Saba parking charge at Bassetlaw hospital

LoveNorfolk

Hello!

It's been a long time since I have been on here since I played letter tennis with Excel and their 'solicitors' for 6 years!  

I've had to come and ask for advice on behalf of a family member.  They have taken and been visiting a family member in hospital, using their blue badge to park in a disabled bay and its an ANPR pay on exit car park where you scan you badge when you leave.  They've been using this car park for a number of days no problem.

When the family member was due to be discharged from the coronary care unit, staff advised a different car park in the hospital grounds would be closer for the family member to walk and for the patient to get to the car. 

The family member has arrived, realised they didn't have their blue badge and so the car was parked in a normal bay instead of disabled.  Not knowing any different, they've gone into hospital, come out a few hours later and paid at the pay station, receieving a pay and display ticket.  There was a parking charge on the car on their return.

I have complained to PALS on his behalf who got in touch with property when I pushed them, who sent a photo of a sign (not sure if that exact car park area) and said "The car park is clearly signed station pay and display and the choice to have different pay systems is the choice of the trust not Saba.  The times of paying on site are 7:30am - 8:30pm (I pointed out the website says 7:30pm - 8:30am) as the photo states.

If the gentleman and forgot to display this he could appeal and send a copy of his blue badge." 

I replied saying they need to bring the car parks in line with one another so there's not confusion.

I have written an appeal, but wonder if it's easier to just say there wasn't a disabled bay free so they parked in a standard bay and forgot to display the blue badge rather than making it too complicated, but will they just argue he wasn't in a disabled bay to start with?

This is the appeal, but the problem I have is their website where you appeal has a tick box to say if you were the driver, if you untick it to say you weren't, it then opens up a new section where's it's mandatory to put the drivers details to continue.  Any help appreciated, I need to send this by Friday and I've enough on without sorting this for them!

I'm the registered keeper of this vehicle. We have been visiting my wife in hospital after she was taken to A&E and admitted. I'm a blue badge holder and the vehicle has been parked in the car park nearest to A&E, using my blue badge to obtain free parking, scanning before exiting.

On the occasion the parking charge notice was received, I'd been advised by hospital staff on my previous visit that my wife would be discharged from being admitted to the Coronary Care Unit, and that this car park would be easier for myself as I'm disabled and cannot walk far without pain, but also for my wife to get to the car as although she had improved from being admitted, was still not fully better.

Upon arriving I realised I did not have my blue badge, so the driver moved the vehicle to a standard bay not a disabled one. There was no reason why this car park was any different to the others in the hospital, including the ANPR pay on exit one near A&E that had been used in the days previous to this. On entering the hospital there was nothing that was easily visible that stated payment was required at the start of the parking session rather than the end.

On exiting, payment was made at the payment station, the cars registration was inputted and it showed payment required of £1.70. I was confused when the machine provided a ticket. After my wife was helped into the vehicle, the parking charge notice was seen on the windscreen, providing more confusion as on all previous visits we have paid on exit.

I request this notice be cancelled as;

the parking charge notice has the incorrect registration number on it compared to the vehicle. Parking charge notice states XXXXXX when it is XXXXXXX; (one letter difference)

the signs do not have 'pay and display' in a large enough text in a prominent place, especially for those who are disabled and would not be aware that this car park differs to others on the same land, therefore not using valuable energy to walk to the signs when it's not immediately obvious they need to pay first;

I hold a blue badge which permits free parking. An attempt to pay for parking was made in leiu of having my blue badge.

This parking charge notice has added stress to myself who is disabled and my wife who is poorly and has been undergoing tests and treatments on her heart.

A complaint has been made to PALS with regards to the confusing parking arrangements, with suggestions all car parks are brought in line to prevent instances like this happening again.

I'd appreciate any advice guys so I can get this sorted.

LoveNorfolk

This is the PCN. As mentioned, the reg on this is incorrect by one letter.

Gr1pr

So its a windscreen pcn, a Notice to Driver and the VRM details are incorrect 

I would suggest that the Registered Keeper waits fir any future postal notice to arrive,  an NTK PCN letter 

They should also complain about it to their local MP and get the issues regarding trust signage and SABA ironed out too, to stop the confusion completely 

They should also urgently fill in the current government public survey consultation before it closes on Friday too

LoveNorfolk

Thanks, I'll pass on that to my parents. 

When they get a NTK though, I assume the appeals process via their website will be the same and someone's details will need to go in where they ask for the driver? I was going to put in the appeal they are the registered keeper, untick the I was the driver box, but put it on the one below, hopefully suggesting they weren't but that they wanted details. 

My parents are just tempted to pay to get it out the way, as this is more of a mistake on their part I don't find this as clear to sort. I've got 2 young kids and enough without having to do this for them. They're not in th nest of health and don't understand how all this works as they're in their 70s.

Coupon-mad

Hello again!

OK normally I'd say wait for the NTK next month but I am concerned they might get spooked by that letter and then pay £100!

So, if they want it to go away and would pay £20* (if offered that?) then do this straight away:

DO THIS AS A COMPLAINT NOT AN APPEAL. That way you don't have to tick a box saying who was driving.

DO THIS IN THE KEEPER'S NAME BUT GIVING YOUR POSTAL ADDRESS (not 'care of' - your name goes NOWHERE) but I mean: give their actual address and the email address - both - as yours.

That way, the reply comes to you. Tell the keeper you are dealing with it and they 'should' hear no more but if a NTK arrives (October) it just means SABA has asked the DVLA for their address and to please pass it to you.

So, as I said lodge this as a COMPLAINT, not as an appeal:

Say that the keeper wishes to lodge a formal complaint that:

1.  The two car parks conflict insofar as when tariffs are to be paid while on site. It was reasonable to go to the machine to pay before leaving because that is how the other car park works. Nobody told them this car park was different and they were following NHS staff instructions.

2. The passenger was suffering from pain and significant mobility difficulty having just been discharged from the coronary care unit. Staff advised that this particular car park in the hospital grounds would be closer for the patient to get to the car. The family did just that and paid as they walked out of the building because the other car park allows that.

3. They did this in good faith and were shocked to then find a PCN already on the windscreen. However, the keeper is a blue badge holder anyway and could have parked completely free but they had forgotten their badge due to the stress of the situation. The keeper's blue badge is attached to this complaint.

4. There are two significant issues caused by SABA too:

(a) the VRM has been input incorrectly on the PCN by the SABA operative. They've made a 'keying error' so cannot comply with the POFA if they proceed to issue a NTK because the details on the NTD won't match the NTK. Due to the typo, SABA will lose at POPLA if they proceed that far and must treat this complaint also as an appeal. The BPA AOS team will be informed, if SABA do not either provide a POPLA Code or cancel the PCN.

(b) the keeper has had to use this complaint route because the SABA website is set up misleadingly and blocks a registered keeper from their right to appeal. The website where you appeal has a tick box where's it's mandatory to put the driver's details to continue. As a longstanding BPA member, SABA know full well that blocking keeper appeals and 'making it seem like an appeal is dependent upon entering driver details' was specifically banned by the BPA and DVLA over ten years ago. This conduct in blocking keeper appeals breaches the KADOE and the POFA 2012 and is also a 'misleading omission' which is a breach of the DMCC Act 2024. The keeper is minded to report SABA to the CMA for this misleading conduct if they fail to cancel the PCN. The CMA has new powers to fine businesses who mislead consumers.

Conclusion:
Two wrongs don't make a right and if the keeper had remembered their blue badge they'd have parked free. There is value in cancelling the PCN because SABA can't win at POPLA (due to their ticketer's typo in the PCN) and SABA already have the tariff, and SABA have not yet been put to the expense of paying the DVLA or posting a NTK.

Complaint - desired outcome:

A. The PCN should be cancelled;

and

B. the appeals website must be changed to allow a registered keeper their POFA 2012 right to appeal;

and

C. SABA should work with the hospital to ensure that the rules about when a tariff is to be paid are changed to mirror each other, to be consistent and easy for vulnerable persons to understand.

yours faithfully



* As long as you also upload the blue badge with this complaint, SABA will either cancel or they will offer to settle at £20. Then you can chat to the keeper and decide.

I doubt they'll carry on but if they refuse and also fail to give a POPLA Code, the keeper them emails a complaint to the BPA AOS.


P.S.
please replicate the appeals website issue and take screenshots. Show them here asap!

I want to show it to the government with my response to the Public Consultation which closes on Friday.

I want to ensure the MHCLG's new Code bans websites that block keeper appeals because it is a fundamental right under the POFA 2012! Thd BPA and DVLA banned these appeal tickboxes in 2014! The 'keeper liability' right only went 'live' six months later in 2013 AFTER keepers were given the right to independent appeal (when POPLA came in).

SABA know, as this isn't their first rodeo!

P.P.S.
Please do the Public Consultation by Friday yourself too! See next reply...

Coupon-mad

PLEASE: if you can just fit in a couple of hours to change the law on private parking, now do the government's Public Consultation.

We need every poster to complete this vital Consultation before the deadline.

Ordinary people like you are falling victim to this scam 15 million times per annum. Motorists need your voice added please.

See this thread: -

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6617396/parking-code-of-practice-consultation-8-weeks-from-11th-july-2025/p1

We understand that you may need some pointers. It looks laborious, we get that. It doesn't matter; no knowledge is needed except re your own experiences so you can call out a scam industry and you'll protect millions of motorists and help change the law.

I've written some guidance on that thread. I have covered almost every question, providing ideas if you agree with our stance on things like DRFs, which we say must be banned.

In your case (in answer to what's wrong with the current appeals systems) please NAME AND SHAME SABA and show the screenshots of the appeals pages and tick boxes and tell the MHCLG that this conduct was banned in 2014 by the BPA and DVLA* yet the Joint Code has caused operators to try this trick again. The government must stamp on it!

CLOSES ON FRIDAY. Just days to go.

*A keeper is perfectly entitled to appeal and the law, the BPA and the DVLA agree.

Here's the BPA and DVLA's stated position on this (thanks to Siross for this useful DVLA email). It is not allowed to appeal to make appeal conditional upon saying who was driving:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/64401866#Comment_64401866

That was 11 years ago by David Dunford at the DVLA. Show that to thd MHCLG too, when answering the question about appeals.

LoveNorfolk

Thanks CouponMad,  to contact Saba by email it's done by a form on their site, so hopefully I can get all the helpful info you gave in there.  

I will try my best to complete the consultation!

LoveNorfolk

This is the website, you have to put in appellant details, then uncheck the box if you weren't the driver and have to put driver details to proceed!

LoveNorfolk

All sent, tweaked to obviously be written in first person but without naming the driver. I had to put a phone number in, I have put my parents number but they don't answer unknown numbers and I'm going to prewarn them with regards to this, as I want it all in writing anyway.  Website says should get a repsonse within 2 working days.  Will update!

LoveNorfolk

A speedy reply 😂

Success! 🎉

***

Good afternoon,

Thank you for your email regarding a notice you have received at Bassetlaw Hospital. We appreciate you reaching out to us at this time to discuss points around the notice being issued.

On review of this notice, this has been cancelled with no further action required on this occasion only. This is due to the incorrect vehicle registration being used on the notice on this occasion. Should you receive any notices in the future and wish to lodge an appeal, you may indicate 'N/A' in the driver details field, if you elect not to disclose that information at that time.

In terms of the parking areas at this site, our pay and display areas would require a payment on arrival to the facilities or to simply display a valid Blue Badge for the entirety of the parking session, if using a Blue Badge or standard bay. Both would entitle the Blue Badge holder to free parking at this location. On pay on exit locations, validation through scanning a Blue Badge or a payment is require upon exit to the location. Both styles of car parks would only permit free parking, if the motorist were to obtain their Blue Badge at the time of visiting the location. Terms and conditions signage is displayed in each area of the car park and it would be the motorist's responsibility to ensure these have been read and understood.

Saba manage and enforce this car park on behalf of the hospital Trust, in this case this would be the Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The Trust would decide all terms and conditions of parking and it would be within Saba's role to manage and enforce these on behalf of the Trust. We recommend to continue liaising with the hospital Trust in regards to any specific tariffs or terms and conditions.

Again, we appreciate you reaching our to ourselves regarding the notice you received, along with our appeals portal. If you require any further assistance, please do not hesitate to get back in touch with us.

Coupon-mad

Credit where credit is due. Fair answer from SABA. That went well!

However this (below) is unlawful and at no point does it say you can elect not to say:

Coupon-mad said:

The SABA website is set up misleadingly and blocks a registered keeper from their right to appeal. The website where you appeal has a tick box where's it's mandatory to put the driver's details to continue. As a longstanding BPA member, SABA know full well that blocking keeper appeals and 'making it seem like an appeal is dependent upon entering driver details' was specifically banned by the BPA and DVLA over ten years ago.

This conduct in blocking keeper appeals breaches the KADOE and the POFA 2012 and is also a 'misleading omission' which is a breach of the DMCC Act 2024. The keeper is minded to report SABA to the CMA for this misleading conduct if they fail to cancel the PCN. The CMA has new powers to fine businesses who mislead consumers.

A keeper is perfectly entitled to appeal and the law, the BPA and the DVLA agree.

Here's the BPA and DVLA's stated position on this (thanks to Siross for this useful DVLA email). It is not allowed to appeal to make appeal conditional upon saying who was driving:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/64401866#Comment_64401866

That was 11 years ago by David Dunford at the DVLA - this was before weaker staff were IMHO 'got at' and landed in the pockets of the BPA

LoveNorfolk said:

This is the website, you have to put in appellant details, then uncheck the box if you weren't the driver and have to put driver details to proceed!