ParkingEye Disabled Bay Royal Free Hospital

KeithP

As Bradders says, of course there are signs.

I can count eight, maybe nine, parking related signs in this image alone - https://goo.gl/maps/5RxecMMamdJ2dMf7A

Without any terms, terms that are on the signs, a driver simply cannot agree to a contract to park.

IvorieS

Thanks KeithP, I was quick to write off there is no signage but in relation to parking, yes there is but I do not know if there is signage regarding the process of disabled bays. There probably would be, but again I don’t know how this would help me since I am aware of their disabled bay parking process via their website and have visited the hospital on several occasions previously and followed the process without any comeback. 

KeithP

IvorieS said:

There probably would be, but again I don’t know how this would help me... 

As I said, without any signs detailing the terms that a motorist is alleged to have agreed to, then there cannot possibly be any contract between the motorist and the parking company.

If there is no contract, the contract cannot be breached. 

They cannot say "but look on our website for details". That is not acceptable.

Yes, they could say " but you have been here many times before so you know the rules". 
Perhaps best not to remind anyone of that.

It is their job to prove the contract breach, not yours. 

IvorieS

Thank you KeithP. 

My plan then is as follows: 
speak to PALS tomorrow and hopefully they will be helpful. If not, I shall be requesting CCTV footage. Since I believe they are required to keep footage for 31 days and the date of the PCN was 15th September, I do not want to be in a situation where (a) there is signage on the premises so cannot claim there isn’t and (b) it’s left too long and footage has been deleted. 

At the moment, basing this on signage being present, my only defence is that I did report to reception. But how do I prove that?! They could counter with “no you did not”. I have also never been in a situation whereby I am requesting CCTV footage, so that will be interesting. I just hope it’s straightforward tomorrow!

Fruitcake

I suspect the reason why the scammers require the BB to be registered is that they are using ANPR scameras that cannot record the existence or placement of said badge.
All these scameras do is record time on site, not parking time, nor where or how a vehicle is parked, nor whether or not a badge is displayed.

In any case, the blue badge scheme does not apply on private land, and there is no legal requirement for a motorist to display a blue badge in those circumstances. 

Redx

Definitely complain to PALS about it , plus mention the Equality Act 2010 , not just the blue badge permit

Also take a copy of the NHS rules from a few years ago too


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

Do not let them fob you off , the trust are jointly liable and must comply with the law too , the EA 2010

Complain about it to your local MP too

Also complete the 2 government public consultations with the BSI and Mhclg asap too, whilst you still can

Read recent posts by coupon mad for the xetails

IvorieS

Hello Fruitcake, thank you for your message. 

Yes, you are correct. They use ANPR cameras hence why the hospital requests one to register the blue badge with reception. From there I’m assuming reception have to log the registration number of the vehicle on to their system and those registration numbers are then cleared from the ParkingEye logs. Therefore, the only logical explanation would be, the reception lady did not log by vehicle registration number and now I have to waste my time and everyone else’s time here, in resolving this matter.

Umkomaas

I shall be requesting CCTV footage. 

Do you think that anyone at the hospital will have the time to plough through CCTV footage for you?  What are you hoping this will show?  How much detail do you think it will have?  How good do you expect the quality of the images to be?  Does the person you are expecting the hospital to allocate to this task know exactly what you look like?  Could they pick you out in a crowd?  Are you expecting sound files with it?  Do you know precisely where the cameras are and where they are focused? This isn't a murder case. Be realistic!

Please come back and prove me wrong. In the (almost) 8 years of me responding on the forum to unrealistic expectations of CCTV footage showing, let alone proving, anything, I've yet to be contradicted.

Fruitcake

IvorieS said:

Hello Fruitcake, thank you for your message. 

Yes, you are correct. They use ANPR cameras hence why the hospital requests one to register the blue badge with reception. From there I’m assuming reception have to log the registration number of the vehicle on to their system and those registration numbers are then cleared from the ParkingEye logs. Therefore, the only logical explanation would be, the reception lady did not log by vehicle registration number and now I have to waste my time and everyone else’s time here, in resolving this matter.

Alternatively, the receptionist entered the VRM correctly but the equipment was faulty and didn't register/transmit the details, or the receptionist mistyped the VRM.
Where ANPR is used, it should be impossible to enter an incorrect VRM. The technology exists to do this just like the system at Bristol Southmead Hospital does. Entering a VRM of a vehicle that is not in the car park brings up an error message.
Of course, parking scammers won't use this technology because they wouldn't make as much money.

KeithP

When speaking to PALS, why not ask them why the systems for disabled parking is different at all three of the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust's sites.

Ask them if they would like to adopt the Chase Farm Hospital process where...

Blue badge holders can park free of charge, for up to four hours, for one year from the date of registration.

[my embolding]