Parking stories in the News/media

Coupon-mad

Interesting...

A Medical Centre which GSV shows does use ParkingEye (IMHO pointlessly) in its car parks, is telling people that £170 parking charge demands are a 'scam':

https://www.herefordtimes.com/news/23978365.hereford-drivers-targeted-fake-parking-charge-scam/

"According to Hereford Medical Group, several people have received 'fraudulent' parking fine notices from various locations around the city, including the Station Medical Centre in Station Approach.

The group warned locals that they should disregard any letters claiming that they must pay a fine of £170 if a photograph of their car is not attached as it is almost certainly a scam. They have asked recipients of the fraudulent notices not to hand over any payment information, but instead report it to the authorities so that they can take action against the perpetrators."

But look - they use ParkingEye:

OK...so are these DCB £170 letters?!  

Obviously there wouldn't be a photo of the vehicle on those horrendous letters and 'fraudulent' is a word we stop short of uttering.

I suspect they don't know what they're doing. I foresee CCJ disaster.  The Medical Group don't seem to know what they've let loose on their patients and look to be making huge assumptions.

Grizebeck

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-67691390

Coupon-mad

A couple have warned others to avoid a Cornwall car park after they were fined on Remembrance Sunday despite buying a parking ticket.

Darren and Marie Phillips were visiting the south coast village of Mevagissey and paid to park in the Sunny Corner car park operated by Premier Parking Solutions

https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/couple-given-parking-fine-remembrance-8969710.amp

"The couple bought a ticket, attended the service and thought nothing of it until a £100 fine landed through the post a couple of weeks later. Despite telling Premier Parking Solutions that they bought a ticket and urging them to check the cameras, the couple's appeal has been dismissed.

"They are saying we put the wrong number plate in but they won't tell us what number plate we put in. The main thing for me is to tell others to avoid going to this car park full stop. It has so many bad reviews and they won't even take your appeal into consideration. Just don't park there. If it is absolutely unavoidable then keep your ticket"

(Marie and Darren binned theirs thinking nothing of it).

They also paid PPS for no reason whatsoever.  This is why the 'outrageous scam' persists. Because duped victims just pay.

Nellymoser

Another example of someone having to write to the press because this industry refuses to listen and respond correctly.
https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/experts/article-12871357/TONY-HETHERINGTON-time-clamp-parking-fine-clowns.html

The journalist investigated on behalf of a disabled elderly couple hounded by Debt Recovery Plus Ltd over someone else's parking tickets. Neither of the two named individuals on the tickets are known to the couple or have ever lived at their address in the past 50 yrs.

DRPL demonstrated their usual poor standards of practice refusing to accept and investigate information the couple provided, continued to send letters (10) demanding payments and threatening court action.

On paper DRP claim "we have very able data protection teams and a Data Protection Officer".... in practice those employees demonstrate they are NOT so "very able" as the company claims and the journalist's investigation found... and it was one of the reasons he reported the DPO and his "cronies" to the ICO.
No doubt DRP will excuse their employees poor practice as an "admin error" like other PPCs and the ATAs do.

Snakes_Belly

Nellymoser said:

Another example of someone having to write to the press because this industry refuses to listen and respond correctly.
https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/experts/article-12871357/TONY-HETHERINGTON-time-clamp-parking-fine-clowns.html

The journalist investigated on behalf of a disabled elderly couple hounded by Debt Recovery Plus Ltd over someone else's parking tickets. Neither of the two named individuals on the tickets are known to the couple or have ever lived at their address in the past 50 yrs.

DRPL demonstrated their usual poor standards of practice refusing to accept and investigate information the couple provided, continued to send letters (10) demanding payments and threatening court action.

On paper DRP claim "we have very able data protection teams and a Data Protection Officer".... in practice those employees demonstrate they are NOT so "very able" as the company claims and the journalist's investigation found... and it was one of the reasons he reported the DPO and his "cronies" to the ICO.
No doubt DRP will excuse their employees poor practice as an "admin error" like other PPCs and the ATAs do.

It's often the most vulnerable that seem to get hounded by these grubby bottom feeders. This would have caused this couple a lot of distress. 

Coupon-mad

Half_way said:

And after a brief lull, back to form with a story from the compassionate world of the un regulated parking industry:

Nottingham mum slapped with a parking fine while she miscarried in hospital now being taken to court

The parking company says it "remains satisfied" with the charge it issued.

https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/local-news/nottingham-mum-slapped-parking-fine-8913308

Another update, yes, SRS and his minions seem to think she's litigation fodder:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12889741/parking-firm-doubles-fine-mum-miscarriage-court-hospital.html

Coupon-mad

Flipping difficult to load this article on a phone but I got there:
https://pembrokeshire-herald.com/87589/more-complaint-about-ateb-parking-tickets-at-dew-street-car-park/m

"ATEB’s decision to introduce pay and display at the Dew Street old library car park stirred controversy. The local newspapers, including The Herald, reported that only two out of 17 properties adjacent to the site were granted pick-up and drop-off access, with a mere 15-minute grace period. 

ATEB justified this by stating these two properties had a legal right of way.

In response to community concerns, ATEB clarified that other properties with a legal right to access, evidenced in house deeds, could apply for a grace period on a case-by-case basis.*

The Dew Street car park, once a communal space, is now marred by frustration and resentment. As ATEB continues its development plans for the old library complex, the community is left to grapple with the unintended consequences of parking charges that seem to disproportionately affect those who can least afford them."

* say what now...are they joking?!

ParkingEye again.

The BPA must be so proud.

Coupon-mad

And this one involves Civil Enforcement Ltd:

https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/health/peterborough-hospital-worker-vows-to-fight-unjustified-parking-tickets-picked-up-waiting-to-meet-terminally-ill-friend-4456935

A Healthcare worker waited on land owned by Peterborough Town Sports Club at Bretton Gate early one morning in September to deliver an item (unload/load between two cars) as it was a an easy access point to deliver the article.

He said: “My friend was held up in morning rush hour traffic and was delayed so I waited for him to arrive. I then transferred the item to his car and parked in the hospital car park where I haves permit.  The next thing I knew was when in October I received a letter from Civil Enforcement demanding £100 as I had not responded to another letter they claim they sent with an original fine of £60, a letter I did not receive.

I received another letter demanding £140 and threatening court action and a visit from bailiffs. In desperation I contacted Peterborough Town Sports Club who said they would investigate. I have so far not heard anything back.  In the meantime I contacted the Citizens Advise Bureau who also could not find anyway to contact Civil Enforcement.

“I am now at a dead end. The original ticket is totally unjustified and given the circumstances, callous at best. At no time did I intend to stay and park on this land, merely trying to help someone who is struggling with serious illness.

"I will fight this to the end and having researched Civil Enforcement have come across many others who have been threatened with their bully boy tactics."

The BPA must be so proud.

Coupon-mad

And this one is about another BPA AOS firm,
Open Parking:

https://www.theoldhamtimes.co.uk/news/24000076.oldham-hospital-nurses-finish-shift-hefty-parking-fines/

The sudden car parking charges have emerged as, the nurse claims, the company is no longer accepting applications for permits.

The car park is designated for staff but nurses and other hospital workers are being hit with the £70 'penalty'. Two staff members who were returning to their cars in the zone said:

"Not everyone gets a pass. They've started enforcing it more recently.  We have colleagues who start work at 6am, before they can get on public transport, and they can't get a permit".

The nurse also said she wasn't sure when the permit scheme came out and said staff can still apply for an NHS permit, "they just aren't issuing them anymore and have a waiting list".

She added: "It means those without a permit will get a ticket. Several of my colleagues have received tickets just off my ward, so I wouldn't even like to guess how many across the full hospital site have received one."

The BPA must be so proud.

Coupon-mad

Oh that's a relief!

SABA Park Services are considered worthy of a pay settlement, but Junior Doctors aren't:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-67763204.amp