Gemini Parking-unfair, unlawful? and hounding

Danieljosephgarvey

The initial parking charge

I parked at a Gemini car park and made a mistake by inputting my wifes registration plate (as we are a 2 car household). I realised immediately and sent Gemini an email with all of the relevant information. I tried to call gemini repeatedly whilst stood in the carpark. I was not able, and have never been able; to speak to anyone that works at this company.

I received the parking fine and disputed this with the ombudsman POPLA providing evidence of paying the £6 whilst explaining my admin mistake. They upheld the charge much to my disappointment. 

Escalation and hounding

I am now receiving letters from 'debt recovery plus' for £125. I am sure this is unfair and unlawful. 

I have now paid the £60 fee (which was the early repayment offer) but I continue to get £125 demands. When I spoke to the lady at 'dept recovery plus' she said 'well you'll have to let this go to court then'.

I have requested evidence that the reduced fee of £20 was offered to me (this was referred to in the POPLA outcome) and I have referred this to gemini staff (unlikley to get any response) and British Parking authortity: BPA.

What sort of world are we living in?

What would you all recommend as next steps?

Daniel          

Fruitcake

You paid? Oh dear. Nobody here would ever recommend that. You have now made it difficult for yourself.

It is not a fine.
PoPLA is not an ombudsman, it is funded entirely by the parking companies for the benefit of the parking companies.
The BPA are not an authority. They are an "Old Boys Club" funded by the parking companies.

Debt collectors are powerless and can safely be ignored.

Complain to the BPA that you were never offered the £20 reduction for making a "major typo" and therefore PoPLA should have upheld your appeal. Tell the BPA to instruct their member to refund your £60.

Complain to PoPLA that the £20 reduced payment was never offered.

Complain to the landowner and your MP.

Coupon-mad

Why did you pay?  Big mistake.

Did Gemini not offer to settle at £20 before POPLA?  Either way, complain to the BPA.

What sort of world are we living in?

One where the parking 'cowboys' (MPs' word in the HoC) are about to get their come-uppance, in the form of impending Government regulation of this market failure of a rogue industry.

You will be pleased to know that we - posters on this influential forum - are deeply involved and I'm on the Government Steering Group, leading robust change and a decent new Code of Practice, coming very soon.

You can help.  Stick around!

1505grandad

Please confirm if the ppc is the following  -  (they are IPC AoS members):-

Gemini Parking Solutions London LTD

www.geminiparkingsolutions.com

Perhaps they have recently changed AoS membership?

Per website:-

Our Acquisition

We cannot look back at 2022 without acknowledging our exciting acquisition. As many of our existing clients will now know, and what some of our future clients will be equally as excited to hear, is that we were acquired by APCOA, Europe’s leading parking provider.