Hospital parking charge from Parkingeye: timing PALS, appeal

cartruckbusplane

I got two charges from Parkingeye for parking at a Hospital without paying. The charges where issued 02/02, I only received them 10/02.

As a result I don't have much time to try PALS etc before paying the discounted amount.

PALS

I have written to PALS explaining the situation (below), but there's no guarantee they'll reply or do anything before the 14 day discount period expires. I mentioned NHS guidelines etc to PALS.

Main questions:

1. Can I prove I only received the charges many days after they were supposedly issued? Any way to force them to take this into account for the appeal or "discounted" charge?
2. Should I start an appeal in the meantime or wait to hear from PALS?

Story:

Bringing a baby to A&E in pitch black and rain (7pm-12am). Parked first at one spot during triage, then gone for 30min, then moved to another spot. First spot didn't even have demarcated lines, seemed more like a holding zone, bit of construction going on. Second spot seemed to have booms but they were raised/gone, so assumed free after hours. Didn't know payment was required so didn't pay. Charged for both spots.

Appeal to Parkingeye?

Presumably Parkingeye don't care about the sob story. Only the fact that I couldn't see the signs in the dark, misleading booms. Also being charged twice for the same evening seems clearly bad.

Gr1pr

1. Irrelevant, they are presumed delivered 2 business days later , ignore that aspect
2. Any appeal should be done around day 27 , just before the appeal window deadlines
3. Hopefully PALS will cancel it, bearing in mind that the Equality Act 2010 may apply 2010

kryten3000

Ignore the "mugs discount". Refunds are rare, so not paying is the only sensible option if you intend to challenge this and you definitely should not pay the scam.

SpinninginInfinity

Parking Eye won't do mitigation, I'm afraid.

Go on the war footing with PALS, be polite ,but consistent. Get on the phone.

Request a Datix (or other complaints software) submission. Most trusts have metrics based on complaint resolution and it doesn't look good, both internally and externally, if a submission isn't acted on.

I suspect that PE are subcontractors under the trust. The trust most likely holds the key!

Good luck!

Coupon-mad

You'll never pay a penny, let alone worry about the mugs discount.

cartruckbusplane

Thanks all for the comments. To be honest I might pay the mugs discount on one of the them, and challenge the other based on the fact they sent two charges for one night's parking. They're £100 each from what I've read, and I'm not sure I have the time/energy for the whole 9 yards when my case doesn't seem super strong, seems PE are quite litigious from what I've read. Hopefully PALS will get back before the deadline and I won't have to decide.

cartruckbusplane

PALS has replied and cancelled! A win for compassion. :)

Coupon-mad

Very good news. Plan A strikes again!

patient_dream

Good news ….. ParkingEye are not suitable to run a hospital parking scam

Where do ParkingEye park their horses