Complaint email to PALS

Eggsbenedict72

I drafted this on behalf of my partner, would just like a second opinion on it before I/ we send it. Any advice/ feedback welcomed.

I found another thread by someone who complained to PALS at the same hospital and was apparently told they no longer deal with complaints about parking charges, so it is probably a waste of time anyway, but I thought it's worth a go.

Dear PALS at xxx

I would like to make a complaint about a parking charge notice that I have received, and subsequent threatening letters from a debt collection agency, who are now asking me to pay the extortionate sum of £170. 

Reference number etc at the bottom of this email.

Parking was paid in full when my car was used to take my Grandmother to her chemotherapy appointments, some time ago now. The full amount was paid every single time, including the date in question that Parkshield have issued a parking charge notice for, xx/xx/xx

They allege that the car was "not parked within an allocated parking bay", but have provided no evidence to support this allegation. 

As i'm sure you are aware, close family members undergoing cancer treatments is an upsetting and stressful experience and I could really do without the additional stress caused by letters from debt collection agencies, particularly when parking was paid for and the car was parked legitimately. 

I would like to request that you have xxx cancel this parking charge notice, which is nothing more than a ridiculous attempt at unscrupulous extortion, and for them and their debt collectors/ solicitors cease all communication with me immediately. 

Yours Sincerely, 

Xxx

Vehicle Registration Number: xxx

Private parking company: Xxx

Parking Charge Reference Number: Xxx

Gr1pr

Seems OK

Is it Parkshield   ? Or a different one with a similar name   ?

Ignore the powerless debt collectors letters 

Which hospital   ?

Eggsbenedict72

Thank you for the response. It is Parkshield at Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth.

Got the lbc from Moorside Legal through the door while we were on holiday, which we returned from yesterday. Will send the template loc/lbc defence/ response to them shortly too (or the extended version that I've seen recommended) and then expect to recieve County court papers in due course.

I have been advising my partner to write the PALS complaint since I started perusing the forum here.  

She has another pcn from parkingeye too. Will probably be recieving a lbc/loc for that one before long as well 🙄.

Coupon-mad

Do landowner complaints NOW for both. That PALS complaint is very good.

sidsnoteveret

Parking at QA is an omnishambles. In our case the driver was unfortunate in that they needed to use the multi storey which is run by Parkshield Collection Ltd trading as PCP Enforcement Agency, which is probably a seperate legal entity to Parkshield. Despite not recognising the VRN on three occasions, Parkshield still managed to send three NTKs, a setup designed to make drivers fail! I popped into the park a few days ago (making use of the first 20mins free) and there were still queues of people trying to solve the same problem a month later.

As you point out, just by having to be there people are already dealing with enough difficulties without having to struggle with recalcitrant parking payment machines. To add to the confusion, between Parkshield & QA is a firm called Equans, what a tangled web they weave.

My approach to PALS (pho-tr.phtpals@nhs.net) resulted with the manager contacting the Car Parking Team (?) and all three NTK (or fines as they called them) being cancelled. I think I'm right in saying that there is Government advice to hospitals regarding the conduct of their parking contractors which might be worth researching and reminding PALS about if they don't cancel.

Coupon-mad

Yep the NHS Car Parking Principles.

Half_way

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-patient-visitor-and-staff-car-parking-principles/nhs-patient-visitor-and-staff-car-parking-principles

and hee from page 12

https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/HTM0703NovemberUpdated.pdf

Le_Kirk

In our hospital parking is free for anyone undergoing chemo/radiotherapy and I write from personal experience.  It is done by having the ticket validated at one of the reception/check-in desks.  It even works for people delivering collecting family and friends.  Not abused because the check-in ladies always check the appointment cards.