ParkingEye Disabled Bay Royal Free Hospital

IvorieS

Good Evening
I have received a Parking Eye Ticket for parking in a disabled bay at the Royal Free Hospital. 

Their rules are, you must take your disabled badge to reception where they will make a note of your car registration and you do not have to display your badge. 

The hospital appointment was on a Saturday afternoon and I followed the rules. I stopped by reception and showed the lady the disabled badge and she made a note of the car registration. 

I assume this information was not recorded hence the parking charge. 

I am not in a situation where I have this charge but obviously need to validate I followed the process. 

I am planning on calling PALS tomorrow and explaining the situation and if needs must then requesting CCTV which will show I followed their process. 

But if anyone has any further advice or suggestions, I would be very grateful to read them. 

A little stressed by this situation and having to deal with a company like Parking Eye!
Thank you. 

KeithP

By complaining to PALS, you are doing exactly the right thing.

But if necessary, do not miss the appeal deadline. 

I'm not sure what this sentence means...

I am not in a situation where I have this charge but obviously need to validate I followed the process.

IvorieS

Hello and thank you for your message. 

It’s my mistake which I too have just realised and trying to find a way to edit my original post. 

I am typing on my phone and instead of writing “now” I wrote “not”. 

I meant to write, “I am now in a situation where I have this charge  but obviously need to validate I followed the process”. 

I have also been searching for the duration hospitals are required to keep hold of CCTV and it seems it’s 31 days. I will verify this information with PALS tomorrow. 

I will also check the letter to see when the appeals deadline is. 

KeithP

Get pictures of those signs that say you don't have to display a blue badge.
They may be useful later - if PE are daft enough not to cancel the charge.

bradders1983

This seems a bizarre system. Wouldnt it just be easier to....you know, display the badge?
Not a go at the OP but if the hospital dealt with disabled parking in a normal way like any other car park, he wouldnt be in this situation.

IvorieS

There is no signage and in response to bradders1983 - they do not take notice of the badge in the car, you have to register with reception. Please see below extract from the Royal Free Hospital Parking Webpage...

Disabled parking at the Royal Free Hospital

There are 12 blue badge bays at the Pond Street entrance, and one blue badge bay outside A&E (lower ground floor). These are free for blue badge holders staying up to four hours – please see details on how to register your badge below. Standard parking charges of £3 an hour will apply after 4 hours. The multi-storey car park is now closed but there are parking spaces available in the Rowland Hill car park.

Please register your details on arrival at either the Pond Street reception or security reception (adjacent to A&E) to ensure that you receive your four hours free hospital parking. You must take your government issued disabled permit with you to register. You will not be required to return to your car to display this. Failure to register your blue badge will lead to a parking notice.

Please note that regular parking charges are applicable to blue badge holders when not using disabled parking.

bradders1983

Yes, it sounds an utterly ridiculous system they have in place in the first place. 

They cant issue "fines" if there is no signage up at all. A NHS Trust wouldnt be so stupid as to not have any up at all so you need to have a proper look.

IvorieS

This system has been in place for some time and I have never received a PCN before. 

I can only assume since the appointment was late Saturday afternoon, the lady at reception was just eager to leave for the day without attending to her duties. 

My only concern is how else do I validate I abided by the process without demanding CCTV footage. 

I do agree, displaying them badge is far easier than reporting to reception but it’s their process. 

IvorieS

There is signage in regards to parking and payment and yes, you are probably right there must be signage regarding the process for parking in a disabled bay. But since I am aware of their process and it is displayed on their website also, I am not sure I can state that I am unaware or didn’t see signage. 

I don’t have anything to hide since I registered the vehicle but it’s just a matter of proving I stopped by reception. 

bradders1983

Oh no not saying you have anything to hide. But you do need to go back and take photos of the signage in case PALS dont sort anything out 

IvorieS

I didn’t mean that as a dig at you - just meant I don’t have anything to hide from ParkingEye. 

I don’t see how taking pictures of signage would help my case though when their parking rules are on their website and I am aware of them?

I know I did what I had to but I find it extremely upsetting when I’m twenty years of driving I have never received a PCN and I do when I have had to take my mother to an emergency appointment. 

Just feeling a little stressed but very grateful for your help!