Motorists risk £50 fine while they are paying for parking in Maidstone

[The Bald Eagle]

Words fail me.

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Motorists beware: You might be given no time to pay for parking before you are slapped with a fine.

A Kent council has admitted it does not offer a period of grace at any of its car parks – even while drivers are paying for a ticket.

Robert Payne was hit with a £50 fine as he fed money into a Maidstone pay and display machine just yards from where a parking attendant was issuing his ticket.

The enforcement officer slapped a penalty notice on Mr Payne's vehicle in Medway Street, in Maidstone town centre – as he was walking back to the car with a valid ticket.

The 48-year-old, from Maidstone, said: "The warden saw me at the machine. I put my money in the machine, took my ticket and started to walk back to my car.

"That's when I saw him put the charge notice on my window.

"I called out, but was met with the usual 'too late, I've issued the ticket, you’ll have to appeal’. Despite my saying he had seen me at the meter – a point with which he agreed – and that I had a valid ticket – again he also agreed – he would do nothing to help."

Mr Payne lodged an appeal with Maidstone Borough Council's contracted agency, APCOA Parking UK.

The council has now written to Mr Payne to say it has revoked the £50 fine and will not be taking any further action.

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http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent_messenger/news/parking-fine-4506/

[Pat Pending]

And they wonder why some of these jumped up pricks get smack in the mouth more often than not.

[Ewan Hoosami]

It's a pity that the one's deserving of a smack in the mouth manage to get away scot free,



But then occasionally,

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/2317095.Clamper_tells_of_attack_ordeal/

[melville-vs-medway]

But then occasionally,

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/2317095.Clamper_tells_of_attack_ordeal/

I was thinking that the beating was over top and I don't condone the violence used....

BUT.... then i read a few news stories about Whites Parking....

Hampshire-based Whites Car Park Solutions Ltd is charging as much as £450 for parking in the wrong place. As well as a £150 release fee, motorists faced an extra £250 charge for a tow truck which drivers claim was called as soon as the clamp was placed on the vehicle.


http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/3967835.MPs_urged_to_investigate____over_the_top____car_clamp_firm____/

He said: “One woman opened her door to ask if she could park there. The clampers didn’t say a word and just clamped her car while she sat in it. They’ve done it to so many people today, they must have made at least £3,000.”

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/8677248.30_clamped_in_1_day/

The clamp director has gone on the run owing £110,000.... Maybe someone wanted their money and realised they weren't going to get it back..
http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/9645457.Daily_Echo_finds_the__missing__clamp_king/

[Ewan Hoosami]

Exactly. A google search brings up no end of character references for this particular weasel. I should think you have to be particularly repulsive for Patrick Troy not to defend you,

[The Bald Eagle]

And they wonder why these practices were outlawed. Greed brought about their downfall just as greed will bring down POPLA, the BPA and any other organisation involved in an unregulated industry (and to a large extent even the regulated industry) where unscrupulous bullies are allowed to get away with ripping us off.

[goody2shoes]

Has any member of this so well informed company ever considered the other side of the story.  It is perfectly true there were cowboy companies out there who absolutely needed regulating and rightly so at least the new legislation is a first stab at bringing order to cut out these cowboys.  However there are some perfectly legitimate companies using processes provided by legislation to save the pain suffered by many landowners who have inconsiderate and disrespectful morons who park on private property uninvited and with no thought as to the inconvenience they cause.  Yes I know sometimes it is big businesses that issue parking charges to motorists but how else are they to turnover their parking space so more customers can use their shops after all they are not there to provide free parking for all and sundry.  The legislators will no doubt need to revisit the legislation in the future and on one more occasion to change the processes of what is an ever changing area of the parking problem. :dancing: http://notomob.co.uk/discussions/Smileys/SoLoSMiLeYS1/smiley-dance017.gif