Parking stories in the News/media

Ralph-y

make a note of all the comment posters name for when they come on here for help  🤣

Coupon-mad

Clueless Sussex driver actually paid £170 to DCB instead of Googling it and the journalist has called it a 'fine' and a 'penalty' and failed to query the validity of adding £70 for a bulk 'soft trace' that costs 29 pence:

A man has slammed a private parking company for its "disproportionate" parking fines after he received a £170 penalty.

https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/25352576.chichester-man-hits-disproportionate-parking-fine/

He said: “The letter, sent to my previous address, was a fine of £100. There is no real reason a parking fine should be that high. I didn’t get out of my car and leave it for hours, it was 12 minutes. The issue was passed very quickly over to a debt collection company, and I was asked to pay £170. I paid it but that wasn’t as an acceptance of blame, I was just paying it so I didn’t get into more trouble.”

"I'm deeply concerned by the disproportionate nature of the charge, the lack of opportunity to appeal, and the aggressive escalation process."

The car park in Chichester is ruined by National Parking Control (NPC)

Coupon-mad

Coupon-mad said:

Bournemouth Council has permission to trial higher penalties on-street in August:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c89envdgvvqo.amp

That is a first. As long as they properly provide alternative parking and alert visitors to it.

The amount of penalty (the increased trial for Council PCNs August) in Bournemouth has been revealed as the same as Sadiq Khan's recent hike in London PCN levels:

https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/25356233.bcp-seafront-parking-fines-double-trial/

"The new fines will be £160 for higher tariff offences, reduced to £80 if paid within 14 days, and £110 for lower tariff offences, reduced to £55 if paid within 14 days.

Fines for towaways will also increase significantly during the trial. Currently, charges are £105 for release from the car pound, £12 per day for storage fees, and £50 for disposal fees.

During the trial, these charges will rise to match London levels: £280 for release from the car pound, £55 per day for storage fees, and £100 for disposal fees.

This is the first test of this level of enforcement in England outside London and will take place following approval from the Secretary of State for Transport."

I wonder if their TROs are up to date?!

Thorndorise

Coupon-mad said:

Clueless Sussex driver actually paid £170 to DCB instead of Googling it and the journalist has called it a 'fine' and a 'penalty' and failed to query the validity of adding £70 for a bulk 'soft trace' that costs 29 pence:

A man has slammed a private parking company for its "disproportionate" parking fines after he received a £170 penalty.

https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/25352576.chichester-man-hits-disproportionate-parking-fine/

He said: “The letter, sent to my previous address, was a fine of £100. There is no real reason a parking fine should be that high. I didn’t get out of my car and leave it for hours, it was 12 minutes. The issue was passed very quickly over to a debt collection company, and I was asked to pay £170. I paid it but that wasn’t as an acceptance of blame, I was just paying it so I didn’t get into more trouble.”

"I'm deeply concerned by the disproportionate nature of the charge, the lack of opportunity to appeal, and the aggressive escalation process."

The car park in Chichester is ruined by National Parking Control (NPC)

Ah beat me to it! I didn't realise he'd paid, doh! @lizzielooploo might be worth following up on , there's been a few at this site. I also don't think there is any planning permission for the ANPR ever filed, just saying.

Coupon-mad

Another day another article:

Euro Car Parks know that this victim was a genuine shopper (who in fact paid twice on the app in error, do he paid double) but still they are aggressively pursuing a keying error case:

https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/25357939.weavers-wharf-shopper-hit-fine-kidderminster-car-park/

The BPA must be so proud.

This is their poxy joke of a 'Joint Code' that enables the scam of offering to settle at £20 then hiking it back up and suing over keying errors. Pathetic scammery.

Coupon-mad

Coupon-mad said:

And how does this stat work?

"According to the research, 2.4 million motorists have already been fined when dropping off or collecting someone from the airport."

https://www.manchesterworld.uk/news/traffic-and-travel/manchester-airport-rule-change-leaves-motorists-at-risk-of-being-fined-when-dropping-off-loved-ones-5243036

"2.4million?!"

What research?

Again reported here:

https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/manchester-airports-joins-with-london-gatwick-edinburgh-birmingham-in-introducing-risky-drop-off-fee-systems-that-could-lead-to-unexpected-fines/

"In an effort to alleviate traffic congestion at airport drop-off zones, seven major UK airports - Manchester, Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Birmingham, Edinburgh, and Glasgow - have removed exit barriers. Manchester Airport is one of the first airports to fully implement this barrierless system. This change affects all drivers, including those simply making short-term drop-offs, making it essential to stay updated on how to comply with the new rules.

The Challenges: Missed Payments and Parking Fines

According to a survey conducted by Motorpoint, a leading UK car dealership, 21% of UK drivers reported feeling more stressed when dropping someone off at the airport due to these recent rule changes. The problem is compounded by the fact that not all airports have automated payment systems in place. Some airports require drivers to log on and pay once they are home, leaving ample room for mistakes.

For travellers unfamiliar with the new system, this lack of on-site payment options has already led to a growing number of fines. Research suggests that 2.4 million UK motorists have been fined for not paying the drop-off charges properly. It’s not just tourists who are at risk: business travellers who are pressed for time and trying to meet tight schedules are also more likely to miss the signage explaining the payment process."

If that figure is true then it needs mentioning to the MHCLG in responses to the consultation because the Code has missed a major issue. It's got to be stopped.

There needs to be something in the statutory Code about not having a system that makes it likely that drivers will forget (or not know) to pay, where a 'pay later online' fee applies at Airport or other drop off zones. Having no barrier causes this.

This will otherwise be copied at other sites.

It's clearly a cash cow and almost as shocking as what PPC World is doing to residents at their own homes.

So many threads on here and so many articles about the new scam of barrier-less drop off zone at Manchester Airport:

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/grandads-fury-200-fine-after-35656107.amp

it's unclear if he was daft enough to pay. Hopefully not, especially as he wasn't driving on the second occasion:

"Peter Walsh, 80, says he has been charged for failing to pay the drop off zone fees on two separate occasions having gone to Terminal 1 in June and July:

"In June, my son went away for a week and I took him to the airport, no problem. I spent three minutes and a few seconds at Terminal 1, drove out and there was no barrier, no nothing. A week later, me and my wife Janet went on holiday to Lanzarote, and my son dropped us off in my car at Terminal 1 and did the exact same thing.

They said it's to increase traffic flow, I don't believe it for a minute, this is a money making scam in my eyes. To expect everybody to be 100% okay with the online payment is not fair. Why can't they have a flashing red light or flashing amber light with a small sign saying 'don't forget to pay'. It's a simple thing."

This is down to APCOA but I'm also going to name and shame the Airport for IMHO blatantly lying about 'feedback':

“The feedback we’ve had from passengers tells us the new barrierless system has made the airport experience more seamless and they’re pleased that they no longer have to wait to leave the pick-up and drop-off areas. That means people aren’t ending up having to pay more than they should as a result of waiting at the barriers."

MANCHESTER AIRPORT :-

I DON'T BELIEVE YOU.

WHAT 'FEEDBACK'? DON'T LIE. LITERALLY NOBODY IS HAPPY AND THERE WAS NO QUEUE TO LEAVE UNDER THE OLD SYSTEM.

WHAT ABOUT ALL THE COMPLAINTS, INCLUDING THIS ONE FROM A DRIVER WHO PAID THE DROP OFF FEE BUT STILL GOT A PCN?

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/i-paid-manchester-airport-drop-32177938.amp

"Eric appealed the charge but have since spent almost two months trying to prove to APCOA that they did pay the fee. Eric says that it has meant sending bank statements and card details through the post to the company:

“We’ve been chasing around to get a statement and obviously it’s costing us money again, to write letters and send first class stamps and things like that.” He said. "It’s a nightmare, we can understand why so many people are complaining."

AND WHAT ABOUT THE OPEN LETTER FROM THE CEO OF 'ON THE BEACH'?

https://www.mirror.co.uk/travel/news/manchester-airport-faces-calls-make-35629221.amp

daveyjp

Quite easy to fix the feedback response.

"We have removed the barriers to prevent queuing. Are you happy there was no queue when exiting the drop off area?".

Nellymoser

And C-mad including the plea to the airport from Oldham Private Hire Drivers Association. 

Car1980

daveyjp said:

Quite easy to fix the feedback response.

"We have removed the barriers to prevent queuing. Are you happy there was no queue when exiting the drop off area?".

Yep, just need to take a Humphrey Appleby approach.

Coupon-mad

Yet another duped victim actually paid ParkingEye at the same time as appealing a PCN issued for driving in and out of the wrong car park and parking elsewhere:

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/cars/news/pensioner-fined-after-staying-in-car-park-11-seconds-too-long/ar-AA1sFg0z?ocid=mailsignout&apiversion=v2&noservercache=1&domshim=1&renderwebcomponents=1&wcseo=1&batchservertelemetry=1&noservertelemetry=1

They didn't accept the contract. They left after staying 5 minutes 11 seconds in total (if the ANPR cameras were synched to the second, which they aren't).

They stupidly panicked and paid £60 for no reason whatsoever; this would have been a complete cinch to win at POPLA.

This is parking management is it?

The BPA must be so proud.