Euro Car Parks - Ticketed for Charity!!

[Siecroz]

So I was out in the local Shopping Centre today (Weston Favell), collecting for the Royal British Legion Poppy appeal.

In my Army kit.. all the part. Spent the day there from 10am till 5pm. Before I went in, knowing that it was one of these controlled car parks I left a nice A4 sign in the window of my Frontera stating "RBL Poppy Appeal Collector. See inside for details"

So after 7 hours standing or pacing around the centre listening to ye olde war stories from the dear old veterans, and getting the usual abuse from the chavs.. I get back to the frontera to find a nice friendly note from Euro Car Parks with a lovely little suprise on it...

A new car... a winning lottery prise?? NO.. A TICKET.. Pay £50 in 21 days or we'll see you in court sonny!

So thinking this would be fine, I took it to the security station, still in kit.. beret and all.. expecting that this would simply be a case of explaining who I was.. showing them the paper that I left on the Dash and them apologising and destroying the ticket.

No.. turns out its an external company called Euro Car Parks, and to appeal against the ticket I need to send a letter in writing for their consideration.. with a Stamped Addressed envelope for their reply!!

So not only do they charge people for parking a little too long... even though you cant exactly walk into town from there so people are only going to spend money in the centres shops anyway... No.. On top of the charge you have to PAY for their apology in the form of a Stamped Addressed Envelope!!!

What is this world coming to!?!

Ok.. Rant over.  

[C C]

Sounds like a story for the local press to me.

[Bob696]

If its a private company ticketing a private carpark how can they enforce it? Surly they wont have access to DVLA database.

[drum]

If its a private company ticketing a private carpark how can they enforce it? Surly they wont have access to DVLA database.

They can apply for your records, given that they will claim that you've parked illegally on private land, DVLA will give them your name and address. If it gets this far the will take you to court cos it has cost them money, I think there is small admin charge from DVLA to stop us getting everybodies records that cuts you up on a roundabout etc.

That said I can see that if everybody ignored the fines etc. it would be uneconomical to persue. This is already happening with gatso cameras in some areas, even though they don't pay for your records.

[Colin 009]

Sounds like a story for the local press to me.

Contact the press first mate. no likes bad press

[Disco Geordie]

I agree you must go to the papers on this one

[sulley]

You can pay the s"*& online!!!!

http://www.eurocarparks.com/charges.htm  and they'll charge you an extra fiver for the privelege!!!


I would go to the press.  Sure I've heard bad reports about this bunch before.  They are apparently the 2nd biggest car park company in the UK.  THink NCP is biggest!

[defuzz]

did you have prior permission to park without paying a fee?

Just cos you put a sign in the window doesn't allow you to park for free, I wonder how many chavs would put "collecting for charity" if it was that simple!!!

Presumably the car park co. are under no obligation to allow you to park for free nor cancel the ticket, a polite letter might do the trick though especially if you mention the local paper.

Even so, seems silly to expect to get free parking without talking to the company in advance, sounds harsh I know but in this day and age you don't get sh*t for free, i'm surprised they didn't charge you for a "collecting for charity" licence...........

[Siecroz]

Yeah, they knew. We have been there with permission the last two weekends, and we are there next week too. Theres loads of us floating round the Centre and the Royal British Legion has a display table setup with the veterans on it.. usual Poppy appeal stuff.

Going to write the letter and mention the local Chron etc, and possibly national... just throw them in at the end of the "Winnie the Pooh" Waffle and see what they say.

[Bush Tucker Man]

Going to write the letter and mention the local Chron etc, and possibly national...

The nationals usually pickup on the interesting stories within a few days anyway, that's what seems to happen around here.

We'll be in the nationals within a couple of days (again :roll: ) as we made the front cover of the 'Yorkshire Post'

[Miniman]

Why dont you let us all pay thgem a visit to there website a voice our opinion....Go on lets give them our piece of mind....can we if we get enough may be we will get a response.....come on all of mud club can email them......can we please......?

[defuzz]

i think its a little unfair to go straight to the papers, someone was just doing their job (yes they were probably being a jobsworth) so i think its only fair to give the co. a chance to do the right thing, if they then refuse, then by all means start kicking up a stink.

[PUX]

i think its a little unfair to go straight to the papers, someone was just doing their job (yes they were probably being a jobsworth) so i think its only fair to give the co. a chance to do the right thing, if they then refuse, then by all means start kicking up a stink.

R u a secret car park guy  :lol:  just kiddin 8)

[Siecroz]

Thanks for all the support Chaps..

I agree... I am going to wait for the company to respond before I jump the gun and take it to the local rag.

I will let you know the outcome of it as soon as I hear back from them though.

 :)