Free Traffic Legal Advice
Live cases legal advice => Private parking tickets => Topic started by: Aubama on April 08, 2025, 04:47:18 pm
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You can safely ignore any debt recovery letters. Debt collectors are powerless to actually do anything except to try and persuade the low-hanging fruit on the gullible tree to pay up out of ignorance and fear. Never, ever, ever enter into communication with a powerless debt collector. Ignore.
Did you try and make contact with the CEO of the Trust?
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Hi all, I have had this debt recovery letter through the post. Im not quite sure what I should be doing here, I have not corresponded with them since the rejection from PALS. Any advice on what I should be doing next is greatly appreciated.
(https://i.ibb.co/v68qJQFn/IMG-4312.jpg) (https://ibb.co/zTwxS7Mv)
(https://i.ibb.co/0yTCP2dR/IMG-4313.jpg) (https://ibb.co/F425G3jL)
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IMO, don't submit this polemic unless you're prepared to face whatever consequences might follow. You have no first-hand knowledge of this 'scummy firm'.
All you're doing is engaging with extra-procedural channels and ignoring the procedural ones, not that you'd get far with these IMO.
You have identified the driver in this thread;
If any part of a defence relies upon the display of a valid Blue Badge then, as this is yours, if presented as evidence in court would likely identify the driver.
None the less, how can you give yourself the best chance here, whether successful or not?
I suggest you go back to the start.
At the time, [the driver] believed the signage indicated that Blue Badge holders did not need to pay. However, .. Wise Parking [have since been contacted] and [they] informed that Blue Badge holders are required to register at the reception—something [the driver] was unaware of and therefore did not do.
It took quite a while to find a parking space, and in the process, there was a delay between reading the signage and actually parking. Given the time and frustration involved, it’s possible [the driver] misinterpreted the instructions.
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Whilst the CEO will not be reading the emails, one of his minions will be in a position to do something about it and will have more authority than those minions lower down the pecking order. In many instances, this works.
You may want to add to the letter you have suggested that should this scummy firm try to litigate this matter, any contract between the them and the trust will be scrutinised and it is highly likely to reveal that the only incentive this firm has, is based solely on revenue from PCNs, which is completely at odds with the guidelines.
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Thanks for your input, what is the best route here? Thanks
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If it was subject to a tender process (if it's just 1 hospital there's a chance it's under threshold) then I'd suggest they aren't placing enough emphasis on quality when seeking bids. But that's mostly by the by.
I love the whole email the CEO shtick, they don't read emails to their publically available email addresses, they have minions to do that.
I've seen it work enough times that it's worth a go (it certainly doesn't cost anything to try).
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The NHS usually issues a tender for most purchases, including car park management, so calling them out on their choice of contractor isn't likely to make difference. I love the whole email the CEO shtick, they don't read emails to their publically available email addresses, they have minions to do that.
If the PCN isnt POFA compliant that's your best avenue of defence.
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I see, ok so Ben Travis is the CEO of Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Trust, so I'll find his email and cc him in as suggested. I've only identified as the registered keeper.
So my response to PALS will be
"I am making a formal complaint about the conduct of Wise Parking, who manage the car park.
As the registered keeper of the vehicle, I have not identified the driver and refer only to "the driver" as required under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (PoFA). The Notice to Keeper issued is not fully PoFA compliant, and it also breaches the Private Parking Code of Practice by allowing only 21 days to appeal.
Wise Parking is a member of the IPC, which lacks a fair appeals process. I am concerned the Trust has contracted a company known for aggressive and predatory practices. This undermines patient and visitor care.
Please refer to the NHS Car Parking Guidance 2022, which the Trust is expected to follow. I do not accept a generic or dismissive response and request this complaint be escalated and formally acknowledged.
I would also like to know who approved this contractor and what steps the Trust will take in response."
Is this any good?
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For heavens sake, you do not "appeal" to PALS. You complain to them and you go to the very top of the NHS Trust and copy in the CEO and you remind them of their obligations and you link them to this document:
NHS car parking guidance 2022 for NHS trusts and NHS foundation trusts (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-patient-visitor-and-staff-car-parking-principles/nhs-patient-visitor-and-staff-car-parking-principles#:~:text=Frequent%20outpatient%20attenders,a%20period%20of%2030%20days.)
Please tell us that you did not identify the driver when you asked PALS? Whilst the Notice to Keeper (NtK) purports to be PoFA compliant, I tis not and you should only refer to the driver in the third person. No "I did this or that". Only "the driver did this or that".
Only the driver can be liable and Wise Parking have no idea who the driver is, unless you blab it to them, inadvertently or otherwise.
Also, their NtK does not comply with the PPSCoP because it only gives the Keeper 21 days to appeal. However, as you are dealing with a firm of ex-clamper thugs who are out to scam you and they are members of the IPC, which begs the question of who in their right mind at the NHS Trust contracted this firm of borderline criminals to operate their car park in the first place?
Anyway, go back to PALS and do not accept their fob-off and email the CEO of the Trust with a complaint about this.
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Good afternoon, I appealed to PALS who then contacted Wise parking on my behalf and they came back with this response. Please can I get some advice on what I can do next? I want to push this all the way.
(https://i.ibb.co/SDX0VGRJ/Screenshot-2025-04-28-at-16-22-05.png) (https://ibb.co/7xJVrL2b)
Thanks
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PALS
Get them to cancel.
https://www.lewishamandgreenwich.nhs.uk/pals
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I parked at the hospital in a standard parking space and clearly displayed my Blue Badge. At the time, I believed the signage indicated that Blue Badge holders did not need to pay. However, I’ve since contacted Wise Parking and was informed that Blue Badge holders are required to register at the reception—something I was unaware of and therefore did not do.
It took quite a while to find a parking space, and in the process, there was a delay between reading the signage and actually parking. Given the time and frustration involved, it’s possible I misinterpreted the instructions.
I have now received a PCN in the post and would appreciate any advice or support on how best to appeal it successfully.
GSV: https://maps.app.goo.gl/GFCrAvQa1p6UDD839
PCN: (https://i.ibb.co/4wBwprLL/IMG-3022.jpg) (https://ibb.co/mrQr4WKK)
(https://i.ibb.co/7dgcPvxf/IMG-3023.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ks3njKV7)
Thank you.