Hospital car park penalty -DCBL chasing

Andi71

Hi all, 

In January, I had driven my 14 year old son to a GP appointment and was told to take him straight to the hospital as an emergency as GP thought it was appendicitis. 

There were no spaces when we got there (I have a disabled badge and no disabled spaces either), so we drove around for 5-10 minutes waiting but no cars were moving so I decided to park on an access road to one of the car parks near the A&E entrance. Other cars were parked along there as well as was usual, it was not obstructing access and I had never noticed they’d put double yellow lines down it until that day so they must have done it recently but had to take a chance as needed to get my son into the hospital. 

Son was admitted and did have appendicitis and as he is a Type 1 diabetic, I couldn’t leave him to go and try to move car as didn’t know how long I’d be, we were waiting to be called for a scan. his blood sugars weren’t stable and nurses said I had to stay with him. When my husband got to the hospital after work about two hours later I immediately went to move my car and it had a penalty ticket on it. 

I appealed under extenuating circumstances when was refused, then went to POPLA who also refused it. 

I enclosed my son’s admission sheet showing he was admitted that day and was operated on and a copy of disabled badge. 

I left it as was furious it had been refused and am now being chased by DCBL for £170 with the threat of court action. Think the original penalty was £70. 

I just want to know if it gets to court, would it go in their favour? 

What was I supposed to do, drive out of the hospital to a car park 10-15 mins walk away and then get my son to walk back to the hospital? It was an emergency! His blood sugars were high and he was in too much pain to walk! 

I would have thought that would be classed as extreme circumstances which is what I appealed on. 

There was no loss incurred as we were exempt from parking charges due to the disabled badge. 

Aren’t fines supposed to be proportionate to hold up in court? 

The car park operator is Car Parking Partnership. Any advice appreciated as I don’t want to pay it also don’t want a CCJ. I could understand if I caused an obstruction but why should they profit from my son needing emergency medical treatment. 

PALs will not help. 

Gr1pr

Definitely wasn't a penalty notice, it was a parking charge notice, PCN , to the driver , from CPP

Pals, or the CEO should help

Ignore the powerless debt collectors letters,  see post 4 in the newbies sticky thread in announcements near the top of the forum 

See post 2 as well and respond to any Letter of Claim,  or deal with a  possible future Money Claim from the CNBC in Northampton 

Only a judge can decide the outcome,  in court,  if it gets that far,  it would be very foolish to prejudge a judge,  but they are more likely to discontinue just before the hearing fee is due from the claimant 

Coupon-mad

Andi71 said:

Hi all, 

In January, I had driven my 14 year old son to a GP appointment and was told to take him straight to the hospital as an emergency as GP thought it was appendicitis. 

There were no spaces when we got there (I have a disabled badge and no disabled spaces either), so we drove around for 5-10 minutes waiting but no cars were moving so I decided to park on an access road to one of the car parks near the A&E entrance. Other cars were parked along there as well as was usual, it was not obstructing access and I had never noticed they’d put double yellow lines down it until that day so they must have done it recently but had to take a chance as needed to get my son into the hospital. 

Son was admitted and did have appendicitis and as he is a Type 1 diabetic, I couldn’t leave him to go and try to move car as didn’t know how long I’d be, we were waiting to be called for a scan. his blood sugars weren’t stable and nurses said I had to stay with him. When my husband got to the hospital after work about two hours later I immediately went to move my car and it had a penalty ticket on it. 

I appealed under extenuating circumstances when was refused, then went to POPLA who also refused it. 

I enclosed my son’s admission sheet showing he was admitted that day and was operated on and a copy of disabled badge. 

I left it as was furious it had been refused and am now being chased by DCBL for £170 with the threat of court action. Think the original penalty was £70. 

I just want to know if it gets to court, would it go in their favour? 

What was I supposed to do, drive out of the hospital to a car park 10-15 mins walk away and then get my son to walk back to the hospital? It was an emergency! His blood sugars were high and he was in too much pain to walk! 

I would have thought that would be classed as extreme circumstances which is what I appealed on. 

There was no loss incurred as we were exempt from parking charges due to the disabled badge. 

Aren’t fines supposed to be proportionate to hold up in court? 

The car park operator is Car Parking Partnership. Any advice appreciated as I don’t want to pay it also don’t want a CCJ. I could understand if I caused an obstruction but why should they profit from my son needing emergency medical treatment. 

PALs will not help. 

What do you mean "PALS will not help"? They have to, because the NHS Car Parking Principles makes the NHS Trust responsible.