Euro Carpark Latest PCN Scam - Ticket Machine that overcharges and can't issue correct ticket

TinyClanger1973

It's a classic and one of the best money making rackets I've come across.  Euro Carpark ticket machines can't issue a correct ticket because they're unable to differentiate between night and day rate.  Essentially, if you buy a ticket before night rate, and go off for the evening, you'll be charged day rate for all the hours needed.  In this case 5 hours, for which the machine charged £15.  The charge, should have been £3.80 if the machine was set up correctly.  However, if being overcharged wasn't bad enough, they then issued a £100 PCN for the privilege, saying there's been a breach of the terms and conditions because the night rate wasn't paid for and a separate ticket should have been purchased. 

Anyone else encountered this?  I'm assuming that if all their machines are set up the same they're making millions out of this.  Nice little earner.  This was obviously appealed, which was rejected, they weren't happy that the driver wasn't disclosed.  This was then referred to POPLA who have also rejected it.  

Love to see this one go to court.  

Coupon-mad

Yes we've seen that scam before. Let them sue!

Its now a billion pound industry:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12574537/amp/Parking-firm-list-private-wardens-tickets-companies-worst.html

TinyClanger1973

Coupon-mad said:

Yes we've seen that scam before. Let them sue!

Its now a billion pound industry:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12574537/amp/Parking-firm-list-private-wardens-tickets-companies-worst.html

Having successfully contested PCNs I'm well aware of their tactics, but for me that someone buying a ticket completely legitimately for the hours needed and then being issued with a PCN is laughable, especially when they've been overcharged.  The carpark in question has poor mobile signal and the parking app rarely works, so most users have no choice but to use the ticket machines.  That means everyone parking there has the same problem.

Furthermore, the machine takes you through various steps and there is no option to buy anything else, but the one issued.  If you go on the parking app, this was tested, it will only issue a ticket up until when the night rate starts.  It is then obvious to the user you need to then buy an additional ticket.

With this in mind, I'm assuming all their machines are the same, so this is a company wide issue effecting millions of customers daily.

Having scoured the internet I haven't found similar reported cases.  The only exception being a council car park where they issued refunds and apologies to users after a similar issue being reported. 

Castle

TinyClanger1973 said:

It's a classic and one of the best money making rackets I've come across.  Euro Carpark ticket machines can't issue a correct ticket because they're unable to differentiate between night and day rate.  

 

Is there a "no-return within x hours" condition?

TinyClanger1973

Castle said:

TinyClanger1973 said:

It's a classic and one of the best money making rackets I've come across.  Euro Carpark ticket machines can't issue a correct ticket because they're unable to differentiate between night and day rate.  

 

Is there a "no-return within x hours" condition?

Having checked their signage, there's no maximum stay or no return.

TinyClanger1973

No further response from Euro Carparks yet.  Looks like they won't be pursuing this. 

nopcns

TinyClanger1973 said:

No further response from Euro Carparks yet.  Looks like they won't be pursuing this. 

Patience... they will. However, easily defended and unlikely to ever reach an actual hearing.