Parked at BP Connect Gatwick, stopped for food and a coffee,
Parked at BP Connect Gatwick, stopped for food and a coffee,
Author
Discussion

siamblue

Original Poster:

64 posts

253 months

Monday 28th August 2006
quotequote all
On the 26/07, I bought a coffee at the wold bean cafe and had something to eat then went to the toilet, stopped at said garage for 45 minutes,
yesterday recieved in the post i have a penalty charge notice from the 26/07 they say i have 14 days to pay £75 before it goes up to £150 then onto a debt recovery agency, there is no number to contest it, seeing as i was in the garage having something to eat and a coffeee then using the toilet, is this just like the old clamping firms, the company CIVIL ENFORCEMENT of Nottm said they have photographic evidence that i was parked up from 0941 to 1025,
anyone know where i stand?

regards GARY,

Polarbert

17,936 posts

261 months

Monday 28th August 2006
quotequote all
Erm...

don't really have a clue why they gave you the charge. Were you parked illegally? You didn't J turn it into a parking space did you?


How was the coffee?

tvrforever

3,196 posts

295 months

Monday 28th August 2006
quotequote all

bmgm3

10,480 posts

273 months

Monday 28th August 2006
quotequote all
There is no info at all on how to appeal ? There should be.Where exactly were you parked ? I would personally ignore it. I had a similar thing happen to me where a parking company wants £100 from me or they will pass it over to a debt recovery firm. This happend 6 months agao and I've yet to hear a thing from them.

LuS1fer

43,543 posts

275 months

Monday 28th August 2006
quotequote all
Possibly a scam?

busa_rush

6,930 posts

281 months

Monday 28th August 2006
quotequote all
Scam, yep. Ignore then if they chase, alert plod and BP.

denisb

509 posts

285 months

Monday 28th August 2006
quotequote all
According to a fairly recent TV documentary (couple of months) you are screwed. In short the goverment are licensing companies like this without question and because they have a licence they can enforce whatever penalties where ever they like on private property without a single visible notice (it must have been nicked guv). Note that 'private property' can include a street you can drive into with no warning. And the duration of the offence can be stopping for a fraction of a second. And because the companies are 'licenced' you will be found guilty in a court.

The police and council won't care because it was on private property.

BP won't care because the stations are franchises and any enforcement is via a third party (like supermarket car parks).

The Goverment won't care bacause they are making money.


I take it you were on parked on the service station for the duration.

rich 36

13,739 posts

296 months

Monday 28th August 2006
quotequote all
Polarbert said:
Erm...

don't really have a clue why they gave you the charge. Were you parked illegally? You didn't J turn it into a parking space did you?


How was the coffee?




wild & bitter

I'd say

stubby pete

2,488 posts

276 months

Monday 28th August 2006
quotequote all
Polarbert said:
Erm...

don't really have a clue why they gave you the charge. Were you parked illegally? You didn't J turn it into a parking space did you?


How was the coffee?


Even more expensive than usual!

bi9_jk

883 posts

295 months

Monday 28th August 2006
quotequote all
You must remember that the fixed penalties are just an offer. Instead of prosecution they are offering you to accept this fixed penalty and no futher action will be taken.
I dont get how they can go for debt collection on a fixed penalty after a certain term because their seems from your statement no intended prosecution just a treat of interest and debt collectors.

If i was you i would throw it out.

CommanderJameson

22,096 posts

256 months

Monday 28th August 2006
quotequote all
Doesn't this need to be in SP&L?

KB_S1

5,967 posts

259 months

Monday 28th August 2006
quotequote all
As they have stated that they have camera evidence they must also have a sign up warning you that you are under surveillance for what ever puropse I would think.
Was there any such sign? why are they claiming your parking was illegal? if it was a car park and you were a paying customer then what is the purpose of the car park?
Hope you paid by Visa or similar so at least you have transaction evidence.

RR-eng

5,794 posts

263 months

Monday 28th August 2006
quotequote all
There was a feature on this on some Watchdog type program about a similar scheme around Woking Station. Out side Woking station there was a piece of road that happened to be private yet was connected at each end to public roads. People would stop their to drop people of at the station.

The company in question had etrected massive signs with a "warning notice" on it that had a similar number of words on it as an A4 document. This was a "water tight" contract that allowed them to charge you for stopping on their private property, the company lawyer claimed that they had the right to fine people as they had entered into a contract by stopping there.

However the entire scheme was bollox for several reasons:

1: You can't claim to have a contract with somebody if they weren't aware they had made one, unless somebody had got out of their car and read the small print of the sign they would be unable to read and understand the sign. They would then have to be granted the option of not entering into the contract and drive off.

2: The "contract" is completely unreasonable, you can drop people off on double yellow lines, a reasonabe person would expect to be able to drop somebody off on the majority of side streets in a city.

The up shot of the example given was that the company who ran the above scheme had never actually procuted anyone. I expect the same thing will aply to these jokers, as their scheme fall down on the same two issues.

I HATE GATSO

2,152 posts

247 months

Monday 28th August 2006
quotequote all
Had similar situation last year, ended having to pay the £75. I contacted the british parking association and they said as yet they had no control over these private firms but apparently their supposed to be bring in new laws to stop these bandits screwing the general public.

jspesh

796 posts

246 months

Monday 28th August 2006
quotequote all
Sounds like a good way to make some extra cash

Kinky

39,944 posts

299 months

Monday 28th August 2006
quotequote all
So you stopped at a garage to avail of their facilities - coffee/lunch/loo - and then they fine you for doing so?

Sounds scammy to me.

I'll move this to SP&L, as it's more appropriate there.

K

puggit

49,821 posts

278 months

Monday 28th August 2006
quotequote all
RR-eng said:
There was a feature on this on some Watchdog type program about a similar scheme around Woking Station. Out side Woking station there was a piece of road that happened to be private yet was connected at each end to public roads. People would stop their to drop people of at the station.

The company in question had etrected massive signs with a "warning notice" on it that had a similar number of words on it as an A4 document. This was a "water tight" contract that allowed them to charge you for stopping on their private property, the company lawyer claimed that they had the right to fine people as they had entered into a contract by stopping there.

However the entire scheme was bollox for several reasons:

1: You can't claim to have a contract with somebody if they weren't aware they had made one, unless somebody had got out of their car and read the small print of the sign they would be unable to read and understand the sign. They would then have to be granted the option of not entering into the contract and drive off.

2: The "contract" is completely unreasonable, you can drop people off on double yellow lines, a reasonabe person would expect to be able to drop somebody off on the majority of side streets in a city.

The up shot of the example given was that the company who ran the above scheme had never actually procuted anyone. I expect the same thing will aply to these jokers, as their scheme fall down on the same two issues.
Are you sure this wasn't Reading station? Facts are the same though...

siamblue

Original Poster:

64 posts

253 months

Monday 28th August 2006
quotequote all
Hi Guys, just to clarify, i parked in the petrol station car park and was at no time parked illegally, no one approached me or put any ticket on my car all the time i was there,
I did see some signs that said about restrictive parking, but as i was using the said garage i thought that i would be ok,
I have now written a email to Watchdog, and tomorrow phone the company that issued the fine and will also be speaking to the BP COnnect garage manager as well,
then i will report back here,

many thanks for all your replies,

Gary,

tigger1

8,476 posts

251 months

Monday 28th August 2006
quotequote all
Don't know if it's any help (will try to get a phone number tomorrow): -

Name & Registered Office:
CIVIL ENFORCEMENT LTD
DBH HOUSE
CARLTON SQUARE
NOTTINGHAM
NG4 3BP
Company No. 05645677

Where is the garage you were at? Based in Nottingham and would prefer to avoid petrol stations that are allowing this kind of operation to go on. I would contact the company and tell them that they evidence they have is wrong, and see if you have any of your own. Offer them with a counter claim of harrassment if they don't cease their demands.

deeps

5,432 posts

271 months

Monday 28th August 2006
quotequote all
Notice how they take One month to contact you, the point being the longer they wait the greater the chance that you wont be able to recall the facts and will have enough doubt to simply cough up. Scamming Bstards.