Date: 28-03-24  Time: 10:32 am

Author Topic: car park scam  (Read 21538 times)

esetest

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car park scam
« on: 04 January 2016, 08:21:56 pm »
I received a parking charge notice for  £100 when i got home claiming that i parked overnight at the Hengrove imperial park on the 23rd dec 2015 , this is horse shit as i picked my daughter up from her cleaning job in town at approx 20.30 on 23/12/15  , they claim i entered the car park at 17.02 on the 23/12/15 which i did to buy some plastic sheeting from B&Q and that i left at 11.51 on the 24/12/15 which i did to get my wife a surprise present from Boots , but i didn't stay overnight , either there camera system is flawed or it is a deliberate scam , has anyone else had a similar  problem .

fazersharp

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Re: car park scam
« Reply #1 on: 04 January 2016, 09:06:57 pm »
Yes my daughter had one on a retail carpark when she went to halfords once saying she stayed for 5 hours instead of the 2 allowed. It is camera operated and she went to halfords for 15 mins and left but then went back some 4 hours later for another 15 mins. The camera CONveniently did not see her leave the fist time - or see her arrive the second time.
I took me a whole world of crap to get it cancelled, I took it up with the halfords manager who at first batted me off to the car con park people but in the end he could do without my shit and so dealt with it my telling the carpark scum that it was a staff car.
As evidence of leaving we had phone text conversations saying things like "we are outside to post office" proving she was not there for 5 hours.   
Since then I have refused to go to the same carpark twice in the same day if it has Scameras

These carpark companies are the new cowboy clampers, who look all professional whilst operating out of the back of some pub somewhere

I came across this when looking into it http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/parking-ticket-appeals
« Last Edit: 04 January 2016, 09:22:13 pm by fazersharp »
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mustardbufc

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Re: car park scam
« Reply #2 on: 04 January 2016, 09:15:51 pm »
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/private-parking-tickets

Have a look at the above guide, I found the info useful even though I didn't use ut in the end. I thought the £40 my daughter had to pay was a useful lesson to her as they had her bang to rights!

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Re: car park scam
« Reply #3 on: 04 January 2016, 09:17:49 pm »
Ooh sorry, duplicate link, was typing for a long time while watching telly!

fazersharp

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Re: car park scam
« Reply #4 on: 04 January 2016, 09:22:52 pm »
Ooh sorry, duplicate link, was typing for a long time while watching telly!
No I added it later --- at the same time you posted

Proves a point though of the best place for advive
« Last Edit: 04 January 2016, 09:23:26 pm by fazersharp »
I don't do rain or threat there of. dry rider only with no shame.

fazersharp

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Re: car park scam
« Reply #5 on: 04 January 2016, 09:25:38 pm »
esetest did they send you a picture of your car with the info
I don't do rain or threat there of. dry rider only with no shame.

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Re: car park scam
« Reply #6 on: 04 January 2016, 10:07:35 pm »
Yes my daughter had one on a retail carpark when she went to halfords once saying she stayed for 5 hours instead of the 2 allowed. It is camera operated and she went to halfords for 15 mins and left but then went back some 4 hours later for another 15 mins. The camera CONveniently did not see her leave the fist time - or see her arrive the second time.
I took me a whole world of crap to get it cancelled, I took it up with the halfords manager who at first batted me off to the car con park people but in the end he could do without my shit and so dealt with it my telling the carpark scum that it was a staff car.
As evidence of leaving we had phone text conversations saying things like "we are outside to post office" proving she was not there for 5 hours.   
Since then I have refused to go to the same carpark twice in the same day if it has Scameras

These carpark companies are the new cowboy clampers, who look all professional whilst operating out of the back of some pub somewhere

I came across this when looking into it http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/parking-ticket-appeals
Thanks for the info, something to read tomorrow before I write an appeal letter .

nickodemon

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Re: car park scam
« Reply #7 on: 04 January 2016, 10:11:34 pm »
Correct. they have to send pics of it entering and leaving. Another point to note is you don't need to pay. I know that in Scotland if you get a fine from these parking companies that businesses hire to stop football traffic etc.. using there car parks (morrisons etc..). They will send you a threatening letter with pics of car entering and leaving the car park and a £70 fine which they claim must be paid within 2 weeks. If it isn't paid they then threaten that the fine will be doubled. 90% of people just pay it, but i didn't and after repeated threats they eventually gave up. The parking fine companies know most people pay, so they aren't going to take you to a small claims court because it will cost too much money for them to get there £70 ;)
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Re: car park scam
« Reply #8 on: 04 January 2016, 10:13:27 pm »
esetest did they send you a picture of your car with the info
Yes , they sent me a picture of my car entering and leaving but not parked overnight , the only proof I have is that I know I didn't park overnight , and my wife and daughters can confirm that , I will ask my neighbours if they are prepared to vouch that my car was parked on my drive overnight as well .

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Re: car park scam
« Reply #9 on: 04 January 2016, 10:18:08 pm »
Still on the Brightside , I will walk the 1/2 mile each way instead of driving , it  will make me fitter and I won't spend as much .

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Re: car park scam
« Reply #10 on: 04 January 2016, 10:24:29 pm »
did you buy anything at another shop that you have a receipt for - maybe that will help, proving you was not there
I don't do rain or threat there of. dry rider only with no shame.

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Re: car park scam
« Reply #11 on: 04 January 2016, 10:50:06 pm »
As mustard's link shows, it's the private parking ticket guide you need to follow http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/private-parking-tickets
As the guide points out, legally these are not 'fines', they are 'invoices' for breach of contract. They will have to prove you have breached the contract you entered into (by using their car park under the terms indicated by the signs). Their photo evidence of you arriving and leaving at the times they say, is not proof, given your explanation of two visits. You should ask them to provide photo evidence of all of the arrivals and departures between those two times, showing your car. Alternatively, as others have suggested any other evidence the car was elsewhere will do it.

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Re: car park scam
« Reply #12 on: 04 January 2016, 10:58:42 pm »
did you buy anything at another shop that you have a receipt for - maybe that will help, proving you was not there
Unfortunately no , I did pick my daughter up from her work later that same night , but no other receipts .

sinto

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Re: car park scam
« Reply #13 on: 04 January 2016, 11:01:00 pm »
Get your camera out, reset the date on it and make sure you 'datestamp' (probably wrong name) but not geostamp, then take your car somewhere at approx time your meant to be at the carpark, get somewhere like asda or something in the background of you posing near your car, then email them the picture and tell them that your not paying it as you have proof you weren't at their car park,  sorted :thumbup
« Last Edit: 04 January 2016, 11:01:45 pm by sinto »
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Re: car park scam
« Reply #14 on: 04 January 2016, 11:25:01 pm »
my lad had something similar but not exactly the same :rolleyes

parked in asda to do a job in a bank :lol not that type of job ;)
and the scamera said he'd overstayed his welcome by a few hours and you now owe us X amount

I rang asda and explained he was stuck in a bank and security wise, he couldn't just nip out and nip back in, no probs they said.... give us the car reg and we'll say he was working in asda..............job sorted but it took a bit of running around but time well spent


foc the knobs off and don't pay a penny
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Re: car park scam
« Reply #16 on: 05 January 2016, 07:08:58 am »
Get over to consumeractiongroup forum - you do not have to pay this - even if you were there all night (which you weren't) as there is a burden of proof that you have caused the owner of the land hardship [which is rarely provable].

That whole site is a cynical PFI con with little regard to the fact people using it are ill.

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Re: car park scam
« Reply #17 on: 05 January 2016, 07:31:08 am »
Thanks for all the replies , this site is a great place to get helpful information and to let off steam , i will be appealing the fine , using the info provided by Foccer font of knowledge ,  and even if they reject my appeal , i still won't pay , it's not the amount , which is reduced to £60 if you pay quickly which luckily i can afford to pay , its the fact i wasn't parked there overnight. All those people who say if you have done nothing wrong you have nothing to fear , well i did nothing wrong .

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Re: car park scam
« Reply #18 on: 05 January 2016, 12:01:31 pm »
The letter i got also offered a reduced fee if i paid quickly. It also stated if i didnt pay it within a certain period it would double. It's a con, as they think if they offer you a deal you will just pay it instead of the worry of having to pay double. Don't pay it!
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Re: car park scam
« Reply #19 on: 05 January 2016, 12:11:52 pm »
I would send them an invoice for your administration costs at almost solicitor hourly rates giving them 30 days to pay.
Non payment will result in taking them to a small claims court, citing the inconvenience, injustice and stress this has caused due to them unlawfully trying to Con you out of money. All the correspondencell and research takes time and time is money.
Turn the tables on them and give them a taste of their own medicine

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Re: car park scam
« Reply #20 on: 05 January 2016, 05:25:20 pm »
Have you actually phoned them yet and got a taste of their attitude?

You never know they may even accept your explanation, or they may be total cnuts!!!!!!

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Re: car park scam
« Reply #21 on: 06 January 2016, 10:29:51 am »
I used the companies online appeal from today , and then after I filled out the form the small print says unless you are adding additional info , you have to appeal in writing . I have written the letter this morning using the template from the money saving site , I will be including an invoice for my time and the cost of special delivery postage and a witness statement signed by wife , daughters and neighbours confirming that the vehicle was parked on the drive . Hopefully that will be the end of it .

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Re: car park scam
« Reply #22 on: 06 January 2016, 11:15:53 am »
Even if you have whatever proof you think is rock solid I think the car park scammers always reject any appeal. But that then gives the the green light to go to the ombudsman who should be able to sort it.
I don't do rain or threat there of. dry rider only with no shame.

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Re: car park scam
« Reply #23 on: 06 January 2016, 11:27:39 am »
Family and friends do not count as witnesses unfortunately.
Just flapping about on this stagnant little pond on the outer rim of the internet.....yup....  :-))

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Re: car park scam
« Reply #24 on: 06 January 2016, 11:42:32 am »
i definately remember him dropping off a bottle of malt at my place at 2330
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