UK CPM PCN/IAS Appeal Rejected after Parking was paid...

Umkomaas

UniDebtStudent said:

KeithP said:

Which hospital?
Why not contact PALS at the hospital?
Read this...

In there you will see...

Contracted-out car parking
NHS organisations are responsible for the actions of private contractors who run car parks on their behalf.

PALS responded and said: "From Monday 2nd December 2024, we are unable to assist with parking enquiries"

They've provided a link to appeal with parkingenforcementagency org 

Was worth a try I guess 

Don't bother. Even if there was any possibility of this providing a viable appeal route, the fact that you've already appealed to the parking firm and IAS means a further appeal will not be entertained. Even if it was and was successful, the organisation would not be able to demand that UKCPM cancel their charge. It's a fob-off line from the hospital, with no possibility of a successful outcome for you. 

You could escalate your complaint to the Trust's CEO to try to knock this on the head, or, just follow the steps outlined by @Coupon-mad above. 

ChirpyChicken

I would go back to them and ask them why this is the case.(just for curiosity)

UniDebtStudent

Umkomaas said:

You could escalate your complaint to the Trust's CEO to try to knock this on the head, or, just follow the steps outlined by @Coupon-mad above. 

ChirpyChicken said:

I would go back to them and ask them why this is the case.(just for curiosity)

So they've flat out refused to refund me for the parking that, according to them, I did not use/couldn't be allocated to my car. But won't give a reason why they won't refund it AND still expect me to pay the fine. 

I will take the advice given here  

Coupon-mad

UniDebtStudent said:

Umkomaas said:

You could escalate your complaint to the Trust's CEO to try to knock this on the head, or, just follow the steps outlined by @Coupon-mad above. 

ChirpyChicken said:

I would go back to them and ask them why this is the case.(just for curiosity)

So they've flat out refused to refund me for the parking that, according to them, I did not use/couldn't be allocated to my car. But won't give a reason why they won't refund it AND still expect me to pay the fine. 

I will take the advice given here  

@ChirpyChicken means reply to PALS and ask why they think they can shrug responsibility and breach the NHS Parking Guidelines. Who made that decision because you want to escalate the complaint and will get your MP to write to complain that this Trust is now breaching set national policy.

(He didn't mean go back to ask the parking firm something).

UniDebtStudent

@ChirpyChicken means reply to PALS and ask why they think they can shrug responsibility and breach the NHS Parking Guidelines. Who made that decision because you want to escalate the complaint and will get your MP to write to complain that this Trust is now breaching set national policy.

(He didn't mean go back to ask the parking firm something).

OMG I completely misunderstood! I asked today and they wouldn't give a reason she copied this text into the email: 

PARKING

From Monday 2nd December, the PALS team will be unable to assist with any Parking issues.

Please appeal any parking ticket that you disagree with directly with the enforcement agency at

www.parkingenforcementagency.org/appeals.

For all concession parking issues please contact the main reception team.

For any issues with RINGO, please contact www.ringgo.co.uk or ring 02030 460010.

And she added that she's not sure why this has come into effect but that's what they've been advised to say. 

Coupon-mad

So now you reply and say this isn't good enough; demand to escalate the complaint to whoever does know.

Use the words I gave you already and link them to the NHS Car Parking Policy, quote the relevant bit and ask why they think they can just breach the national guidelines?

Then find your constituency MP and tell them what the NHS Trust is breaching and ask for the MP's office to write to the CEO of the NHS Trust to demand answers.

The Trust and PALS can't just make a change and shirk responsibility just because parking complaints are taking up too much time. That's exactly why the policy says what it says, to stop NHS Trusts from doing this!

UniDebtStudent

Coupon-mad said:

Then find your constituency MP and tell them what the NHS Trust is breaching and ask for the MP's office to write to the CEO of the NHS Trust to demand answers.

The Trust and PALS can't just make a change and shirk responsibility just because parking complaints are taking up too much time. That's exactly why the policy says what it says, to stop NHS Trusts from doing this!

Thank you so much, so this is where I'm at: I called basically everyone at the hospital, people at the local Trust and Head Office, many pillars and many posts... When I asked why they no longer deal with parking, they said it's because the contractor changed around 6 months ago and brought in ANPR cameras, so they no longer have parking attendants on site and now 'they don't know who to liaise with' whereas before they could speak to parking staff on site. So I escalated until I got the email of the Premises and Estates Manager, sent her the above guidelines and relevant link, the person who gave me her contact was confident she could 'put some weight behind it' - now awaiting a response. 

Meanwhile I am sending a lovely email to the MP. 

I am fully intending to take your advice and ignore the fine, but I am heavily invested in this now (as are my friends and family cos we don't get out much) and I am going to take this all the way as matter of principle. Thank you again

UniDebtStudent

UPDATE: Okay so the Estates Manager was unhelpful but did put me through to a 'Travel and Sustainability Team' and there was a lady there who heard me out. She said they largely leave it up to the companies to resolve via their appeals service, but on this occasion she was going to get the PCN cancelled since they refused to refund the payment I made on the day and she agreed it was unethical to impose both charges. (So hospitals do still have the power to cancel PCNs)

The PCN has been CANCELLED!!! They have retained the payment I made on the day - which is fair as I was parked there (it was 5 pound vs 50 to be paid in the PCN charge).

It seems Hospitals are starting to pass the buck now (a neighbour had a similar response from a different hospital in Hampshire) despite what national guidelines say so, if anyone finds themselves dealing with Hospitals I would say go straight to the Estates and Management/Travel Team, copy in PALS of course, but as so many have mentioned the car parks internal appeals process is such a waste of time. 

Thank you to all who contributed!!! Result!!!

Nellymoser

Well done. Great to hear she viewed it unethical to expect motorists to pay both charges. Shame PPCs and their ATAs can't see that.

ChirpyChicken

Well done you.