Received a parking fine for parking at my own gym's carpark

MistyZ

guts said:

Bad news, the manager has left the gym so will be a while for a new manager to take over.

Not surprised really!  CEO seems to be Mr A Watkins.  Email: 

awatkins@goldsgym.com In the U.S. by the looks of it but that doesn't matter.

Snakes_Belly

It sounds as if there is the Gym - landowner - PPC. It sounds as if the Gym may have to pay an admin charge to get the tickets cancelled and they don't want to pay out.  

As a matter of interest what was the situation with gym fees during lock down? Were you still contracted?




 

Snakes_Belly

https://www.forbes.com/sites/markhall/2020/08/30/golds-gym/#3e79944253ab
Looks as if they have been bought out. 

 I would be tempted to write to the new CEO if you can obtain an email.

It sounds like a very upmarket gym so they ought to sort this out.
  

guts

Snakes_Belly said:

It sounds as if there is the Gym - landowner - PPC. It sounds as if the Gym may have to pay an admin charge to get the tickets cancelled and they don't want to pay out.  

As a matter of interest what was the situation with gym fees during lock down? Were you still contracted?




 

Oh wow an admin fee, shouldn't cost that much! During lockdown, we still had the contract but our memberships were frozen and payments weren't taken until they re opened.

Snakes_Belly

Sometimes it's written into the contract that the client has to pay an admin fee to have a PCN cancelled. I have seen amounts like £20.00 mentioned.  However if the equipment was faulty then the PCN should be cancelled.

Looks like though that their is a change of ownership of the Gym. 

guts

Snakes_Belly said:

Sometimes it's written into the contract that the client has to pay an admin fee to have a PCN cancelled. I have seen amounts like £20.00 mentioned.  However if the equipment was faulty then the PCN should be cancelled.

Looks like though that their is a change of ownership of the Gym. 

Oh just £20?! they can easily get that back within a month from my payment. 
Ahh, ill need the email from the new CEO - could take a while.

guts

Coupon-mad said:

guts said:

Coupon-mad said:

 What if I provide a witness statement explained that the computers weren't working?

INSIST on a signed statement to that effect, from the Gym Manager. 

It's the least they can do and would change your POPLA prospects.

MistyZ said:

guts said:

 I've sent an email vociferously to the manager and the admin of the gym but yet they won't respond to my email - I think they're just ignoring it. 

My concern would be that a strong request for a signed statement re. the fact that the computers were not working might also be difficult to obtain from this outfit.  But do try, maybe you will get more cooperation on that via email.  

I'd be inclined to go to the gym with a flask of coffee and a good book, demand to see the manager and sit there until they show up and respond to your entirely reasonable request for a cancellation.  (And to start compiling a POPLA appeal too - you could do that while waiting).

Bad news, the manager has left the gym so will be a while for a new manager to take over.

Get a friendly reception person who remembers the system was down, to confirm that in writing, signed & dated, with the date it wasn't working.  They MUST know, because they must have had every single gym member who attended that day saying the same thing, except those who don't drive.

Yes, the one who was at the reception at the time was one of the coaches but I haven't seen him in a while now, so not sure when i'd be able to catch him. The gym says he only works part-time now.

guts

NeilCr said:

You really need to know, for certain, who owns the car park. It is not usual for a gym to do so - unless they are an out of town set up. Looks like this chain are London based. CEL won't own the car park either

So - is the gym stand alone or is it, for example, part of a shopping complex with a shared car park. Or is it like mine where we can use a local council car park. Or something else.

Perhaps you could ask the gym who owns the car park

I'm definitely sure the gym owns the car park themselves but hired civil enforcement as a third party company. Yes, they're London based. 
I believe the gym is stand alone and they don't use a council car park. I'll ask the gym just to confirm who actually owns the car park.
Here's what they said on their website about their parking: 

Dear Members

Please note that additional security measures have been added to our car park. These measures will ensure that only members, contractors or expected visitors are able to park in the Club car park and/or gain access in and out of the Club through the car park.

Several  notices regarding car parking are displayed in the car park including a large notice displayed at the car park entrance. You are able to park for up to 3 hours free of charge. You must key your car number plate details on the touch screen located past the turnstile on the Reception desk on each visit.

Failure to do so will result in the a fine from the party responsible for enforcing car parking. Our staff will not key your car number plate in the system for you nor deal with any issues that arise from failure to follow the car parking system where a fine has been issued.   This applies to all members, visitors and contractors.

NeilCr

guts said:

NeilCr said:

You really need to know, for certain, who owns the car park. It is not usual for a gym to do so - unless they are an out of town set up. Looks like this chain are London based. CEL won't own the car park either

So - is the gym stand alone or is it, for example, part of a shopping complex with a shared car park. Or is it like mine where we can use a local council car park. Or something else.

Perhaps you could ask the gym who owns the car park

I'm definitely sure the gym owns the car park themselves but hired civil enforcement as a third party company. Yes, they're London based. 
I believe the gym is stand alone and they don't use a council car park. I'll ask the gym just to confirm who actually owns the car park.
Here's what they said on their website about their parking: 

Dear Members

Please note that additional security measures have been added to our car park. These measures will ensure that only members, contractors or expected visitors are able to park in the Club car park and/or gain access in and out of the Club through the car park.

Several  notices regarding car parking are displayed in the car park including a large notice displayed at the car park entrance. You are able to park for up to 3 hours free of charge. You must key your car number plate details on the touch screen located past the turnstile on the Reception desk on each visit.

Failure to do so will result in the a fine from the party responsible for enforcing car parking. Our staff will not key your car number plate in the system for you nor deal with any issues that arise from failure to follow the car parking system where a fine has been issued.   This applies to all members, visitors and contractors.

Thanks
Agree with you that from the sound of that anyway they do own the car park.

Snakes_Belly

It may be a franchise which means there could be an owner of that particular gym.