Parking stories in the News/media

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Businesses fear closures over car park fines

Shops fear customers will boycott the private car park in Worthing:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpqjzq7v0w9o.amp

Georgina Rickwood, manager at St Barnabas House charity shop, said: “There has been a real increase in the number of people getting parking tickets. We saw a dramatic reduction in our takings the first week that this parking enforcement started.”

Who else is reportedly ruining charity shop and small business takings but but Sussex pariah, One Parking Solution? The company said it disagreed “with all of the assertions” when approached for comment.

They would say that, wouldn't they?

Seems that these horrific ex-clampers have also had a cosy chat with the landowner, W R Roffey Ltd, who told the reporter that they "will continue to listen to all stakeholders and One Parking Solution say that, from looking at their data, the parade is as busy as usual.”

So, you are listening to your ex-clampers and not to the shops' customers and managers? What evidence have you seen?

Worthing has a predominantly elderly population but also plenty of families.  Many locals rely on their cars and small shopping parades. These shops WILL be boycotted.

Coupon-mad

UKPC plans to switch to automatic number plate recognition cameras (plus a lurking goon on-foot) at a Trowbridge car park despite concerns

https://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/24503775.plans-trowbridge-car-park-switch-anpr-cameras-progress/

St Stephen’s Place plans to limit customer (driver) movement to just the shops, restaurants and Odeon cinema surrounding the site. UKPC's new notice tells car park users that in future it will be controlled by ANPR and an on-site 'warden'.

Some residents have objected strongly to this, querying how UKPC intends to police their movements when they leave their vehicle. More than 70 comments were left on Facebook when the Wiltshire Times first posted about the plans.

Nice work UKPC, ruining customer confidence in the high street by ripping off drivers.

Brendan Groves posted: "Trowbridge is knackered, all that is left to do is close it down. Who needs this? Not me, just go elsewhere without the rubbish problems."

Jim Butler agreed, posting: "I won't use The Shires now because of the issues, I now will not use St Stephen's. I'm sure I won't be the only one, I prefer to go out of town now anyway."

The comments include a good reply from an MSE poster/reader and this comment that suggests this change might well breach the retail park's planning rules:

"when the Odeon was constructed all proposals for car parking ie the times and charges had to be approved by the council."

Coupon-mad

NCP charged me £300 for losing my car park ticket

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-13718377/amp/NCP-charged-300-losing-car-park-ticket-CRANE-CASE.html

The victim told This is Money:

"I thought I might be charged the £12.50 maximum daily fee for the three days. But when I got to the exit barrier, I was told I needed to pay a 'lost ticket fee' of £100  per day - £300 in total - before I was allowed to exit the car park.

I asked if there were cameras showing me entering, but was told there weren't. I also showed the attendant my train tickets. I paid the £300 so I could leave but I think it is excessive. All I did was lose my ticket. I queried it with NCP afterwards, but it said the charge is set by Avanti which runs the train station and there's nothing it can do..."

Reportedly, NCP told the complaining victim by email that they 'did not not have the option to override this price'.

BUT THAT WASN'T TRUE.

An Avanti West Coast spokesperson said to the paper:

"We’re really sorry to hear of [H.J's] experience and have worked with NCP, who manage our station car parks, to arrange a full refund after she was overcharged by them."

Quelle surprise. 

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Couple tell of shock after Teesside Park disabled parking fine row

https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/couple-tell-shock-after-teesside-29796088.amp

This time it's ex-clampers Minster Baywatch who were exposed by a journalist and rushed to minimise the damage by towing the BPA line of sweeping the dirt under the carpet.

Jacqueline, 70, does not drive due to her disabilities which include Parkinson's disease... She relies on her partner and son to drive her Motability car.

The Blue Badge was displayed but an old parking receipt apparently partly covered the edge of the Badge (the year).  What the heck has that got to do with a private company who have NO power to inspect or check Blue Badge validity?!

People's disability doesn't just get better, even if the badge had expired (which it hadn't) and MB were shown it but still demanded £100. The parking charge notice was later cancelled after the issuers discovered "an internal error in the handling of the appeal."

They would say that, wouldn't they?

How many times do we see a dodgy PCN cancelled after an appeal was rejected and ONLY because a paper got involved?

Coupon-mad

And the same place again:

A disabled pensioner has branded restrictions for blue badge holders at Teesside Park’s car park as “ludicrous” after being forced to cough up £100

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/24568538.disabled-mans-fury-100-teesside-park-parking-fine/

Signs for blue badge holders state there are "no concessions for disabled/blue badge holders" and that they must adhere to the four-hour time limit, which Harry (he and his wife have multiple significant disabilities) went over by 28 minutes.

However, it seems WHAT THE MINSTER BAYWATCH SIGNS SAY IS NOT TRUE...

Teesside Park has confirmed that it IS able to co-ordinate allowances for blue badge holders if they report to the customer services team on the day they visit - despite not stating this on the disabled parking signs. 

Their website actually says:

"There is no time limit for blue badge holders within the ‘Retail South’ short stay car park, if you plan to stay longer than 4 hours, simply register at customer services (within the Hello! Building) as soon as you arrive."

Harry said it was "scandalous" that there was no sign in the park itself. "Teesside Park is just so big these days with all the shops and food outlets, so four hours is just not enough, never mind being disabled.” 

A spokesperson for Minster Baywatch said Harry's charge was "correctly issued" and said this decision has been reviewed and agreed by POPLA who are "completely impartial" (LOL).

"We are aware there are other non-time restricted options for Blue Badge holders on the site, however, it appears, unfortunately, this was not adopted by the user on this occasion."

So they have signs that apparently lie about disabled concessions on time limits, and have reportedly blamed the disabled user for not knowing about how to exempt their car. 

Illegal.

Coupon-mad

A MAN who took a holiday to Anglesey last month with his wife said their visit to Caernarfon was soured by him later receiving an “absurd” parking fine.

Initial Parking this time, allowed by the disingenuous BPA to rip people off for £20 instead of properly cancelling 'keying error' cases:

https://www.northwaleschronicle.co.uk/news/24524444.mans-visit-caernarfon-soured-absurd-parking-fine/

This despite the fact that it looks like this one was caused by the machine printing only the first 2 digits input by the driver.

And despite the fact that the two Trade Bodies know full well that it is the intention of Government to completely ban this "outrageous scam" of taking money from people for typos or keypad faults which modern machines can avoid.

Coupon-mad

Next up, ex-clampers Excel.  They must be so proud of this "outrageous scam":

A woman was left furious after being slapped with a £100 parking fine despite the ticket machine not working. Irene Jordan, 73, arrived at the Cartergate car park in Grimsby only to find that the meter she usually uses to pay was out of service (...apologies for linking to the Scum):

https://www.thesun.co.uk/motors/30069675/slapped-parking-fine-ticket-machine-not-working-furious/amp/

Irene then appealed to the Independent Appeals Service against the PCN, but was unsuccessful.

Quelle surprise.

She said: "I was absolutely certain I was in the right, I was all set on going to court to fight it. I phoned up the RAC for advice and they were very helpful, but they said debt collectors would likely start sending me threatening letters saying the charges will keep going up.

I didn't know what to do, so I decided to cut my losses and pay the fine. I owed £100, and had to pay through an automated phone number. It said at the end that if I wanted a text receipt, it would cost 10p extra.

When I had a look, it was 7p a minute to call that number, so it was another £2.47 I had to pay."

(IMHO illegal).

Irene said she feels independent car parking companies "exploit" elderly people who do not have the appropriate technology or knowledge to use websites or apps to pay for parking.

EXCEL RESPONDED WITH SOME OLD TWADDLE BLAMING HER.

Coupon-mad

Have we had this one?

Widow takes on Minster Baywatch over parking fine - and wins

https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/24549773.widow-takes-minster-baywatch-parking-fine---wins/

Mrs Rhodes said she was not carrying enough change to pay cash for her parking so downloaded an app to pay using her mobile phone. But she claims the “site code” at the car park was a number short, meaning she was unable to complete the transaction.

She said she appealed the PCN to Minster Baywatch and POPLA – an independent appeals service for parking charge notices – but both were rejected.

'I wouldn't stand for it'

More letters followed from Minster Baywatch, Mrs Rhodes said. But she still refused to pay.

At Leeds Combined Court Centre on August 16, 2024 a judge dismissed the claim.

Mrs Rhodes said she was satisfied with the outcome of the hearing.

 “[Minster Baywatch] have a license to go after people,” she said. “Most people would just roll over and pay, which is my opinion. They didn’t turn up at court which wasn’t really a surprise.”

She added: “If I can do it, anyone can. It’s a matter of standing up to them and not being intimidated.”

Quite right!

That is all that's needed.

But look at the final word from the ex-clampers.  Utter codswallop:

“We note through the driver’s submission to you they have made several allegations which are incorrect and refuted, ultimately the matter was heard by a judge and whilst the judge has not given us specific feedback, they do have a discretion to disagree with our decisions or that of the independent body POPLA, we expect the decision may have been made on a compassionate basis rather than enforceability."

Errr...that's not how civil cases work...

Coupon-mad

Next is a shocking tale about VCS:

https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/seething-sara-suffers-east-midlands-9523448.amp

A woman has been left outraged after she was slapped with a £100 fine when her husband stopped in the pick-up and drop-off area - while she had a seizure.

Sara Badr-Andrews and David Andrews were hit with the penalty after halting on red lines just outside the pick-up and drop-off area at East Midlands Airport (EMA).

Their initial plea was rejected by Excel Parking Services (EPS), but following intervention from the newspaper, the airport directed the parking firm to revoke the charge.

OBVIOUSLY...!

Because the byelaws prevail and include an exemption for emergencies.

But why were Excel involved? It's VCS.

Grizebeck

@Coupon-mad
Yes he's asked for the judgment for the set aside case.