver's been a member/during the induction
- Website claims free parking but doesn't specify need for a permit
- How the driver's finding MET intimidating, harassment, upsetting and demanding a lot of money
- How the driver's actually just had surgery and ironically going to the gym that time was the first step in the driver's recovery to get back into a normal lifestyle and dealing with this is causing huge stress and anxiety!!!!
- Asked them to revoke the charge as MET are Nuffield's agent (I presume!)

Despite all this, was shocked to receive the following email from one of the Duty managers at that gym, unfortunately not the CEO, and have questionable doubt on this individual's authority to cancel the fine despite the driver requesting:

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"Thank you for your recent feedback to our executive team. I am sorry that you feel the signage around the club and in [the private site-blanked] is inadequate. I have reviewed the signage in the premises and can confirm that there are several warning in place to remind members and visitors to obtain a pass. I have attached pictures that make reference for visitors to have a pass, when visiting the club.

Reminders are currently located at the following locations:
1) The security hut at the front gate which states that the site is for permit holders only.
2) The signs which are at both ends of our car parking bays which state there must be a permit displayed.
3) Thirdly the sign at reception which states about cars parking permits need to be displayed.

The following signs we feel cover the whole carpark and member journey to visit the gym, therefore the car parking ticket will still be valid. However, if you would like to formally appeal the ticket that has been given, there are instructions on how to do so on the ticket issued."

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Given the emphasis of Nuffield on Health and Wellbeing, it seems the driver's slipping further and further from achieving that goal! Read so many success stories of people succeeding at the complaint stage and would love to add to that list so not giving up hope just yet. Am shocked by how little empathy there is from a charity, especially when technically, they are not at a loss financially, the driver is a paying member with the right to use the car park and can prove the driver was in the gym at the time of the ticket being issued!

Any advice on how to reply would be appreciated!!! Thanks all :j

Quentin

Throughout here you are advised never to reveal who was driving


You need to edit your post to remove details of who was driving


The ppcs monitor here and can use posts in your thread against you


Read up on this in the newbies faq thread near the top of the forum for all advice on how to deal with this

savesome4me

Thanks Quentin, all good now?

Quentin

Write in the third party = as in "the keeper did this"/"the driver did that"


What stage is the appeal at?

savesome4me

Just complaint to landowner presently, still time to start the appeal.

Coupon-mad

OK and bear in mind it is only MET who (unless they break the habit of a lifetime and start filing court claims for the first time) can be ignored if the POPLA appeal fails.

All people need to do if they lose at POPLA is make sure the PPC has your correct address for six years, to be sure you see every begging letter and never miss a court claim.

savesome4me

Thanks, I was hoping to get some thoughts on any heavy hitting statements to use in response to that email which actually supported the PPC! Genuinely in a bit of shock given that I've read about so many instances of retailers fighting for their customers!

Umkomaas

I was hoping to get some thoughts on any heavy hitting statements to use in response to that email which actually supported the PPC!

'As you appear to have scant regard for your paying customer's predicament, when it is in your gift to be able to cancel this parking charge, please take note that my membership is hereby cancelled.'

Heavy hitting enough?