Following the Prankster's blog yesterday, more broken ANPR systems at hospitals have come to light.
This newspaper report in the Western Gazette reveals the story of two motorists who visited Yeovil Hospital. Both motorists visited the hospital twice, but ParkingEye's shambolic systems thought the motorists had both had one long stay. Worryingly, when the motorists informed ParkingEye of the problem, instead of sorting out their error, ParkingEye stuck their head firmly in the sand and pretended nothing was wrong, accusing the motorists of lying.
Luckily the hospital seem to be well aware that the system they commissioned is not fit for purpose, and quashed both parking charges.
Prankster Note
It is well documented that ParkingEye's systems are error-prone, so it is especially worrying that significant numbers of Hospitals are using companies like ParkingEye who put their profits ahead of truth and fairness.
ParkingEye regard hospitals as cash cows and rake in huge profits. Once FoI request revealed that ParkingEye were issuing charges at over £1,000,000 a year in just one NHS trust. The trust eventually kicked them out due to the huge number of problems created by the system.
Hospitals using ParkingEye are acting in defiance of government recommendations; it is clear why the government made this recommendation - because such systems are grossly unfair to motorists. it is not clear why so many hospitals ignore the guidelines.
Happy Parking
The Parking Prankster
Putting the fun back into parking
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Southmead Hospital in Bristol uses an ANPR system for pay on exit which works well. In my opinion the simplest solution to curtail ParkingEye's morally reprehensible business model which relies on maximising the issue of PCNs is for the government to legislate to only allow ANPR to be used for pay on exit carparks.
ReplyDeleteYes, and the important difference is that you type your registration into the computer to pay, and it only accepts registrations it knows about! Was a joy to use when I was last there.
DeleteTreliske Hospital,Truro. You take a ticket as you enter the barrier, park, go about your business at the hospital, pay at machine for the time used, exit barrier, go about your business. Not rocket science!!
ReplyDeleteWhich PPC is it though?
DeleteBet it isn't one of the predatory ones
Its q park
DeleteFamed for trying to charge the family of a dead man £189 to release his car.
DeleteFamed for trying to charge the family of a dead man £189 to release his car.
DeleteIf theyre not making any money of overstays then that's one way to drum up business!!!!
DeleteNone of the car parks in Solihull town centre use any sort of parking "management". They are all barrier entry where you pay on exit, two even have ANPR so that if you lose your ticket you can just press the intercom button and give them your reg and they tell you how long you have been there and the payment amount appears onscreen.
ReplyDeleteThere is no enforcement once inside either. I have never seen the disabled bays all taken up so clearly there is no "parking chaos" as the BPA would have us believe.
On the contrary to your first sentence, that actually is parking management! These companies have just skewed the perceived definition of what that is.
DeleteEast Cheshire Trust and their partners Parking Eye pursue patients who are delayed due to doctors attending late for their appointments.
ReplyDeleteThey have so far refused to answer FOI questions regarding their relationship eith PE.
Questions to the board scheduled for 31 st March.
Quite an interesting write up in this weeks "Private Eye."
East Cheshire Trust and their partners Parking Eye pursue patients who are delayed due to doctors attending late for their appointments.
ReplyDeleteThey have so far refused to answer FOI questions regarding their relationship eith PE.
Questions to the board scheduled for 31 st March.
Quite an interesting write up in this weeks "Private Eye."
It'd be interesting to learn exactly what Parking Eye's oft touted "19 checks" actually consist of, if someone puts them to strict proof in a court hearing.
ReplyDeleteAnother PE hospital story today...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/local-news/couple-s-fury-over-south-shields-hospital-parking-fine-1-7783472
I know this may sound silly. But wouldn't the best option all round be for the government to come up with legislation requiring all car parks to provide "pay-on-exit" if they employ any so called car park (mis)management company.
ReplyDeleteIt ain't silly. It's the best way to do it but of course it'll sink most PPC's as they rely on collecting charges.
ReplyDeleteI'm in the throes of a year-long dispute with East Cheshire NHS Trust over the issue of a similar nonsense charge. I entered the Macclesfield hospital site twice. The first time I couldn't find a space, drove around the hospital, came back and then found a space (pretty much what every fifth driver does in a busy hospital). And yet PE, as submitted in their POPLA defence that there was no evidence of my visiting the site twice. In fact their own ANPR images scupper their own claim of me parking in a 'Staff Only' space. I must add the two ANPR images they submitted show me leaving the VISITOR'S car park the first time and the second shows me leaving the second time after having parked...only it shows me straddling a zebra crossing!!
ReplyDeleteThis is their la la idea of evidence. And yet, for whatever reason, East Cheshire NHS Trust simply condone their actions. It seems it's becoming increasingly a question of amorality by association. Stinks to high heaven!
Hi Chris, keep an eye on the East Cheshire "Questions to the Board" on 31/3/16
Deletewatch out for "questions to the board" 31/3/16
DeleteCheck out questions to the board 31/3/16
DeleteThis report in the Western Gazette now says that the hospital are unable to quash any charges and that they need to appeal to PE. I have commented appropriately....
ReplyDeletehttp://www.westerngazette.co.uk/Yeovil-Hospital-drop-parking-fines-explained/story-28928305-detail/story.html
Deletemeant to post the link - http://www.westerngazette.co.uk/Yeovil-Hospital-drop-parking-fines-explained/story-28928305-detail/story.html
ReplyDeleteNot with you. Are you saying there are pre-prepared questions for the board somewhere, or are you saying wait until after the 31st to read about what went on in the meeting?
ReplyDeleteI've sent four questions to the board,which next meets on the 31/3/16 Have asked how they record plaudits/complaints, how much revenue PE have collected since the go-live date, and if they are proud of their relationship with PE
DeleteSent on behalf of John Wilbraham – Chief Executive
ReplyDeleteMr Dude
I am writing with regard to the questions you have asked regarding car parking at the Macclesfield site.
I agreed to answer your questions as part of our Trust Board papers for the meeting next week (31st March) and had planned to do this alongside some wider information about car parking within the trust.
It is with regret that I have been unable to complete this work in time for the March Board and will therefore be presenting this at our April Meeting.
I do recognise you may have made specific arrangements to attend next week and if this is the case I apologise unreservedly. I will certainly be in a position to present the information in the April Board meeting which will take place at 2pm on 28th April and hope you will be able to attend.
Clearly if this delay is not convenient or acceptable to you I can reply to your specific questions privately before the April meeting.
I apologise again for this delay in responding.
John Wilbraham
Chief Executive
PA - Fiona Baker - fionabaker@nhs.net - 01625 661501