'Unauthorised parking' what does this actually mean?

fisherjim

I think the OP should link a redacted copy of the communication they have from this company because it needs too much detective work at the moment and the details are too scrappy.

Maybe ParkMaven are venturing into something new they don't quite get, who knows.

barns80

Thanks for all the replies, and I'm really sorry for the delay in responding. I work a lot of long hours and I haven't got around to scanning and redacting the letter yet!

I owe an apology to you guys and ParkMaven, as they *don't* call it a fine - they call it a 'Parking Charge Notice'. I was sure the letter mentioned the word 'fine', but it must have been my mind playing tricks on me!

Three things I noticed from a visit to the car park on a clear sunny day:

1. There is a sign at the entrance, but it's perpendicular to the direction of travel when approaching and virtually invisible when driving towards the car park (you just see the side of it). If you enter from a certain direction, you won't go past it. It's also too high to actually be seen from a car.

2. Upon entering the car park, there are no signs directly in front of you, and you can park without seeing a sign.

3. Looking around the car park (and you really have to look), there are some signs - but they are absurdly high up in the air, small text on a green background, and only *one* of the signs actually lists the terms of the contract. The bright green colouring is kind of deceptive as well, as they don't look like warning signs.

So if you enter the car park and park in one of the immediately visible bays, you won't see a sign. If you enter the car park, do not leave your car, it's raining, and then you leave again, you're absolutely not going to see a sign, at all.

Anyway, I'll upload a redacted document soon (hopefully tomorrow). I really appreciate the help

Umkomaas

You were asked whether there is a Scotland connection - you haven't responded!

fisherjim

The signage points are good evidence but you need dated photos, and if you want help you need to address the questions the regulars have asked you, one of which has now been mentioned five times, and completely ignored!

barns80

fisherjim said:

The signage points are good evidence but you need dated photos, and if you want help you need to address the questions the regulars have asked you, one of which has now been mentioned five times, and completely ignored!

I'm not in Scotland, I'm in Kent. I'm sorry I forgot to mention that yesterday. I do have dated photos, taken the day after I received the letter.

By the sounds of it you're saying I need to address other questions, but reading over the thread again I'm not really sure what?

I really appreciate the time everyone has put into this - I honestly wasn't expecting this level of interest or help, I just wondered if following the standard procedure outlined in the FAQ was right for my particular case, given that I wasn't sure if a mechanical breakdown constituted parking. So, apologies for not responding in a timely or complete manner.

Thanks again for all the help, I'll get to work on redacting the letter now

fisherjim

The standard procedure was devised to cover private parking tickets not dropping the driver in it, and for various other reasons by regulars on here that have seen virtually every scam going.

You were asked to link to the Parkmaven letter as no one seems to have seen anything from this obscure company, and also some photos of signage would help to give you further advice.

The majority of companies work to similar business models, belong to one of two ATA's, either use The POFA or not and can be litigious or not etc etc.

To get the best out of this forum you need to supply the information as asked, be very specific and accurate, (e.g. don't insert the word fine when it doesn't exist) every one on here is dedicated to helping against these nasty greedy scammers.

Also you should have by now complained to Premier Inn that their contractor is hassling you with a charge, if you get no joy write a nasty review on Trip Advisor/ Facebook etc. (I used to work for Whitbread they hate that).

barns80

Thanks again for the advice, hopefully attached below is the redacted letter from Parkmaven:







Furthermore I did complain to the Premier Inn, both in writing and by telephone - their answer was much the same in both circumstances - that they wouldn't confirm if they did indeed own the car park (they simply suggested that don't always own adjoining car parks) and that there was nothing they could do to help. This is the reply I got from my complaint, note that I did not mention a fine, I stated I had received a parking charge:

"Thank you for contacting us at Premier Inn Guest Relations. 

I'm sorry to hear since parking in one of our adjoining car park whilst experiencing vehicle trouble, you have received a parking fine. 

As the majority of our adjoining car parks are owned by third party companies, at Guest Relations we are unable to provide any resolution centrally. We do advise that you contact the hotel directly to discuss your fine further. The team will then be able to inform you of any limitations and explain any procedures you need to complete to potentially appeal the fine. 

Your can call the team on 0333 003 1686 and they will be more than happy to help. 

Thanks again for getting in touch, we hope to welcome you back to Premier Inn again in the future."

My telephone call with the hotel was very similar in language, but the advisor added something along the lines of that I should have called ahead and booked if I'd wanted to use the car park. I responded by saying that clearly, there was never any ahead planning involved in using the car park, so how could anyone have possibly called in advance? The answer I received was simply that the letter from Parkmaven will tell me how to appeal, and there was nothing further they would do.

I'm wondering if I should respond to the written reply from Premier Inn - I feel like they are trying to wash their hands of this by pretending it's not their responsibility - surely Parkmaven are acting as Premier Inn's representatives and therefore the Premier Inn do have some responsibility. I wonder if the Premier Inn approve of the tactics Parkmaven are using to try to prevent people from appealing?

I do also have some photos of the signs in the car park on my phone, i'll try to get them transferred and uploaded shortly.

barns80

barns80 said:

I do also have some photos of the signs in the car park on my phone, i'll try to get them transferred and uploaded shortly.

Ok, it'll be tomorrow!

barns80

Another question on this - the images ParkMaven supplied me simply show my vehicle at the entrance to the car park, is that really enough to state a contravention occurred?

I'm just looking into their appeals process on the ParkMaven website - I don't know if this is standard practice, but you have to select from a list of pre-written reasons that:

a) Make it sound like you are admitting a contravention occurred
b) Predominantly are things like 'I stopped to answer a phone call'/'I was stopping to ask for directions', these seem like things to bait people into admitting they were the driver at the time?

The full list of reasons you can select from is as follows:

- I have a valid Ticket/Permit for the car park/site which was clearly on display
- My vehicle is permitted to park and is on a vehicle exemptions list (whitelist)
- I had a Pay & Display ticket but may have entered the wrong or incomplete vehicle registration number
- My vehicle was not in the car park at the time the contravention occurred
- I did not park for the stated time
- I was authorised to park
- I was not sent the Charge Notice in the Post
- I was stopping to ask for / check directions
- I was stopping to answer a phone call
- There was no signage at the car park/location indicating any restrictions

In all options, you have to select another box where you state you were either the 'Keeper', 'Hirer' or 'Driver' 'when the contravention occurred' - does selecting that wording mean you're automatically agreeing that a contravention did occur?

D_P_Dance

Have you considered wring bad stuff about Premier Inn on TripAdvisor, Trivago, hotels.com, boooking.com, etc.