My Dad needs Advice

boushear

Hello

I was wondering if some one could offer some advice on the issue that i will describe..

My father who is 73 has recently received a parking ticket from a hospital carpark.. He told me that there was some issues in paying for the time he spent at the hospital visiting his sister.
Upon leaving the hospital he went to the machine to pay and entered his reg plate but the machine did not recognise his plates or was just malfunctioning. Being 73 he does not know how to work the new machines properly and a lady asked if he needed help. He explained the issue and the lady took him through paying manually. My father could not remember how long he had been in the lot and ended up putting two hours (i think) in the machine (the woman lent him some money to be able to pay) and he was let out of the lot. The ticket he received stated that he actually spend around 2 hours 20 mins in the hospital and at the machine he did not pay enough. The ticket states that he owed 30p for the overdue time and they sent him a fine of £70. He has appealed this decision but we are unsure of what to do next. unfortunately in the letter he sent as an appeal he admitted to the missing 30p as it was a genuine mistake and offered to pay it in full..

Could any one offer advice if the parking company does not accept his offer, i mean £40 (if paid withing 14 days) for 30p seems a bit steep, will he need a solicitor? is there anyone who can help with this matter aside from the CAB as i have told him of them and he has tried to get through to no avail.

Many thanks
Adam

Coupon-mad

Yes, we can help get this cancelled.  I guess this might be ParkingEye?  If not, which firm?

unfortunately in the letter he sent as an appeal he admitted to the missing 30p as it was a genuine mistake and offered to pay it in full.

That's OK. No worries.

You just need to help him make a complaint to PALS (Google it and contact them at the Hospital).  They can cancel it and if they don't, then make a written/email complaint for him to the CEO of the NHS Trust.

Do not contact CAB as they are useless about parking scams.  But your Dad's local MP can certainly help.  Contact them on Monday for support with this complaint.  MPs help with parking cases all the time because the industry is out of control.

Is Dad infirm or has a medical condition that slows him down?

Does he have a Blue badge?

boushear

Hi Coupon-Mad

Thank you for your response, it has been a great help.

Well my dad had a knee replacement that has slowed him a little, but he is not considered disabled.

I did not know you could call PALS on these types of issues as i thought they dealt with patient complaints.

and yes the company is called Parking eye. I am just miffed that they sent him a fine for a measly 30p.

I will talk to my Dad today about this and probably draft him a letter to the MP of the area to see if they can offer assistance, I never thought of doing that either.

KeithP

boushear said:

I did not know you could call PALS on these types of issues as i thought they dealt with patient complaints.

Don't be put off when PALS say car parking is nothing to do with them.

They need to address this. They have responsibilities.

Have a look at these few words from NHS car parking guidance 2022 for NHS trusts and NHS foundation trusts...

1505grandad

Just checking:-

"My father could not remember how long he had been in the lot and ended up putting two hours (i think) in the machine (the woman lent him some money to be able to pay) and he was let out of the lot."

Was this a barrier operation  -  if so how could he be "let out" of the car park without the correct payment.

Le_Kirk

boushear said:

I will talk to my Dad today about this and probably draft him a letter to the MP of the area to see if they can offer assistance, I never thought of doing that either.

You need (or your Dad needs) to write to your/his MP; you can of course ask for it to be copied to the MP of the area where the car park is situated, assuming it is not the same area.

diystarter7

Hi OP
I'm no parking expert unlike others and thenafully never been caught as yet like your dad, it can happen to anyone

Spread the word, always contact PALS  re hospital parking or any other hospital matter that you feel is not being addressed. Depending on whom you get, they are very, very good and very reasonable and fair people.

I've posted about PALS on other parking threads and actually gave them a call re a query about parking and what would happen if I drove in and out as found no parking space. They are a very helpful group of people and I may be wrong but some are volunteers I think.

Good luck

boushear

1505grandad said:

Just checking:-

"My father could not remember how long he had been in the lot and ended up putting two hours (i think) in the machine (the woman lent him some money to be able to pay) and he was let out of the lot."

Was this a barrier operation  -  if so how could he be "let out" of the car park without the correct payment.

Hi

I dont know if there is a barrier so the use of the phrase 'let out' may have been an over simplication.  i just assumed there was, its been a while since i went to the hospital, all i know is he paid and then drove off.

And thanks Kieth i will tell me dad that Pals and the NHS is responsible for parking issues that might occur on their grounds

boushear

Hi Guys

Just a quick update on the parking issue..

I got my dad to contact PALS with evidence of his paid ticket and they emailed back stating that the ticket would be cancelled.
We are waiting a few days to a week to confirm this but it looks like your advice worked and he got his ticket dismissed.

Just like to thank you for all your help and advice with this matter

Cheers
Adam

Coupon-mad

Perfect!

Don't disappear in the New Year though.

We sincerely hope that you are au fait with the need to respond to the final Government Public Consultation?

Won't be published before Xmas, but it is imminent, so keep your eyes peeled in early 2023.

Just checking you and your family are among those ready to respond to the questions about the extortionate level of 'parking charge' fake fines, as you have personal experience of how this feels?

Please come back here when it opens, and you can make sure you don't miss the Consultation:

If you are not a regular reader, to be alerted you'll need to bookmark the thread by MSE_JC at the top of the forum and enable (on your profile) email alerts for bookmarked threads.

Join us when the Consultation opens very soon.

Umkomaas

Good result for your Dad, nice one. At least he won't have this crap hanging over him during the festive break. 

We are waiting a few days to a week to confirm this but it looks like your advice worked and he got his ticket dismissed.

You can check on that right now by going to the PPCs website as if you were going to pay the charge (obviously don't!) and see what the charge's current status is. If showing cancelled, take a screen shot and save for posterity.