Park Direct UK - nowhere to appeal or pay?

KeithP

FrankCannon said:

BTW, which Travelodge was this ?

The OP said:

...the Travelodge (Acton, London)

BrownTrout

Park direct appeals are done through the post 
Park Direct Ltd PO BOX 4777, Iver, SL1 0BX
I use IMAIL Print driver for such letters, no having to buy a stamp!

Fruitcake

BrownTrout said:

Park direct appeals are done through the post 
Park Direct Ltd PO BOX 4777, Iver, SL1 0BX
I use IMAIL Print driver for such letters, no having to buy a stamp!

BrownTrout, I have never heard of that before. Does it give a proof of posting?

slippyhele, complain to the hotel manager and/or CEO by email. A 'phone call is not worth the paper on which it is writ.
You can also leave negative feedback on their website, TripAdvisor, Facebook etcetera to warn other motorists about the scam.
Mention the problems at other Travalodge locations such as the one linked to by FrankCannon.

Since the scammers are IPC members the advice is to wait for the NTK before you appeal. When it arrives, use the appeal template in blue from the first post of the NEWBIES, unaltered, from the keeper.

If you cannot appeal online or use the method mentioned by BrownTrout above, send the appeal by first class post from a Post Office counter and obtain the all important free proof of posting receipt.

BrownTrout

https://www.imailprint.co.uk/ is great we use it every day, we use it as a print driver for Word etc, and create an account (pay by card either in advance or as you go per letter.  Or you can do the letter on their website and pay for it with your card etc
Which ever way you go then yes you get proof of posting and it produces the following, which is as a good as the royal mail proof of postage and its actually cheaper overall. the consignment number is proof the letter was deposited from DHL into the royal mail network.  there is also a late cut of time of either 6pm or 7pm for standard 2nd class mail.

imail tracking details

imail Letter ID:000000000000000
Customer Ref:	Ref 10 Mar 20 10:47:37
Submitted:	10 Mar 2020 10:47:37
Printed:	10 Mar 2020 10:47:38
Consignment number:	000000000000000

D_P_Dance

... contradictory advice is over a variety of forums.

Why go to other fora, this is the best.  

Have you written bad stuff on TripAdvisor, Facebook, booking.com hotels.com, trivago, etc. they hate that.i

Nine times out of ten these tickets are scams, so consider complaining to your MP, it can cause the scammer extra costs and work, and has been known to get the charge cancelled.

Parliament is well aware of the MO of these private parking companies, many of whom are former clampers, 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.

happybagger

I suspect that this car park, though next to Travelodge according to OP, isn't Travelodge's own, as the place appears to be an industrial estate,  the travelodge website for this hotel says

"Limited chargeable parking is available next to the hotel with 24 hour access....according to the Park Direct signage"

I use lots of Travelodges and they usually have APCOA, with their website saying

"APCOA Parking Services operates the hotel car park on behalf of Travelodge." 

This would also explain why OP says "Travelodge BTW accept no responsibility and offer no exemptions for guests"

Difficult for them to intervene IF it isn't their car park.

FrankCannon

Looks like the estate is owned by a company called Segro.

happybagger

Indeed. And Travelodge is with the estate.
https://www.segro.com/~/media/Files/S/Segro/Centenary Brochures/32127_SEGRO_PR_Victoria_Industrial_Estate_4pp_Brochure_v11_100C.pdf