Looking for legal advice re. private parking ticket

[johnnyr6]

Hi guys. As it says above i'm looking for info.

This week i started parking my motorbike at work and got 2 parking tickets, one on monday and one on tuesday.

I work at the GRI and the parking is controlled by Apcoa, a private company. I complained to the company who basically said tough sh*t we are clamping down on bikes parking here and you need to pay. I asked where can i park as it says on the nhs trust website there is allocated parking and they told me they don't have any allocated parking areas and i would need to park in the carpark, in a car space and pay either £1.50 and hour or £112 a month.

I have been parking my bike in the same place at work for nearly 20years without issue. it's out the way and doesn't block any access.

Now after that long winded intro.

Do i have a chance if i contest the tickets?

And is it true i don't need to pay as they cannot enforce payment?

Many thanks, Johnny.

[Terzo123]

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showforum=60

[VetteG]

Ignore them, these private companies have had little success in court. Tesco tried using them, their signs are still up but the little runts who tried to enforce them have long since disappeared.

[Dinoboy]

Yup, throw them in the bin and no matter what rubbish they send you ignore it.

[Craigie]

Sightly off topic but I have always wondered what would happen if you parked your motorbike or scooter and put a bike cover over it (to protect from rain of course).

Are you obliged by law to leave the number plate exposed? I have seen plenty of bikes parked up like this at sides of roads etc?

[Who me ?]

Might be an idea to print out the bit on allocated parking on the NHS website ,and ask the Local trust where it is, with comments on the parking company's attitude. Alternatively ,if you're a member of a health services union, seek advice from them.

[johnnyr6]

[quote=Who me ?]Might be an idea to print out the bit on allocated parking on the NHS website ,and ask the Local trust where it is, with comments on the parking company's attitude. Alternatively ,if you're a member of a health services union, seek advice from them.
[/quote]


Yeah i've already got that. Working on a complaint to both the trust and the car park at the mo. I never though about the union. i'll ask my shop steward what he thinks.

Cheers, Johnny.

[Who me ?]

Another thought- is this a PCT and with links to a county council. If so , perhaps your County Councillor might be someone else to ask ( or even ,since it's getting near election time / yes,no vote, your local MP/MSP).