UKPA Parking Notice - Car Park Linked with Gym - Advice Please!

theoreticalchemist

Hi there,

I've heard that folk on here are extremely helpful when it comes to dealing with car parking tickets.

My partner is a member of a gym, and there is a car park attached (which I don't believe they own). If you input your number plate into the system, you get free parking over the duration of your stay at the gym. My partner is convinced that she put the number plate in, but we have since been hit with a parking notice (please see attached images). 

I called the gym this morning, and they said that this has happened to a few people, but that the tickets were overturned after appealing and showing evidence that they are gym members (e.g. take a photo of gym lanyard, provide membership information and cite discussions with the gym). They said that if the appeal is rejected, they will then contact them on our behalf to try and remove the charge. Can I confirm that, along with what the gym has said, this is what we should attempt as a first port of call?

Many thanks - I appreciate you taking the time to respond!

Umkomaas

Go ahead with what the gym has advised, they seem to be on top of this. Note that the appeal must be made by your partner, the person whose name appears on the Notice to Keeper, you cannot do it on a 'on behalf of' basis. Come back and let us know how it proceeds.

B789

Plan A is always try the landowner first. Ask the gym who owns the land as they probably pay a rent to the landowner if they don't own the car park. Also complain to your MP and get them to intervene.

Plan B is the appeal to UKPA.

theoreticalchemist

Umkomaas said:

Go ahead with what the gym has advised, they seem to be on top of this. Note that the appeal must be made by your partner, the person whose name appears on the Notice to Keeper, you cannot do it on a 'on behalf of' basis. Come back and let us know how it proceeds.

Thanks for this advice. Along with attaching any relevant information (e.g. membership no, status, key fob photos), are there any particular wordings that we should avoid on the appeal?

Umkomaas

theoreticalchemist said:

Umkomaas said:

Go ahead with what the gym has advised, they seem to be on top of this. Note that the appeal must be made by your partner, the person whose name appears on the Notice to Keeper, you cannot do it on a 'on behalf of' basis. Come back and let us know how it proceeds.

Thanks for this advice. Along with attaching any relevant information (e.g. membership no, status, key fob photos), are there any particular wordings that we should avoid on the appeal?

You could use the blue text initial appeal template from the NEWBIES FAQ Announcement, first post, but I think an appeal based on what the gym told you will have more impact. I'd start it off by saying you've had a meeting with the gym manager who has acknowledged there have been recent issues with parking charges at the site, but should you forward the following pieces of evidence (list them) of your gym membership that UKPA will cancel the charge, and ask them to confirm the information given to you by the manager. Try something like that. 

Where I've used *you*, I mean your partner. Don't put your name anywhere near any correspondence with the PPC. 

theoreticalchemist

Umkomaas said:

theoreticalchemist said:

Umkomaas said:

Go ahead with what the gym has advised, they seem to be on top of this. Note that the appeal must be made by your partner, the person whose name appears on the Notice to Keeper, you cannot do it on a 'on behalf of' basis. Come back and let us know how it proceeds.

Thanks for this advice. Along with attaching any relevant information (e.g. membership no, status, key fob photos), are there any particular wordings that we should avoid on the appeal?

You could use the blue text initial appeal template from the NEWBIES FAQ Announcement, first post, but I think an appeal based on what the gym told you will have more impact. I'd start it off by saying you've had a meeting with the gym manager who has acknowledged there have been recent issues with parking charges at the site, but should you forward the following pieces of evidence (list them) of your gym membership that UKPA will cancel the charge, and ask them to confirm the information given to you by the manager. Try something like that. 

Where I've used *you*, I mean your partner. Don't put your name anywhere near any correspondence with the PPC. 

Could you confirm that this is along the right lines?

"To whom this may concern,

I dispute your 'parking charge notice’ (Reference: REFNO) as the keeper of the vehicle. I deny any liability. I am appealing this parking charge notice on the grounds that I correctly input my details into the number plate computer system within Snap Fitness, Shopping Centre, Town, Postcode. Having been a member of this gym for many months now, I have without fail put my details into the parking computer, including on the dates referenced in this PCN. Following a recent discussion with the managerial team at Snap Fitness, the manager has confirmed that numerous similar issues have occurred for other people over the last few weeks. Additionally, the manager stated that I should appeal this PCN, and include numerous pieces of evidence relating to my gym membership at Snap Fitness, Trowbridge.  

Please see the attached evidence as suggested by the managerial team at Snap Fitness – attached, you will find my (i) proof of membership, (ii) an image of my gym fob, and (iii) confirmation of a booked class that was attended on the date referenced in the PCN. I hope this evidence will suffice.

In line with the suggestions put forward by the managerial team at Snap Fitness, I am hopeful that a swift and easy resolution to this PCN will occur. I trust that I will not need to take this any further, and hope not to require the aid of my local MP.

Best wishes,

Miss Joe Bloggs"

Umkomaas

Looks ok, but, it's a business letter, so 'Dear Sirs/Yours faithfully'. It's not a 'love n' kisses, cwtchy cwtch' txt spk job!

theoreticalchemist

Umkomaas said:

Looks ok, but, it's a business letter, so 'Dear Sirs/Yours faithfully'. It's not a 'love n' kisses, cwtchy cwtch' txt spk job!

Which areas need changing then? Just the sign-in and sign-out?

Umkomaas

theoreticalchemist said:

Umkomaas said:

Looks ok, but, it's a business letter, so 'Dear Sirs/Yours faithfully'. It's not a 'love n' kisses, cwtchy cwtch' txt spk job!

Which areas need changing then? Just the sign-in and sign-out?

Yes, just those.