Gemini Solutions parking ticket when car park is currently free

millsee123

I received a parking ticket yesterday from Gemini parking solutions, a private parking company. I was in Queens hospital, the parking is free at the moment, I drove around for 30 minutes but every single space was taken and no one was returning to their cars from the hospital. My appointment time was getting closer and closer, it takes while to get in to the hospital now because of all the checks they carry out due to covid and I was obviously going to hospital for an appointment that I was worried about (no one goes to hospital for the fun of it), I was getting more stressed so I had to park near the doors that lead in to the hospital from the car park, there were hatchings on the floor saying no parking but I parked just behind these, there was a sign on the wall but I thought it was referring to the hatchings, where else are you meant to park when the entire car park is full and I had 5 minutes to get to my appointment? When I came out I had a parking ticket for parking in a 'no parking area'.
My questions are do I have to pay it as the hospital currently has free parking, are Gemini Solutions a genuine company, they don't have an address on the parking ticket, only a PO Box?

Redx

start by complaining strongly to PALS at the hospital and insist on a cancellation due to what you said above , Pals information is on the right here (if its Burton ?? - you never said )

https://www.uhdb.nhs.uk/getting-to-queens-hospital

Gemini are a private parking company, so probably registered at companies house , plus they are a BPA AOS member on here too

https://www.britishparking.co.uk/BPA-Approved-Operators

so yes , legit

also read the NEWBIES faq sticky thread near the top of this forum, 3rd thread down from the top, read post 1 for now

Coupon-mad

I'm really not sure I can condone the parking you describe, sorry.  Free parking doesn't mean blocking Hospital doorways.

millsee123

Red X - thank you for your advice
Coupon mad - I was nowhere near the doorway, I was looking for help not criticism, if you haven't got anything nice to say best not to say anything 

Coupon-mad

I was getting more stressed so I had to park near the doors that lead in to the hospital from the car park, 

I was going by the above and was thinking about disabled people who may need that hatched lines ramp and access route in. 

I was nowhere near the doorway

OK but I think you will struggle to get PALS to cancel it and you did say you parked near the doors.

D_P_Dance

Have you complained to your MP?

fisherjim

millsee123 said:

My questions are do I have to pay it as the hospital currently has free parking......

Free parking has nothing what so ever to do with parking in a prohibited area.

As above you need to start with the newbies thread and also see what PALS say.

You have an invoice from a private parking company because they say you did not adhere to the contract you entered in to by parking on site.

They may have a case it's up to you to prove they do not, you are now in the clutches of a PPC's convoluted scheme to try to extract money from you unless PALS can do something, or you fold and pay up.

In 2019 the hospital received a 25K backhander from their parking company from PCN's in addition to parking fees, with parking being free they may be reluctant to cancel any PCN's at the moment.

Coupon Mad is one of the most experienced and helpful posters on here her comments were not over the top, and you need honesty from this forum.