LPS Parking Charge Notice at Warwick Hospital

splinternet

The Deep and Half-way, thanks for your responses. This is what I sent (as RK of the car) to PALS, suitably redacted for the forum:

Dear Sirs,

Parking Charge Notice – Car Park B (Ref. xxxxxxxxx / Reg. xxxxxxxxxxxx)

Today, the driver of the above car had an appointment with the Dermatology department at XX:XX. He/she arrived to join the queue for the main car park 25 minutes before the appointment, knowing from their previous experience how long it can take to park. On seeing the length of the queue, they decided that if they waited, they would very likely be late for the appointment. They therefore opted for Car Park B; the barrier came up and a ticket was issued, which they assumed meant there would be at least one vacant place, but they couldn’t see one, and in fact there were already cars parked outside of marked bays.

Time was getting on, and rightly or wrongly they took the decision to park on the hatched yellow area next to the gritting bin, assuming no-one would need to access this in the next hour or so as snow and ice looked unlikely. No obstruction to man or car was being caused.

I would emphasise that in their view, this was a last resort so that they would not have to miss their appointment – the NHS goes to great lengths to inform people it costs £128 per missed appointment.

Upon returning to the car after an hour (the appointment plus a 30-minute wait at the hospital pharmacy) they saw the PCN on the windscreen issued by a private company (LPS) who want £85, or £50 if paid within 14 days.

Both the driver and I are extremely frustrated at this. I don’t know if any of this payment goes to Warwick Hospital, but it seems this is just profiteering by a private company who are preying on unfortunate individuals. The amount they are charging is out of all proportion; the car was not causing any obstruction and there was no danger to other road users compared to, say, if it had been parked in the adjacent road on double yellow lines.

I feel this is not in keeping with what a hospital like Warwick should be about. I would draw your attention to the NHS Parking Principles at this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-patient-visitor-and-staff-car-parking-principles/nhs-patient-visitor-and-staff-car-parking-principles and would draw your attention in particular to section 5 (my highlighting);
‘Reasonable’ implementation of additional charges practice might include additional charges for people who do not have legitimate reasons for parking (eg commuters), or who persistently flout parking regulations (eg blocking entrances). A period of grace should normally be applied before a parking charge notice is issued

I would point out that the driver is not a persistent flouter (he/she uses the hospital infrequently and has been able to park correctly before, in the main Car Park). Also, I would contend that a period of grace was not forthcoming; he/she parked at about XX:XX but the PCN was issued only 15 minutes later.

In my view, LPS is acting in a predatory fashion on this occasion and I would like to ask that you instruct them to quash this PCN.

Yours faithfully,
(signed by me as the RK)

splinternet

Glad to say this is resolved after my writing to the Trust CEO and the Manager in charge of grounds, buildings etc... Another factor which helped was that PALS had asked LPS for photos, but when attempting to forward these to me they got my email address incorrect - not once but twice, the numpty - so this wasted 10 days.

Coupon-mad

Very well done - your quotes from the NHS Car Parking Principles were spot on!

:T

dlw28

Could I ask the exact job title of the "Manager in charge of grounds, buildings etc". I have a PCN problem with Warwick Hospital and would like to write to this person. I have found contact details for the CEO, but need to know the exact job title to be able to find contact details. Many thanks.

Umkomaas

dlw28 said:

Could I ask the exact job title of the "Manager in charge of grounds, buildings etc". I have a PCN problem with Warwick Hospital and would like to write to this person. I have found contact details for the CEO, but need to know the exact job title to be able to find contact details. Many thanks.

The forum doesn't hold that information. The original poster (OP) hasn't visited the forum in 8 months, so you're not likely to get a reply here. Try to send the OP a personal message by clicking on their username and progressing from there.