Parking Charge......HELP!!!
Discussion
Come back from Hols. late last night to find a parking charge, civil inforcement notice amongst the post. top of form has my name, address, car reg, colour, make, model (all correct) and an incident date (21/9/06) and PCN issue date 9/10/06 - thats 18 days after can they do that????
It goes on to say that on 21/9/06 I was the registered keeper of the vehicle that was parked at BP Gatwick sout connect, ring road north Gatwick from 1335 to 1410.
I am therefore responsible for payment of this parking charge of £150 that must be pais within 28 days of the issue date. If paid within 14 days it is £75.
FAILURE TO PAY THE AMOUNT DUE WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THE ISSUE DATE WILL RESULT IN CIVIL ENFORCEMENT LTD FORWARDING YOUR ACCOUNT TO A DEPT RECOVERY AGENCY AND YOU WILL INCUR ADDITIONAL COSTS
WE HAVE PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE OF THIS INCIDENT.
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There is a methods of payment box with details of how to pay via phone or post. There are no other details, no discrepancy point of contact etc.
I've looked back in my diary and remember the day well. I had been parked in the South Term. short stay car park while I did a job at the Gatwick Express station (I have the receipt for parking there) my next job was Brighton so on the way out I stopped/parked in a space on the BP site and after a couple of phone calls (incomming)purchassed food there from the wild bean cafe and returned to my car to eat it. Then continued to Brighton. I can check all times etc as my employer has a real-time tracker fitted to my vehicle.
I have already sent this letter to BP -
After working at Gatwick Airport, and exiting the short stay car park, I stopped for lunch at BP Connect (Gatwick South), Ring Road North, Gatwick before leaving for my next job in Brighton. I have just received a parking fine for stopping at your Wild Bean Cafe at Gatwick on 21 September 2006. This fine wasn't actually sent to me until 9 October 2006, and arrived with me on 11 October 2006.
I appreciate that you may have a problem at your Gatwick BP Connect with people waiting in your forecourt before collecting people from Gatwick, but I have proof that I had already exited the short stay car park and only stopped at this Wild Bean Cafe to buy my lunch before then heading straight off to Brighton. So I had no intention of killing time before meeting somebody from the airport.
I purchased food in your cafe and sat in my car to eat it. I didn't once leave my vehicle and can prove that the ignition was on as my company have installed a live Tracker in my car which notes when the vehicle is stopped, started and where in the country it is.
As an engineer who drives 60,000 miles a year, and on average fills up at BP every day (and you can check this on your records as you take my registration number ), I am outraged at how you treat your loyal customers. What's the point of having a cafe on your premises if you can't eat on your premises without getting a parking ticket?
Is this how you treat your regular customers? If it is, I believe that the National Press would be very keen to hear about this.
I would appreciate a response by return because, as you will know, the fine is increased if it is left longer than 14 days. Also, I would appreciate a copy of the photographic evidence you have to support this as it will clearly show me purchasing food from your premises. There is no contact details on the Parking Charge Notice, so I have no choice but to email BP direct.
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I don't recall any signs at all ref. parking restrictions however I will return today and check. I am a bit worried as I also stopped there for lunch agai the following Sunday. Any advise. I think I will be getting a solicitor onto this on Monday - quite an expensive sandwich that turned out to be!!!!
It goes on to say that on 21/9/06 I was the registered keeper of the vehicle that was parked at BP Gatwick sout connect, ring road north Gatwick from 1335 to 1410.
I am therefore responsible for payment of this parking charge of £150 that must be pais within 28 days of the issue date. If paid within 14 days it is £75.
FAILURE TO PAY THE AMOUNT DUE WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THE ISSUE DATE WILL RESULT IN CIVIL ENFORCEMENT LTD FORWARDING YOUR ACCOUNT TO A DEPT RECOVERY AGENCY AND YOU WILL INCUR ADDITIONAL COSTS
WE HAVE PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE OF THIS INCIDENT.
-------------------------------------------------------------
There is a methods of payment box with details of how to pay via phone or post. There are no other details, no discrepancy point of contact etc.
I've looked back in my diary and remember the day well. I had been parked in the South Term. short stay car park while I did a job at the Gatwick Express station (I have the receipt for parking there) my next job was Brighton so on the way out I stopped/parked in a space on the BP site and after a couple of phone calls (incomming)purchassed food there from the wild bean cafe and returned to my car to eat it. Then continued to Brighton. I can check all times etc as my employer has a real-time tracker fitted to my vehicle.
I have already sent this letter to BP -
After working at Gatwick Airport, and exiting the short stay car park, I stopped for lunch at BP Connect (Gatwick South), Ring Road North, Gatwick before leaving for my next job in Brighton. I have just received a parking fine for stopping at your Wild Bean Cafe at Gatwick on 21 September 2006. This fine wasn't actually sent to me until 9 October 2006, and arrived with me on 11 October 2006.
I appreciate that you may have a problem at your Gatwick BP Connect with people waiting in your forecourt before collecting people from Gatwick, but I have proof that I had already exited the short stay car park and only stopped at this Wild Bean Cafe to buy my lunch before then heading straight off to Brighton. So I had no intention of killing time before meeting somebody from the airport.
I purchased food in your cafe and sat in my car to eat it. I didn't once leave my vehicle and can prove that the ignition was on as my company have installed a live Tracker in my car which notes when the vehicle is stopped, started and where in the country it is.
As an engineer who drives 60,000 miles a year, and on average fills up at BP every day (and you can check this on your records as you take my registration number ), I am outraged at how you treat your loyal customers. What's the point of having a cafe on your premises if you can't eat on your premises without getting a parking ticket?
Is this how you treat your regular customers? If it is, I believe that the National Press would be very keen to hear about this.
I would appreciate a response by return because, as you will know, the fine is increased if it is left longer than 14 days. Also, I would appreciate a copy of the photographic evidence you have to support this as it will clearly show me purchasing food from your premises. There is no contact details on the Parking Charge Notice, so I have no choice but to email BP direct.
--------------------------------------------
I don't recall any signs at all ref. parking restrictions however I will return today and check. I am a bit worried as I also stopped there for lunch agai the following Sunday. Any advise. I think I will be getting a solicitor onto this on Monday - quite an expensive sandwich that turned out to be!!!!
Do you know the outcome with the others??? The response I got a while back when I queried this with BP customer services:
Thank you for your Email received in this office on 31st August 2006 concerning the parking control at our Gatwick stores.
At both these stores we have a number of clearly marked car parking bays which are intended for the use of our customers. In the past, we have experienced severe problems with illicit parking on our forecourts resulting in cars being parked for long period of times, thus occupying valuable spaces and causing congestion on the forecourts.
Therefore, reluctantly we have taken the steps of employing a parking control company to help alleviate this increasing problem. There are many visible signs displayed on the site advising customers of the measures taken. These were on display for 1 week, prior to action being taken, to ensure customers were able to become accustomed to the new operation.
After much deliberation and consideration we felt we had no alternative but to take firm action to resolve the parking problem at our Gatwick Connect stores.
Thank you for your Email received in this office on 31st August 2006 concerning the parking control at our Gatwick stores.
At both these stores we have a number of clearly marked car parking bays which are intended for the use of our customers. In the past, we have experienced severe problems with illicit parking on our forecourts resulting in cars being parked for long period of times, thus occupying valuable spaces and causing congestion on the forecourts.
Therefore, reluctantly we have taken the steps of employing a parking control company to help alleviate this increasing problem. There are many visible signs displayed on the site advising customers of the measures taken. These were on display for 1 week, prior to action being taken, to ensure customers were able to become accustomed to the new operation.
After much deliberation and consideration we felt we had no alternative but to take firm action to resolve the parking problem at our Gatwick Connect stores.
bigdods said:
The response I got a while back when I queried this with BP customer services:
Thank you for your Email received in this office on 31st August 2006 concerning the parking control at our Gatwick stores.
At both these stores we have a number of clearly marked car parking bays which are intended for the use of our customers. In the past, we have experienced severe problems with illicit parking on our forecourts resulting in cars being parked for long period of times, thus occupying valuable spaces and causing congestion on the forecourts.
Therefore, reluctantly we have taken the steps of employing a parking control company to help alleviate this increasing problem. There are many visible signs displayed on the site advising customers of the measures taken. These were on display for 1 week, prior to action being taken, to ensure customers were able to become accustomed to the new operation.
After much deliberation and consideration we felt we had no alternative but to take firm action to resolve the parking problem at our Gatwick Connect stores.
Thank you for your Email received in this office on 31st August 2006 concerning the parking control at our Gatwick stores.
At both these stores we have a number of clearly marked car parking bays which are intended for the use of our customers. In the past, we have experienced severe problems with illicit parking on our forecourts resulting in cars being parked for long period of times, thus occupying valuable spaces and causing congestion on the forecourts.
Therefore, reluctantly we have taken the steps of employing a parking control company to help alleviate this increasing problem. There are many visible signs displayed on the site advising customers of the measures taken. These were on display for 1 week, prior to action being taken, to ensure customers were able to become accustomed to the new operation.
After much deliberation and consideration we felt we had no alternative but to take firm action to resolve the parking problem at our Gatwick Connect stores.
Looks like a standard response type of letter, I expect to receive the same as that then
Well I I use a tank of petrol a day and I wont be going to BP again thats for sure. Out of interest, did you pay the fine?? I like the fact they put th esigns up a week in advance so everybody would know before hand - like how many of their customers are at that garage every week?
I didnt see any signs but will be checking it out
The short answer is to write back top them pointing out that you do not recall parking at these facilities, that you dispute the incident / charge and suggest that they take the matter up with the driver of the vehicle at the time as any contract they may have is with him. At no point should you admit that you were the driver.
goto www.pepipoo.com for more info on parking tickets - but the consensus of opinion is that these tickets are not worth the paper they are written on....... but make your own mind up
Sean
goto www.pepipoo.com for more info on parking tickets - but the consensus of opinion is that these tickets are not worth the paper they are written on....... but make your own mind up
Sean
I fly from Gatwick several times a month, and travel to & from the ariport by taxi. On my way back last week, the taxi driver was moaning about this. Apperently, they used to stop there to buy a sandwich etc. However, since this has been going on they now boycot the place as they to had been having some very expencive snacks. Regretably, I think its so busy that even if loads of people boycot it, BP won't notice.
I can see it from both sides. If, I owned the place & people were just parking up for an hour to avoid paying for the short term carpark, I would want to do something about it. However, if I have purchased something from the premises, then I would expect to be able to eat it without being fined.
I can see it from both sides. If, I owned the place & people were just parking up for an hour to avoid paying for the short term carpark, I would want to do something about it. However, if I have purchased something from the premises, then I would expect to be able to eat it without being fined.
I returned to the garage yesterday with a camera, there are loads of yellow signs all over the place indicating a 20 mins max stay. there was even one of these signs on the post next to where I parked so there is no way they were there on the 21st of Sep. I would have seen them. The signs are obviously new, the top edges are still clean etc. There were also a couple of white signs there as well, the one near where I parked would have been out of my view the whole time as a 16 ton lorry was parked in front of it that day.
Received a read receipt from BP fo rmy email but no reply as of yet.
Received a read receipt from BP fo rmy email but no reply as of yet.
Well this is interesting, according to civil enforcement ltd I was parked between 1335 and 14:10 on the 21/9. My manager has just forwarded me the tracker data from my car, that puts me on the ring road north (the road the garage is along) at 1337 and back on it at 1402, allowing time for me to get into the garage and park and that puts it very close to the allowed 20mins anyway
Just received in writting this morning - parking charge against me has been dropped!!!!
I sent a letter disputing the timings of the parking as they didn't agree with the car's tracker, I also sent a copy of my short stay parking receipt (where I was parked before), photos of the 3 white signs that were there when I was (and didnt see) and photos of the hundreds of new yellow signs that were there the following week.
I sent a letter disputing the timings of the parking as they didn't agree with the car's tracker, I also sent a copy of my short stay parking receipt (where I was parked before), photos of the 3 white signs that were there when I was (and didnt see) and photos of the hundreds of new yellow signs that were there the following week.
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