Parking Cretins
Discussion
I bought my wife a Shogun but the car is listed in my name so I have to deal with this cr@p far too often. Perhaps I should explain. My wife is a community mental health nurse. As she drives to her patients she is issued with a "Car Park Season Ticket". The big problem is that whenever she parks, some moron parking warden looks at her permit then sticks a parking ticket on the car. I have got so pi$$ed off with this (one a week average) that I have taken to issuing invoices with my responces.
The most recent letter from the cretins has just arrived and they are defending the decision to give me a ticket!!!
Here is my responce;-
Dear Mrs. Davis,
I read with some interest your recent letter. I can only express my disbelief that you wish to continue to waste my time for no valid reason.
I strongly resent the implication that my wife was not working and was using the parking permit to dodge parking payment while on some sort of work skive. As she does over 60 hours per week caring for incredibly sick people, I believe you should show a little more respect.
Why are you surprised at the “tone” of my letter? Instead of spending my spare time with an interest or even taking care of my relatives, I have to waste my time pointing out cretinous errors made by your staff. Why do you think I would enjoy spending my very limited spare time in this way?
The car was parked on a Friday afternoon within working hours. As a community mental health nurse, my wife works the same 9-5 hours as any other member of staff of the local authorities. It is therefore a reasonable assumption that she was working.
As part of her duties with her patients, my wife has to escort patients to help them with “daily tasks” which in their poor mental state, they find very difficult. In this case she was helping a severely ill patient with shopping and associated tasks, then to Connections Support Service.
The parking permit is labeled “Car Park Season Ticket” as the car was parked in a “car park” and is still within date, my wife was there on official business, within working hours, I find it incredible that you would wish to waste a nurses time with this kind of stupidity and short sightedness, I find it even more incredible that you are still endeavoring to waste our efforts over a matter that is obviously wrong.
The details and conditions of use issued with the permit are listed below:-
• The permit must be clearly displayed on the windscreen of the vehicle being used for the concession to apply. Any Penalty Charge Notices issued for failing to display the permit will not be waived.
• If the permit has been altered or tampered with, then a Penalty Charge Notice will be issued.
• If your permit is stolen, then a replacement will be issued free of charge on production of a crime number from the Police. However, if your permit is lost or damaged, you should request a replacement - an administration fee may be payable.
• The council reserves the right to withdraw any permit found to have been improperly applied for or misused.
• If you leave the profession or no longer work in Poole, the permit must be returned to the Council straight away.
• The permit allows you to park on a single or double yellow line (except where a loading ban is in force, indicated by kerb marks), in resident's only bays, limited waiting bays, and in surface car parks and on-street pay and display areas without purchasing a payment ticket from the machine. You can park only for the duration of the visit to the patient, and then the vehicle must be removed on completion of the visit.
• You must not park in disabled bays, taxi bays, bus stops or bus lanes, loading bays, or yellow lines where there is also a loading ban in force, multi storey car parks (payment needs to be made on exit), Council Housing Land (Clamping in operation) or near your place of work.
If you would like to take the time to read the issued conditions of use instead of writing pithy letters defending a decision from a parking warden who does not understand his responsibilities, you would realize that all the conditions of use have been complied with.
If you wish to take up the matter with my wifes superiors, that is fine. I suggest you try her direct line manager, Mr XXXXX XXXXX who is based at XXXXX Hospital. In the same token, please supply me with the names and contact details of your superiors as I am sure they will be very interested in your approach to a mistake made by a parking warden.
I expect this matter to be dropped, without the need to waste any more of my time.
I will amend my invoice to take into account the further time spent on this matter, I expect payment within 28 days.
Respectfully,
>> Edited by gooby on Saturday 13th August 20:46
The most recent letter from the cretins has just arrived and they are defending the decision to give me a ticket!!!
Here is my responce;-
Dear Mrs. Davis,
I read with some interest your recent letter. I can only express my disbelief that you wish to continue to waste my time for no valid reason.
I strongly resent the implication that my wife was not working and was using the parking permit to dodge parking payment while on some sort of work skive. As she does over 60 hours per week caring for incredibly sick people, I believe you should show a little more respect.
Why are you surprised at the “tone” of my letter? Instead of spending my spare time with an interest or even taking care of my relatives, I have to waste my time pointing out cretinous errors made by your staff. Why do you think I would enjoy spending my very limited spare time in this way?
The car was parked on a Friday afternoon within working hours. As a community mental health nurse, my wife works the same 9-5 hours as any other member of staff of the local authorities. It is therefore a reasonable assumption that she was working.
As part of her duties with her patients, my wife has to escort patients to help them with “daily tasks” which in their poor mental state, they find very difficult. In this case she was helping a severely ill patient with shopping and associated tasks, then to Connections Support Service.
The parking permit is labeled “Car Park Season Ticket” as the car was parked in a “car park” and is still within date, my wife was there on official business, within working hours, I find it incredible that you would wish to waste a nurses time with this kind of stupidity and short sightedness, I find it even more incredible that you are still endeavoring to waste our efforts over a matter that is obviously wrong.
The details and conditions of use issued with the permit are listed below:-
• The permit must be clearly displayed on the windscreen of the vehicle being used for the concession to apply. Any Penalty Charge Notices issued for failing to display the permit will not be waived.
• If the permit has been altered or tampered with, then a Penalty Charge Notice will be issued.
• If your permit is stolen, then a replacement will be issued free of charge on production of a crime number from the Police. However, if your permit is lost or damaged, you should request a replacement - an administration fee may be payable.
• The council reserves the right to withdraw any permit found to have been improperly applied for or misused.
• If you leave the profession or no longer work in Poole, the permit must be returned to the Council straight away.
• The permit allows you to park on a single or double yellow line (except where a loading ban is in force, indicated by kerb marks), in resident's only bays, limited waiting bays, and in surface car parks and on-street pay and display areas without purchasing a payment ticket from the machine. You can park only for the duration of the visit to the patient, and then the vehicle must be removed on completion of the visit.
• You must not park in disabled bays, taxi bays, bus stops or bus lanes, loading bays, or yellow lines where there is also a loading ban in force, multi storey car parks (payment needs to be made on exit), Council Housing Land (Clamping in operation) or near your place of work.
If you would like to take the time to read the issued conditions of use instead of writing pithy letters defending a decision from a parking warden who does not understand his responsibilities, you would realize that all the conditions of use have been complied with.
If you wish to take up the matter with my wifes superiors, that is fine. I suggest you try her direct line manager, Mr XXXXX XXXXX who is based at XXXXX Hospital. In the same token, please supply me with the names and contact details of your superiors as I am sure they will be very interested in your approach to a mistake made by a parking warden.
I expect this matter to be dropped, without the need to waste any more of my time.
I will amend my invoice to take into account the further time spent on this matter, I expect payment within 28 days.
Respectfully,
>> Edited by gooby on Saturday 13th August 20:46
gooby said:
You can park only for the duration of the visit to the patient, and then the vehicle must be removed on completion of the visit.
I don't know if it is explicitly stated where the permit entitles you to park, but this clause seems to imply that it is intended to cover parking when visiting the patient - I imagine that a distinction could be drawn between this, and giving the patient lifts into town?
But we need your original letter and their reponse, otherwise the story is not complete !
Why don't you write to the local paper about it ? Local rags love to have a pop at council jobsworths/general cretious behaviour so they would love this type of thing.
>> Edited by adrianmugridge on Sunday 14th August 17:02
Why don't you write to the local paper about it ? Local rags love to have a pop at council jobsworths/general cretious behaviour so they would love this type of thing.
>> Edited by adrianmugridge on Sunday 14th August 17:02
gooby keep fighting mate, be sure to note that if this does not get resolved you will go all the way to the Parking Adjudication Service and a lot of people's time, and the councils scarce fiscal resources will have been wasted when you win. Also note that you will be drawing this to the local rag's attention. I have a mate who works on the Bo'Mo' Echo if you wanna raise a stink.
too... They are arguing the point that the car was not parked outside the "the patients house" but the permit allows you to park "in surface car parks". I have a letter from the director of the hospital stating that my wife was on official business. We have stated that the patient lives very close but we are unable to give out the address due to patient confidentiality.
Burecratic morons. I have spoken to the boss of Mrs Davies and then his boss. I have questioned thier attitude and profesionalism. I will have some time tomorrow to prepare the next letter and invoice, up to £247 at the moment.
There is one thing for sure, I will fight and I will never pay.
Burecratic morons. I have spoken to the boss of Mrs Davies and then his boss. I have questioned thier attitude and profesionalism. I will have some time tomorrow to prepare the next letter and invoice, up to £247 at the moment.
There is one thing for sure, I will fight and I will never pay.
gooby, keep it up mate - your persistence will win thru. See this for my latest victory...
http://forums.seloc.org/viewthread.php?tid=51171#pid786660
Will have a chat to my mate Andy and try to get some contact info for you. May not be until next week though mate as I'm very busy with work.
http://forums.seloc.org/viewthread.php?tid=51171#pid786660
Will have a chat to my mate Andy and try to get some contact info for you. May not be until next week though mate as I'm very busy with work.
S Works, I have just got round to reading about your victory. Congratulations. I have a basic rule that whatever the fine no matter how wrong I am, I will fight. I they are going to get money out of me they are going to bl00dy earn it.
Examin the rules, basically understand the proceedure and then fight. If you have to go to the parking complaints authority then do so.
The wife parked on Westover road and duly baught a parking ticket. It was 10 mins over when she returned and there was a ticket.
I fought, basically my idea was they will have to work to get my £60. In the end the parking tribunal found that bournemouth council had not properly submitted docs for the ticket machines and therefore had to apologise to me for the inconvienience.
I have not paid a parking ticket in 4 years and my licence is clean. Never give up and if they are going to take your money, make sure they had to work harder than you to get it.
>> Edited by gooby on Monday 22 August 09:06
Examin the rules, basically understand the proceedure and then fight. If you have to go to the parking complaints authority then do so.
The wife parked on Westover road and duly baught a parking ticket. It was 10 mins over when she returned and there was a ticket.
I fought, basically my idea was they will have to work to get my £60. In the end the parking tribunal found that bournemouth council had not properly submitted docs for the ticket machines and therefore had to apologise to me for the inconvienience.
I have not paid a parking ticket in 4 years and my licence is clean. Never give up and if they are going to take your money, make sure they had to work harder than you to get it.
>> Edited by gooby on Monday 22 August 09:06
They are cretins, they really are...
Here is my latest responce;
--------------------------------
It is with increasing disbelief, I read your letter dated 22nd August.
In your letter dated 12th August you stated that;-
… whilst a Penalty Charge Notice has been issued consideration can always be given to the cancellation of a Penalty Charge Notice if official confirmation is provided that shows the Healthcare Professional was on official business. A letter has been sent to the Practise Supervisor of the Community Mental Health Team at Alderney Hospital to clarify if this was the case.
You have been E-mailed by XXXX XXXX at XXXXXXX Hospital and he has responded stating that my wife was on official business at the time the incorrect parking ticket was issued (please see attached). This leads me to believe that not only have you nothing better to do than get in the way of a health professional doing essential work, you are incapable of paying attention to what has been written and agreed.
Whilst I have received confirmation from The Alderney Hospital that your wife was working at the time in question, I have not received confirmation that she was on a home visit. I am therefore unable to giver consideration to the cancellation of the Penalty Charge Notice.
No address can be given for a patient as this breaks the strong laws concerning patient confidentially and so my wife and XXXXXX XXXXX have not listed the patients address. I find it hard to explain how you could be so unprofessional as to expect the details of a patient in care. With a little thought applied to the situation you would be able to conclude that the car park is in the center of a large residential area.
The conditions for use for a Health Care Permit states;
The permit allows you to park on a single or double yellow line (except where a loading ban is in force, indicated by kerb marks), in resident's only bays, limited waiting bays, and in surface car parks and on-street pay and display areas without purchasing a payment ticket from the machine.
As you are well aware my wife was parked in the surface car park at Sainsbury’s Supermarket in Poole and therefore within the conditions that you have quoted to me for the Health Care permit.
You have also stated;
Should the Council reject your formal representation then you will be given the option to pay £60 or appeal to the National Parking Adjudication Service. The information and appeal form will be provided at that time, and the appeal can only be heard at the normal rate of £60.
I found this statement hard to believe, that to appeal I have to pay £60? I have checked with the NPAS as to the cost of appeal and in fact it is zero. They ask no charge to appeal. I can only conclude that you are trying to scare me into payment by deliberately supplying incorrect information.
Your actions increasingly seem to be vindictive and without grounds and to me, so far you have managed to define the term “unprofessional”. With your current attitude I feel is necessary to involve the Poole Borough Councilors and the NPAS in this matter.
Please take this letter into consideration when you make your decision to cancel the ticket. If you decide to uphold the ticket and push this matter further, please do not delay in issuing a notice of rejection so formal representation can be made to the National Parking Adjudication Service.
-------------------
I have also written to ALL the local councilors, including the one who is a very close friend of the family. He was very interested by the way
--------------------
My wife is a local community mental health nurse. While going about her duty she received a parking ticket. As I am the registered owner of the vehicle in question I have had to deal with this matter. My wife is in posesion of Car Park Season ticket and a Healthcare Parking Permit and after a brief look at the conditions of use I wrote to the Parking Administration section. As I am the registered owner of the vehicle in question, therefore I have had to deal with this matter.
I have written several letters to the Parking Administration section and I have phoned the managers of the department. My letters have been responded to curtly and with no understanding of their duties to the community.
Due to the holiday season and also due to illness within the social services, my wife has to deal with approximately 3-4 time her usual workload of critically ill patients in life threatening situations every day. Instead of the local council supporting the health care professionals in their duties, the attitude that has been displayed by the parking admin section is shocking, at the very least I would expect professional but it seems that this is way above their abilities.
This unprofessional attitude is so extreme that not only do they wish to waste the time of a Community nurse in this matter but also a team leader of the local community health team.
I would be grateful if you could review this situation in order that it does not take place again. The local health care professionals work hard in some of the worst situations possible to ensure our community is a safe place. This is hard enough without the Parking Admin staff sabotaging their efforts.
I enclose recent correspondence from this matter.
-----------------------------------
>> Edited by gooby on Tuesday 23 August 15:30
Here is my latest responce;
--------------------------------
It is with increasing disbelief, I read your letter dated 22nd August.
In your letter dated 12th August you stated that;-
… whilst a Penalty Charge Notice has been issued consideration can always be given to the cancellation of a Penalty Charge Notice if official confirmation is provided that shows the Healthcare Professional was on official business. A letter has been sent to the Practise Supervisor of the Community Mental Health Team at Alderney Hospital to clarify if this was the case.
You have been E-mailed by XXXX XXXX at XXXXXXX Hospital and he has responded stating that my wife was on official business at the time the incorrect parking ticket was issued (please see attached). This leads me to believe that not only have you nothing better to do than get in the way of a health professional doing essential work, you are incapable of paying attention to what has been written and agreed.
Whilst I have received confirmation from The Alderney Hospital that your wife was working at the time in question, I have not received confirmation that she was on a home visit. I am therefore unable to giver consideration to the cancellation of the Penalty Charge Notice.
No address can be given for a patient as this breaks the strong laws concerning patient confidentially and so my wife and XXXXXX XXXXX have not listed the patients address. I find it hard to explain how you could be so unprofessional as to expect the details of a patient in care. With a little thought applied to the situation you would be able to conclude that the car park is in the center of a large residential area.
The conditions for use for a Health Care Permit states;
The permit allows you to park on a single or double yellow line (except where a loading ban is in force, indicated by kerb marks), in resident's only bays, limited waiting bays, and in surface car parks and on-street pay and display areas without purchasing a payment ticket from the machine.
As you are well aware my wife was parked in the surface car park at Sainsbury’s Supermarket in Poole and therefore within the conditions that you have quoted to me for the Health Care permit.
You have also stated;
Should the Council reject your formal representation then you will be given the option to pay £60 or appeal to the National Parking Adjudication Service. The information and appeal form will be provided at that time, and the appeal can only be heard at the normal rate of £60.
I found this statement hard to believe, that to appeal I have to pay £60? I have checked with the NPAS as to the cost of appeal and in fact it is zero. They ask no charge to appeal. I can only conclude that you are trying to scare me into payment by deliberately supplying incorrect information.
Your actions increasingly seem to be vindictive and without grounds and to me, so far you have managed to define the term “unprofessional”. With your current attitude I feel is necessary to involve the Poole Borough Councilors and the NPAS in this matter.
Please take this letter into consideration when you make your decision to cancel the ticket. If you decide to uphold the ticket and push this matter further, please do not delay in issuing a notice of rejection so formal representation can be made to the National Parking Adjudication Service.
-------------------
I have also written to ALL the local councilors, including the one who is a very close friend of the family. He was very interested by the way
--------------------
My wife is a local community mental health nurse. While going about her duty she received a parking ticket. As I am the registered owner of the vehicle in question I have had to deal with this matter. My wife is in posesion of Car Park Season ticket and a Healthcare Parking Permit and after a brief look at the conditions of use I wrote to the Parking Administration section. As I am the registered owner of the vehicle in question, therefore I have had to deal with this matter.
I have written several letters to the Parking Administration section and I have phoned the managers of the department. My letters have been responded to curtly and with no understanding of their duties to the community.
Due to the holiday season and also due to illness within the social services, my wife has to deal with approximately 3-4 time her usual workload of critically ill patients in life threatening situations every day. Instead of the local council supporting the health care professionals in their duties, the attitude that has been displayed by the parking admin section is shocking, at the very least I would expect professional but it seems that this is way above their abilities.
This unprofessional attitude is so extreme that not only do they wish to waste the time of a Community nurse in this matter but also a team leader of the local community health team.
I would be grateful if you could review this situation in order that it does not take place again. The local health care professionals work hard in some of the worst situations possible to ensure our community is a safe place. This is hard enough without the Parking Admin staff sabotaging their efforts.
I enclose recent correspondence from this matter.
-----------------------------------
>> Edited by gooby on Tuesday 23 August 15:30
jasandjules said:
Kick ass..
And don't forget to bill them !!
If at any time I win, then I can charge them for my time. I have not included these details at the moment as I dont want to appear vindictive to the councillors.
We have bl00dy 44 councillors in poole and I have written to them all.
I dont like loosing!
Gooby
I'm sure that you will emerge victorious from this farce judging by your responses to their letters!!
Sounds a bit like the problems I'm having but reversed. They're after money from you and I'm having to make endless calls to get MY money BACK from a building society for a house survey that they never did but charged me for it! And I've also made 9 calls (currently) regarding a contents insurance claim - they constantly tell me that they're behind with their post (not my fault - get yourself more staff to deal with it) and everything seems to take 10 WORKING days. What makes me really, really MAD is that you have to extract this information from them, when they should all be "singing from the same hymn sheet" and telling their customers this!!! How does the saying go? THE CUSTOMER'S ALWAYS RIGHT? Funny how it only applies to certain situations when it suits them eh?
Keep up the good fight!
H
I'm sure that you will emerge victorious from this farce judging by your responses to their letters!!
Sounds a bit like the problems I'm having but reversed. They're after money from you and I'm having to make endless calls to get MY money BACK from a building society for a house survey that they never did but charged me for it! And I've also made 9 calls (currently) regarding a contents insurance claim - they constantly tell me that they're behind with their post (not my fault - get yourself more staff to deal with it) and everything seems to take 10 WORKING days. What makes me really, really MAD is that you have to extract this information from them, when they should all be "singing from the same hymn sheet" and telling their customers this!!! How does the saying go? THE CUSTOMER'S ALWAYS RIGHT? Funny how it only applies to certain situations when it suits them eh?
Keep up the good fight!
H
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