NCP set to enter administration
Discussion
https://www.gbnews.com/lifestyle/cars/parking-uk-c...
How is this possible considering the amount they rip people off in fines by making it so difficult to pay?
I visited one in Epsom recently, there was only one machine to pay and that was out of order. Just pay on the app I hear you say? Well apparently you can only use that if you pay in advance.
The machine was showing a screen with a QR code for a receipt, luckily a lady showed up and showed me that if you clicked in a tiny part of the screen, the screen to allow you to enter your registration would appear.
This isn't the first time, I am certain all of these parking companies make it as difficult as possible to pay on purpose.
NCP, you won't be missed.
How is this possible considering the amount they rip people off in fines by making it so difficult to pay?
I visited one in Epsom recently, there was only one machine to pay and that was out of order. Just pay on the app I hear you say? Well apparently you can only use that if you pay in advance.
The machine was showing a screen with a QR code for a receipt, luckily a lady showed up and showed me that if you clicked in a tiny part of the screen, the screen to allow you to enter your registration would appear.
This isn't the first time, I am certain all of these parking companies make it as difficult as possible to pay on purpose.
NCP, you won't be missed.
OT but Dart have suspended my account because the top up card had expired.
The cheeky beggars insist on a min balance of £5.60 and a minimum top up of £15 - I use it once or twice a year and they must be sat on £M's of deposits.
I am going to switch to paying when I use it now and ditch the auto account
The cheeky beggars insist on a min balance of £5.60 and a minimum top up of £15 - I use it once or twice a year and they must be sat on £M's of deposits.
I am going to switch to paying when I use it now and ditch the auto account
ttier Japanese owned company According to the BBC the firm's debts were £305m greater than the value of its assets as of 30 September last year, and they are running a £30m loss per year. They'll probably get rid of the sites that are falling down, let councils take on the problem, sack 2/3 of the staff, and reappear as NCP2 in the near future, smelling of roses.
valiant said:
How in earth can't you make a carpark pay?
A few white lines, a machine, a few cameras and that's basically it. It has to be one of the most automated businesses there is.
I haven't use one in ages. I wouldn't even park there if you paid me - some of the car parks in London (not all NCP) are rife with car thieves and vandals! Presumably it can't be that profitable if they can't even afford security.A few white lines, a machine, a few cameras and that's basically it. It has to be one of the most automated businesses there is.
valiant said:
How in earth can't you make a carpark pay?
A few white lines, a machine, a few cameras and that's basically it. It has to be one of the most automated businesses there is.
My bet, private equity bleeding them dry, just like they're doing all over the country/world. Just the latest victim of greed.A few white lines, a machine, a few cameras and that's basically it. It has to be one of the most automated businesses there is.
valiant said:
How in earth can't you make a carpark pay?
A few white lines, a machine, a few cameras and that's basically it. It has to be one of the most automated businesses there is.
If you sell it to a property management company, lease it back at silly rent and use the money from the sale to pay a dividend to your overlords, who have already saddled you with piles of debt. Then you add in the car park sitting empty for the best part of 2 years over Covid, and never quite being back to the same weekly occupancy because people are either working from home some/all of the time or shopping online/at retail parks more often. Another example of what should have been a solid business gone to the wall.A few white lines, a machine, a few cameras and that's basically it. It has to be one of the most automated businesses there is.
alangla said:
valiant said:
How in earth can't you make a carpark pay?
A few white lines, a machine, a few cameras and that's basically it. It has to be one of the most automated businesses there is.
If you sell it to a property management company, lease it back at silly rent and use the money from the sale to pay a dividend to your overlords, who have already saddled you with piles of debt. Then you add in the car park sitting empty for the best part of 2 years over Covid, and never quite being back to the same weekly occupancy because people are either working from home some/all of the time or shopping online/at retail parks more often. Another example of what should have been a solid business gone to the wall.A few white lines, a machine, a few cameras and that's basically it. It has to be one of the most automated businesses there is.
NCP sites are either nice, or utter grotholes attached to shopping centres that have long lost their lustre and have more closed shops than open.
They used every buzzword excuse: covid, utilities etc and forgot to mention Brexit!
And the crazy thing is that they were the least litigious of all the parking companies and rarely took anyone to court!
All that will happen is that another company takes over the profitable sites, and the unprofitable sites accelerate their conversion into prison style new build flats.
They used every buzzword excuse: covid, utilities etc and forgot to mention Brexit!
And the crazy thing is that they were the least litigious of all the parking companies and rarely took anyone to court!
All that will happen is that another company takes over the profitable sites, and the unprofitable sites accelerate their conversion into prison style new build flats.
Edited by vikingaero on Monday 16th March 17:25
valiant said:
How in earth can't you make a carpark pay?
A few white lines, a machine, a few cameras and that's basically it. It has to be one of the most automated businesses there is.
I would imagine they leveraged the properties and then they've struggled since Covid which will have almost killed their business and the subsequent switch to online shopping and suchlike.A few white lines, a machine, a few cameras and that's basically it. It has to be one of the most automated businesses there is.
Muzzer79 said:
valiant said:
How in earth can't you make a carpark pay?
A few white lines, a machine, a few cameras and that's basically it. It has to be one of the most automated businesses there is.
I would imagine they leveraged the properties and then they've struggled since Covid which will have almost killed their business and the subsequent switch to online shopping and suchlike.A few white lines, a machine, a few cameras and that's basically it. It has to be one of the most automated businesses there is.
Willhire89 said:
OT but Dart have suspended my account because the top up card had expired.
The cheeky beggars insist on a min balance of £5.60 and a minimum top up of £15 - I use it once or twice a year and they must be sat on £M's of deposits.
I am going to switch to paying when I use it now and ditch the auto account
The Humber Bridge is similar, possibly the same company, I looked to set up an account yesterday, 15 quid with a minimum in the account of a tenner, for the amount of times I go across I'll just pay each time, balls to that The cheeky beggars insist on a min balance of £5.60 and a minimum top up of £15 - I use it once or twice a year and they must be sat on £M's of deposits.
I am going to switch to paying when I use it now and ditch the auto account
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