|
Post by yellowoptimist on Dec 1, 2016 12:18:50 GMT
So for the recent home evening game against Gillingham, arrived late, car parks are full.
Nobody on the entrance to the hotel car park so I decide to park in there.
Today I received in the post a Parking Charge Notice from a company called Parking Eye, car park management for £100 stating that there are clear notices at the entrance to and within the car park stating private land and for hotel use only.
I have no recollection of signage. Needless to say I am not impressed. Anybody else in a similar position?
|
|
|
Post by yuriyeller on Dec 1, 2016 12:41:52 GMT
Do not respond to them. If you respond you are entering into a contract with them i.e. accepting their terms and conditions.
I'll post some links up regarding this once I've descaled my kettle.
|
|
|
Post by southstandyellow on Dec 1, 2016 12:48:29 GMT
Which hotel?
|
|
|
Post by yellowoptimist on Dec 1, 2016 13:12:33 GMT
|
|
|
Post by bigalan on Dec 1, 2016 13:13:03 GMT
Same here, got there very late.
Having done some initial research I am tomorrow going to the hotel to check the signage out and to see if it's displayed in a place where you can be expected to see it, if not then that's incorrect.
Also to change £100 is excessive in law as you were not depriving them of possible revenue and I have read the parking laws twice today.
If indeed the signage is visible at night and could be expected to be read then what I shall do is write to them explaining politely that there charges are indeed excessive and based upon central Oxford parking charges which are at a premium I will enclose a cheque for three hours maximum occupation stating that this is my final offer and no further correspondence will be entered into.
As I say I am going up to the car park in the morning to see where if at all the signage is and if it is lit or can be reasonably be expected to seen.
I will report back tomorrow
Alan
|
|
|
Post by oufcyellows on Dec 1, 2016 13:22:58 GMT
Like it says above I probably wouldn't reply and see what happens. This has been on thing like inside out and watchdog before, once u reply your admitting fault and then become legally forced to pay. I'm sure like he says they have said don't respond and they very rarely follow it up. However I'm not a legal expert so u may wanna check that out properly
|
|
|
Post by myles on Dec 1, 2016 13:33:06 GMT
Do not respond to them. If you respond you are entering into a contract with them i.e. accepting their terms and conditions. I'll post some links up regarding this once I've descaled my kettle. You enter into a contract with them once you park there and ignoring them is just about the worst thing you can do. They do have to jump through a few hoops to make the owner of the vehicle liable though, so any responses should be made as the owner and not admit to being the driver. Parking Eye are one of the most voracious of the parking companies and absolutely DO follow these up all the way to court, so best to do some research and get some good advice - try this place for starters: forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?s=306974c4354889da6dda04ddf4cd27b3&showforum=60But, again, just ignoring this will NOT make it go away anymore.
|
|
|
Post by ox44xp on Dec 1, 2016 13:38:02 GMT
Up until 2012, you could genuinely ignore these things, but ParkingEye were at the forefront of taking civil action to reclaim the charge and faced with court summonses, most people simply cave in and pay. Perhaps some sort of "group defense" from all those affected might be more appropriate - as people have been able to park there "un-molested" for many, many years and the fact that the last time I read the signs they referred to being clamped and not to being fined, you might get them dropped - but hotel parking might not be a cheap option in the future.
|
|
|
Post by bigalan on Dec 1, 2016 14:24:58 GMT
I have no intention of ignoring them at all, as I said up in a previous post I am going to the car park in the morning to check on the signage and how easy anybody can be expected to read it at night.
If indeed there is a sign, and it can be expected to be seen I shall correspond with them indicating there charges are excessive, that I had no prevented them from earning from the place I parked in and that I am prepared to pay a fee for the inconvenience they have "suffered" and enclose a cheque for three hours of city centre premium prices and stating I have no intention of entering into any more correspondence.
But as I say I will advise on my exact letter tomorrow after I have paid the poxy car park a visit.
|
|
|
Post by myles on Dec 1, 2016 14:40:47 GMT
If indeed there is a sign, and it can be expected to be seen I shall correspond with them indicating there charges are excessive, that I had no prevented them from earning from the place I parked in and that I am prepared to pay a fee for the inconvenience they have "suffered" and enclose a cheque for three hours of city centre premium prices and stating I have no intention of entering into any more correspondence. I would advise you not to bother with that approach, because it simply won't work. The hotel will have the parking scheme in place to ensure spaces are available for their customers and, as you were not a customer of the hotel, you had no legal right to park there. The issue of comparing prices with the city centre is, therefore, irrelevant. Parking Eye have taken a case all the way to the Supreme Court which confirmed (broadly speaking) those principles. However, there are ways of avoiding having to pay the charge, and the issue of signage is likely to be key here. Again, I'd advise you to use the Pepipoo forum linked above to get some advice. There are a lot of helpful people on there who will give you the best chance of fighting this charge.
|
|
|
Post by Junior on Dec 1, 2016 15:08:57 GMT
Can you say you used the hotel for a drink or two before the game? Would that come under the customer of the hotel l?
|
|
|
Post by Pete Burrett on Dec 1, 2016 15:12:33 GMT
Can you say you used the hotel for a drink or two before the game? Would that come under the customer of the hotel l? I was wondering that myself. The signs probably say 'parking for hotel guests only' or similar, but whether a bar customer would be considered a guest might be worth exploring. Mind you, the hotel almost certainly has CCTV in the lobby so ParkingEye could do some checks, if they could be bothered.
|
|
|
Post by ox44xp on Dec 1, 2016 15:16:18 GMT
Make sure to take a photo of the signage, both in close up and in perspective and post them on here such that others can use them should they also wish to contest the charge.
|
|
|
Post by bigalan on Dec 1, 2016 15:34:19 GMT
I shall do this tomorrow after wandering around the car park. If in any way the signage is unreadable or to high (or not any signage at all) I shall report back.
It's worth a try whatever the outcome I reckon.
Alan
|
|
|
Post by yellowoptimist on Dec 1, 2016 15:41:41 GMT
I shall do this tomorrow after wandering around the car park. If in any way the signage is unreadable or to high (or not any signage at all) I shall report back. It's worth a try whatever the outcome I reckon. Alan Thanks for that much appreciated
|
|
|
Post by finlandia on Dec 1, 2016 16:40:19 GMT
If this is on private land, the 'fine' is actually an invoice with a request to pay.
These are not enforceable - same as McDonalds, etc
|
|
|
Post by finlandia on Dec 1, 2016 17:02:50 GMT
|
|
|
Post by myles on Dec 1, 2016 17:26:27 GMT
These are not enforceable - same as McDonalds, etc They absolutely ARE enforceable.
|
|
|
Post by harrycarry on Dec 1, 2016 17:30:23 GMT
So for the recent home evening game against Gillingham, arrived late, car parks are full. Nobody on the entrance to the hotel car park so I decide to park in there. Today I received in the post a Parking Charge Notice from a company called Parking Eye, car park management for £100 stating that there are clear notices at the entrance to and within the car park stating private land and for hotel use only. I have no recollection of signage. Needless to say I am not impressed. Anybody else in a similar position? I saw you drinking in the bar so you were a customer of the hotel, if you get what I am alluding to!
|
|
|
Post by Junior on Dec 1, 2016 17:50:02 GMT
Be surprised if their CCTV goes back that far. It's a Kassam hotel as well so would imagine it's not top of the range!
|
|
|
Post by harrycarry on Dec 1, 2016 19:45:28 GMT
Think the CCTV focuses on areas like toilets, to make sure the guests do not use too much bog roll. If they do he charges it to the room.
|
|
|
Post by oxymoron on Dec 1, 2016 20:48:55 GMT
That looks to be a good site for anyone affected - the appeal letter template looks to be a good starting point for anyone fighting the penalty. parkingeye.parkingfine-appeals.co.uk/faq/appeal/appeal-template/Would be interesting to know when Parking Eye took over car parking enforcement from the previous operator, if any.
|
|
|
Post by sussox on Dec 1, 2016 22:01:19 GMT
|
|
|
Post by holdsteady on Dec 1, 2016 22:14:26 GMT
Think the CCTV focuses on areas like toilets, to make sure the guests do not use too much bog roll. If they do he charges it to the room. Maybe park your car in the toilet and do coke in the car park, that will confuse them.
|
|
|
Post by daveoufc on Dec 1, 2016 23:37:23 GMT
This came into force a month or so ago the anpr camera clocks you going in and out. Your allowed 1hr apparently then if you havent entered your reg as a guest of the hotel at bar reception you get fined by the seperate company.(drinking in there doesnt count) There is signage about this unfortunately totally ruined my match day routine as well.
|
|
|
Post by Junior on Dec 2, 2016 3:26:28 GMT
This came into force a month or so ago the anpr camera clocks you going in and out. Your allowed 1hr apparently then if you havent entered your reg as a guest of the hotel at bar reception you get fined by the seperate company.(drinking in there doesnt count) There is signage about this unfortunately totally ruined my match day routine as well. They allowed to use ANPR for that purpose?
|
|
|
Post by essexyellows on Dec 2, 2016 6:24:05 GMT
Yes they can use ANPR, as do many other private land owners. Even our local Sainsburys has ANPR that displays your reg as you drive in,2 hour limit in the car park customer or not. The parking company have to be members of a particular trade body to obtain the registered keepers details from the DVLA which is one of the "costs" that they include in the invoice/PCN. The signage is more than adequate since the car park restriction began being enforced so its a case of pay up & learn.
|
|
|
Post by myles on Dec 2, 2016 7:10:55 GMT
Ah, it's an ANPR system? In that case, it's probably worth fighting. The parking charge notice will say that the car was "parked" but the only evidence provided by ANPR is what time the car entered and left the car park - no proof that it was actually parked. An odd technical argument, but it can work. As before, get on the Pepipoo forum and they will help craft the letters which will fight this one.
By the way, the template letter linked to by an earlier poster is now out of date; since the Beavis case in the Supreme Court last year the "pre-estimate of loss" argument is dead in the water.
|
|
|
Post by bigalan on Dec 2, 2016 13:36:56 GMT
I have just come back from examining the car park. There are signs everywhere informing us of the conditions in which you are allowed to park, on almost every post I could find so saying you did not see a sign is no option.
I intend to do the following.
send a recorded letter to the parking company whose address appears on the reverse of the invoice apologising to them, also pointing out that £100 is an excessive charge for less than three hours parking which prevented them from utilising the particular space the vehicle was parked in.
I am going to point out that the premium parking charges charged by Oxford City Council are the highest around and that I will make a full and final contribution of £50 for the vehicle being parked in the car park and also mention that I am a regular supporter of the Holiday Inn bar pre matches so does this make me a "patron" of the hotel as indicated on the signage.
Hopefully they will accept this and bring it to an end.
I won't be parking there again that's for sure.
|
|
|
Post by pooshooter on Dec 2, 2016 13:42:57 GMT
What about the ford mondeo owner who parks in between the parking spaces in a bush in the car park behind the east stand. keep thinking of taking a photo and posting on a bad parking website but can't really be bothered.
|
|