Wise Parking PCN - Appealed -University Hospital Lewisham

[FTMDave]

Thank you for uploading everything.  I'll try to answer your questions.

Please realise that you are not dealing with honest companies.  Even a government minister referred to the private parking companies as "ripping off" motorists.

We know Wise Parking well.

So they reckon you didn't pay for your whole period of 2:23 hours.

We've never seen this "Unity 5" rubbish before, but anyway, the nonsense they've sent is not proper proof of posting from the post office.

Increasing the invoice from £40 to £80 for late payment is lawful, but increasing it to £150 is not lawful.  But these people are dishonest and hope you don't know the law and will pay.

There are two bits of good news.  Firstly, there is not one case on CAG of Wise Parking ever taking a motorist to court.  Secondly, as you have seen there is a good record of getting the hospital authorities to intervene and get these invoices cancelled.

So, next question.  Can you explain why Wise Parking reckon you did something wrong?  Did you pay for less than 2:23 hours?

[FTMDave]

So you paid for two hours.

But Wise say you stayed for two hours and 23 minutes.

Is this correct?

You have also redacted the photos of the car entering & leaving on the invoice.  Do those timestamped photos show 2:23?

[FTMDave]

Once again, Wise say you stayed for 2 hours and 23 minutes.  Is this right - yes or no?

What times of entrance & entry are shown on the photos of you entering & exiting the car park?

[FTMDave]

I'm at work now but will help with a letter to the hospital this evening.

[FTMDave]

Alright, send this off.

Dear Sir/Madam,

Re. PCN no.XXXXX

on 15 September I was at Lewisham hospital for XXXXX.

I found a parking spot at around 15:30 after having to queue for a considerable length of time.  I paid for an hour's parking by PayByPhone.

When it became clear I would be in the hospital for more than an hour, I paid for a further hour.  I then exited the car park at 17:25.  I believed I had done everything correctly.

However, It appears that your agents, Wise Parking Ltd., have not taken into consideration the length of time needed to actually park, and have decided I overstayed.  Even worse, it appears I did not receive an earlier letter from them, and now their charge has mushroomed from £40 to £150.  I have tried to sensibly approach them before contacting you, but they are adamant that I have to pay £150.

Frankly this is ridiculous behaviour towards someone who was not abusing the car park, who had a genuine reason to be at the hospital and who actually paid for their parking.

I would ask you please to intervene with your agents and get the charge cancelled.

Yours, XXXXX

Don't complicate life by mentioning the second hour's payment mistake for the moment.

Send it to PALS at the hospital  https://www.lewishamandgreenwich.nhs.uk/lewisham-hospital-contacts/

And also to the CEO  https://www.lewishamandgreenwich.nhs.uk/download.cfm?ver=5756

[FTMDave]

LFI, I think the logic of "Wise" (ho! ho!) will be £40 discounted amount, £80 real amount, then add the £70 Unicorn Food Tax their bezzies at their ATA allow to come up with £150.

Siu, get the two mails off this weekend, then see what feedback appears at the start of next week.

 

[FTMDave]

Any reply from PALS and/or the CEO's office?

[FTMDave]

1 hour ago, Siu said:

CEO office no response... Is below email correct? 

[email protected]

As far as we know.  I found it on a FOI request someone had sent the hospital. 

That's the best we can do.  We don't have CEO details for every organisation in the country.  See what you can find yourself.

As Nick says, I see PALS are being pathetic, but at least they say they have passed the matter on to the Head of Security at the hospital.  Wait 48 hours and see if you get any answer from that department.

[FTMDave]

Isn't she CEO of NHS England LFI?

[FTMDave]

So anything from the Head of Security?

[FTMDave]

Well that looks like the end of the line with trying to get the hospital to intervene.

Your choice now.

You can pay Wise £150 and the matter goes away.

Or you can refuse to pay them.  If you decide to do this we will back you all the way.

We have never seen Wise take anyone to court.  Mind you, we only have four Wise threads, including yours.

[FTMDave]

Wooops!  Apologies LFI, I see what you were getting at now.