ParkingEye PCN for obstructive parking

preston2572

Hi
I work at Preston Hospital and have a permit to park on-site. The "free parking" announcement during Covid has been a mixed blessing because whilst I've had a refund of my parking fees, there is a huge demand for parking spaces as the normal permit system isn't in place. Effectively this means that most days I can no longer park on-site.
The hospital car parks have been extended and modified so many times that there are many 'spaces' where people park every day but would not count as 'designated spaces'. People can park there and not cause any obstruction. Usually this is tolerated, but occasionally these people get ticketed.
I managed to park in one of these 'spaces' on Wednesday and emerged from my 13h shift with a PCN for 'obstructive parking'. It is 'issued' by ParkingEye but I am unsure who is actually issuing the tickets at the moment. 
There's lots of advice on here about PCN for overstaying etc, but I'm wondering what the advice is regarding this sort of ticket.
The PCN is £70, or £42 if paid within 14 days. Whilst I do not like the idea of paying, if appealing is unlikely to be successful, it would obviously save me time, stress, and £28 to just pay them.
My appeal would presumably be based on (1) I do not believe I was causing an obstruction, and (2) whilst it is not a designated space where I parked, there was not double yellow lines or yellow hatching, which is used elsewhere in the car park to indicate areas people can't park.
Regarding (1) - the 'exit' of the car park is very wide, >2 car widths. There used to be a barrier (now ANPR) covering maybe half, and then bollards across the other half. I parked in front of these bollards, leaving more than enough space to exit the car park. When I left, another vehicle was parked comfortably next to me (this WOULD be obstructive as he was parked in the actual path of the exit) and therefore there is plenty of space to pass. 
Am I wasting my time trying to fight this? 

Fruitcake

Have you appealed yet using the template in blue text, adding a one liner that free parking for hospital staff key workers means free parking?

Have you complained to your manager/hospital trust manager/CEO and your union rep about this disgusting unregulated scam?

Have you complained to your MP and the Prime Minister yet about this. Boris said at the end of last year that he was going to get this problem resolved, and it is even more important now that our NHS heroes don't get distracted from risking their lives to save others.

I suggest you also contact local and national press, as well as asking about this problem of the daily Covid update team at the BBC. It would be really helpful if your question got asked on live TV.

Redx

Complain to the trust asap , get it cancelled at source , Plan A of the newbies FAQ sticky thread near the top of the forum

D_P_Dance

Parking Eye's signs leave much to be desired, read this

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

also read this

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-patient-visitor-and-staff-car-parking-principles/nhs-patient-visitor-and-staff-car-parking-principles

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, when life gets back to normal, it will become impossible for those scammers who are left to continue their vile trade, 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.

preston2572

PPC is ParkingEye

I've contacted the car park 'office' at the hospital who just referred me to ParkingEye appeals process. I have emailed the CEO and awaiting a reply. The reason I doubt this will be cancelled at source is I think it is hospital security staff who issue these windscreen tickets, rather than staff from ParkingEye. It is especially galling to realise you're being fined by colleagues!

The photos on the ParkingEye appeals 'evidence' page show that I'm just parked on tarmac without markings to say I can't park, and they show the second car easily fitting next to me showing I'm not causing an obstruction.

D_P_Dance

 It is especially galling to realise you're being fined by colleagues!

It is not a fine, it is an invoice from an ex clamper or other low life scammer.  It only needs to paid if a judge so orders it 

Umkomaas

I think it is hospital security staff who issue these windscreen tickets, rather than staff from ParkingEye.

Well you can find that out with a carefully worded Freedom of Information Request. You can also ask pertinent questions of PE via the Trust. Read this thread (later posts) and consider doing so. 

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUESTS - PPCs OPERATING ON BEHALF OF PUBLIC BODY

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/77121393#Comment_77121393

Fruitcake

You should also complain to the BPA that as an NHS key worker you should be exempt from these scamvoices, as should everyone else who works at the hospital.

Do complain to everyone I mentioned earlier. 

Do tell all your friends and colleagues at work not to pay these charges but to complain as well, and do have a go at the security staff who are perpetuating this disgusting scam. Get your union to make complaints as well. 

Coupon-mad

Stop stop stop!  A WINDSCREEN PCN from ParkingEye is as rare as hen's teeth and P/Eye simply do not have a 'Schedule 4 paragraph 8' POFA compliant NTK.  It's not in their repertoire that I have ever seen in a decade or more doing this.

So, the easy way to see this one off is NOT to imply who was driving, and to wait till day 26 as per the NEWBIES thread advice about windscreen PCNs from AOS members, then appeal online as keeper, using the appeal template.  Parking Eye will not manage to send any NTK, they can't ''do'' windscreen PCN scenarios and then you will win at POPLA.

preston2572

Thank you all for your help. 

I have emailed the CEO and will await their reply. 

If they are not helpful and I must appeal to ParkingEye, I wait until day 26 as this may prevent them from correctly issuing a notice to keeper?
I ask because ParkingEye and the BPA have clearly stated they will cancel any PCN given to NHS staff so I was assuming my appeal may be dealt with quickly on that basis. 

MistyZ

preston2572 said:

If they are not helpful and I must appeal to ParkingEye, I wait until day 26 as this may prevent them from correctly issuing a notice to keeper?
I ask because ParkingEye and the BPA have clearly stated they will cancel any PCN given to NHS staff so I was assuming my appeal may be dealt with quickly on that basis. 

I guess you're referring to this statement on P.E.'s website:

'Q: I’ve received a PCN but I’m an NHS worker?

We’ll cancel any PCN which has been issued to an NHS worker since Monday 23rd March, when the government made it’s lockdown announcement.

To request a cancellation, please submit an appeals form online. You’ll need to provide the PCN reference number which will be on the letter we sent you, along with evidence that you’re an NHS worker (a picture of your ID badge, official payslip, a good2go invoice if you use this service or your permit confirmation email). If you can also provide your paid parking receipt, that would be useful.'

I'm wondering whether P.E. will be looking for get-outs, wouldn't put it past them.