Parking stories in the News/media

Coupon-mad

Gemini Parking (who I think have just been swallowed up by APCOA, according to the BPA's Parking News this month, IIRC) ruining a Scottish retail park:
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/in-your-area/lanarkshire/lanarkshire-shoppers-slam-retail-centre-27686463.amp

The article says:

"Locals that use the Rutherglen Exchange now say they won't be back until the problems are sorted - two years after we first told of issues.

Angry motorists hit out at the company in 2020 after they refused to stop handing out fines during the coronavirus crisis. 

In recent weeks Lanarkshire Live has been contacted by a string of shoppers who say they've had enough.

A shopper who contacted us told how she was fined on successive days, despite having bought a ticket each day.

She added: "I've thrown my tickets away, but I paid both days. At first I thought there was maybe a problem with the machine but the company won't even respond to me about that. They're saying it's a £100 fine or £60 if I pay within a couple of weeks, which dodgy in of itself.

"I used all the shops there and I liked trying to keep my shopping local but I'm never going back there." 

The only one coming out of this with any respect is the local Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey who it is reported, previously met Exchange management and Gemini representatives to discuss the problem.

Ms Haughey: “Since the new parking system was introduced at the Rutherglen Exchange, I’ve heard from several constituents who’ve received Parking Charge Notices when they clearly shouldn’t have.

"Along with Councillor Janine Calikes, I have met with the owner of the shopping centre several times, and we’d relayed concerns from local residents. It does appear that the issues are not as frequent as when the new system was first introduced, but it is still happening.

"I’ve had a great success rate, so I’d encourage any constituent who believes they have incorrectly received a Parking Charge Notice to contact me, particularly if they’ve had no success with appeals." 

Why the heck are MPs having to waste time on sorting out an aggressive scam that should NEVER operate in any retail park?

Half_way

This has been covered elsewhere, but added to here to add to the archive, in short a disabled bay or bays signed by a tiny metal disc in the ground less than the size of a brick as used on block paving:

https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/local-news/bath-woman-dodges-parking-ticket-7451934

I have very little time for those who deliberately abuse disabled bays.

 However where there is poor signage or markings and someone parked in a disabled bay then things are different.

This is Scummy on a completely different level - the parking company are scum for going along with this, but at the top of the list is the landowner.

 Disabled provision should be clearly marked so that the who need it can easily find it and anyone else can clearly and easily  avoid it.

 I wouldn't be surprised to see this rolled out elsewhere as its clearly a nice money spinner.

 Scum

Trainerman

Cannot argue with that @Half_way. It beggars belief that this sort of entrapment is legal, that the landowners go along with it, and that AtA(s) also go along with it .

Coupon-mad

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/health/queen-elizabeth-hospital-parking-eye-24763948.amp

ParkingEye unavailable for comment about PCN sent to a disabled guy for daring to visit his mother in hospital at a time when the 'Blue Badge registration machine' wasn't working.

Compounding that, his appeal was refused out of hand by ParkingEye, and he still had no idea what the PCN was even issued for because neither the PCN nor the rejection explained it.

Plan A worked - hospital complaint.

Coupon-mad

This sounds like the victims here should have complained to the BPA:
https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/people/oap-disgusted-at-hartlepool-parking-fine-after-confusing-the-letter-o-for-a-zero-3816334

Because typing a 0 for o is not an error at all:
https://www.britishparking.co.uk/AOS-Code-Changes-2018

17.4 The Code recognises that keying errors can be grouped into 2 main areas;

1. A) Minor Keying Errors

Examples of a minor keying error could include:

• 0 instead of o.

Coupon-mad

And here is the BPA's finest, ParkingEye (who we believe funded and/or fronted one if the two Judicial Reviews to block the Govt Code of Practice).

According to this report ParkingEye can't even manage Hospital Parking properly or provide a card payment facility at RUH Bath:
https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/local-news/ruh-visitors-fined-after-parking-7496409

"The issue will not be resolved until the end of September" 

"Our parking provider, Parking Eye, is aware of these issues and any charges that are incurred due to this malfunction will be waived."

NO. Why are any PCNs being issued at all?  Why isn't enforcement on hold and the machines covered until they sort it?

Reportedly, they are letting people get PCNs as their faulty machines continue to print out 'void' receipts that look the same as if you'd paid.

Scores of people are getting caught out by this farce. I wonder if PCNs are only being waived if people appeal? Plenty of idiot/lazy lease firms would just pay, no questions asked, so no doubt money is still rolling in for ParkingEye.

Not very professional, to say the least.  It's all about the money not the consumer...

ParkingEye and others like them need to learn how to manage car parks in a more consumer-focussed way, sharpish.

patient_dream

ParkingEye .... the company who once complained to MSE that we were calling them COWBOYS ?  

THEIR COWBOY ACTIONS at this hospital says they are back with a bang

They knew the machines were faulty yet still issued tickets ... that is fraud

Are the BPA happy with this ?   They are letting this mega parking scam fall into the sewers.  

How many more sites is this happening to.  Talk about sleep walking into a disaster with the government

Mouse007

She was parked for four minutes and nine seconds

https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/local-news/elderly-driver-lands-100-fine-7501656

Mouse007

Coupon-mad said:

According to this report ParkingEye can't even manage Hospital Parking properly or provide a card payment facility at RUH Bath:
https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/local-news/ruh-visitors-fined-after-parking-7496409

They were not working last year either when I dropped wife and daughter off, someone from the hospital was collecting number plate registrations to "enter into the system" so we wouldn't get PCN's. Wife usually parks free with disabled badge registered, but we had a garage courtesy car that day.

Coupon-mad

Mum 'trapped at Tesco' in Manchester whilst Brighton trounced Man Utd:

https://metro.co.uk/2022/08/24/mum-trapped-with-toddler-and-baby-leaving-tesco-handed-70-fine-17234729/

Tesco say in this article:

‘There is a time limit of three hours [normally] and two hours on matchdays for the car park of our Stretford Extra store to help make sure everyone is able to find a space. We are always happy to review cases where a customer feels they have received a penalty charge in error.’

After Horizon were classy enough to reject the appeal and expect her to pay up, they furiously backpedalled once the Manc Evening News stepped in and leant on Tesco:

"But today, thanks to the Manchester Evening News' intervention, Ellie received the welcome news that the fine had been cancelled."

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/mum-told-pay-70-after-24843464?_ga=2.258383562.1712569123.1661474996-1861572674.1661474696