Urgent: Parking attendant not willing to let me pay x amount to leave.

hirersezn

I currently am at Heathrow waiting area for authorised vehicles.

The prices state you pay £1 for every hour until 5 hours. The after you pay £38 etc.


However I misunderstood this as the parking person showed me in the office (the price list), which I told him I then understood.

I stayed for around 5 hours and 45mins, which means I would have to pay £38.

I complained about this and told him I am willing to pay £6 for my mistake that I misunderstood.  I was not willing to pay £38, and as a private hire driver that is more than the cost of picking up a passenger from Heathrow.

He said he can reduce it to £25 (which he doesn’t have to do) but I flat out refuse to pay anything other than £5-6.

Am I in the wrong for this. 

Fyi I cannot physically leave as there are ticket barriers in place.

Edit: PPC is Apcoa

baser999

From what you’ve said, £1 an hour for the first 5 hours then £38 thereafter is pretty clear. How did you misunderstand that? Whether it’s morally right is questionable, cost presumably racks up after 5 hours to deter long-term parking?  Suggest you pay the discounted price you’ve been offered and leave. If there’s barriers you can’t leave without making payment and the longer you argue with him the more the likelihood you’ll be paying £38 

Keep_pedalling

Sorry but the longer you stay the worse this gets, take the discounted offer and go. I don’t understand why you think it confusing, after 5 hours it is £38 and you stayed 45mins over that.

FlorayG

Pay up and learn from your mistake. You're lucky he's willing to discount it

eskbanker

hirersezn said:

I flat out refuse to pay anything other than £5-6.

Am I in the wrong for this.

You're in the wrong if you believe you have the right to specify how much you're willing to pay, regardless of how any misunderstanding may have arisen!

hirersezn

Thanks for your POVs

I already accepted this as my own mistake. And will be paying whatever is due.

baser999

Have to laugh that you’re presently stuck in a carpark at LHR, ‘discussing the charges’ with the attendant and yet find time to canvas MSE 😂. Might as well get your moneysworth 

hirersezn

baser999 said:

Have to laugh that you’re presently stuck in a carpark at LHR, ‘discussing the charges’ with the attendant and yet find time to canvas MSE 😂. Might as well get your moneysworth 

Thanks for the laughter, but i have already left.

I came on mse to ask for advice

fisherjim

From when I used to have to go to work at Heathrow I believe the £25 is the lost ticket charge,that's probably how he was able  to get round that additional charge for you. Considering what APCOA try to charge for a parking  "misdemeanour" you got off light, though we could have shown you how to sort that out.

hirersezn

fisherjim said:

From when I used to have to go to work at Heathrow I believe the £25 is the lost ticket charge,that's probably how he was able  to get round that additional charge for you. Considering what APCOA try to charge for a parking  "misdemeanour" you got off light, though we could have shown you how to sort that out.

Well he was being unreasonable and not trying to see from my side of things. Like I have been there for hours waiting for a job to provide a service to passengers arriving at heathrow.

First he goes I have never had in my X years had anyone have an issue like yours. A while later he goes that, your case is not unique and I have dealt with many drivers like you.

I ask to speak to a superior, he refuses and directs me to an email outside the reception and says final judgment comes from me??? I ask who he works for and says Heathrow (a lie), once I go outside and check the email it is to APCOA, I go back inside and tell hime that he works for APCOA and not Heathrow Group etc. but tries twisting the story saying the land is owned by Heathrow and managed by APCOA and that he works for Heathrow by looking after the car park......

Sorry for rambling, I just feel like this whole situation could have been handled better.

Coupon-mad

But did you pay the £25?