Overstay in Sunderland hospital carpark - ParkingEye. Discontinued after complaint to hospital.

skuther

Just got through the post PCN from Parking eye requesting £70 (reduced to £42, if paid within 14days).

I am keeper of the car - but not the driver. This is not a car I normally drive.

I was in fact at work 20miles away (driving a different car which I am also registered keeper for).

The letters suggets my car "entered the car park" at Sunderland hospital at 09:08:58 and left at 11:25:10 (2hours, 16mins and 12second).

I have spoken to the driver and she was attending a hospital appointment.

The machine didn't work and instead she paid via the app and has emailed me the invoice.

PayByPhone Parking Receipt

Transaction ID: xx, Location: 8626, License: xx
Description: SUNDERLAND ROYAL HOSPITAL

Start Parking: 2024/12/27 9:10AM,Stop Parking: 2024/12/27 11:10AM
Cost: £3.20 including 20% VAT and Service Charge

So 2hours paid for.

Presumably PCN is for overstay by 16mins and 12second - however (unless I am missing something) I can't see anything on the PCN that actually states the specific reason.

Appointment should only have been 30min - any additional time was waiting around due to the clinics running late.

skuther

This is page 1 of PCN.

skuther

Page 2 of PCN.

Missed this bit first time round: "by either not purchasing the appropriate parking time or by remaining at the car park for longer than permitted, in accordance with the terms and conditions...." - vague, but I presume this applies to overstay?

skuther

I will of course be encouraging the driver to complaint to PALS at the hospital - as paying for 2hours for a 30mins appt should normally be more than an enough under normal circumstances - and any delays were due to hospital issues.

Coupon-mad

skuther said:

I will of course be encouraging the driver to complaint to PALS at the hospital - as paying for 2hours for a 30mins appt should normally be more than an enough under normal circumstances - and any delays were due to hospital issues.

Yep that is what to do. 'Fining' people when delayed by overrunning appointments clearly breaches the official NHS Car Parking Guidelines. Tell them that. Quote the clause in the NHS document that says this. Insist that PALS cancel it immediately.

skuther

Complaint to hospital worked. Parking 'fine" cancelled :-)

I also noted when reading: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-patient-visitor-and-staff-car-parking-principles/nhs-patient-visitor-and-staff-car-parking-principles

I also noticed the line about Frequent outpatient attenders.... "Parking will be provided free to all outpatients who attend hospital for an appointment at least 3 times within a month and for an overall period of at least 3 months. A ‘month’ is defined as a period of 30 days.", so also asked them to provide my wife free parking (as way more appts for that for her pregnancy care recently).... they are looking into it.

Coupon-mad

Perfect!

Please can you report this success in SUCCESSFUL COMPLAINTS ABOUT PPCs which is linked in Crabman's sticky thread and in the NEWBIES thread too.