Forum Topic

reminders of  PCZ permits problem

How many people (like myself) have been caught out by being unaware that Ealing Council no longer send reminders when a Parking Zone permit expires.I found two penalty tickets on my car a few days ago. I could not renew the permit on the internet as I have done for the past five years because I needed a PIN number which would have been printed on the reminder.I did visit Percival House and did manage to renew my permit there thanks to the staff who were very helpful.Now I just have to get the penalty tickets cancelled.With luck I will now get reminders via E Mail.

Keith Mason ● 3880d27 Comments

Ealing Council should refund everyone who has been fined as a result of the councils mishandling of the reminders.

Keith Mason ● 3810d

interestingly, on applying again, in case the first one didn't go through, it asks for the money for a second car, so my first registration has been accepted. But I don't have a permit number so cannot submit the supporting documents .... hopefully I will get an email soon which tells me the permit number. Will I risk parking somewhere? What evidence do I have, other than the £97 it wants for a second permit, that a first permit has been applied for?

Barbara Karayi ● 3829d

I have! Just now finally got round to reapplying (not renewing as too late), scanned documents, was told that it has to be in bmp or jpeg, rescanned, then told they also had to be under 1mb each, rescanned, lost will to live, decided to submit in person, paid, didn't get a permit number which I need to submit docs in person, lost will to live .... having a coffee to relax.

Barbara Karayi ● 3829d

Why on earth do they think that it would be beneficial to them to make themselves even more unpopular?

Philippa Bond ● 3842d

I have now paid a £110 fine as I cannot as a 78 year old pensioner tp risk an appeal being turned down and the fine doubled. I think the council should cancel all fines and issue a letter stating reminders will no longer be sent as of the date of the letter.  This should have been done in the first place.p.s. this month I have had reminders for my car mot, car tax, car insurance, library books, credit card etc and hospital appointment. Sounds like ealing council are guilty of not issuing reminders knowing it would increase fines.

Keith Mason ● 3842d

I am still trying to find out how to get some visitors permits, the Council seems to have gone paperless and staff less, you can't phone them and they don't send you anything. Are they still there or are they a figment of my imagination :o)

Roy Baker ● 3847d

They got me too. Permit expired on 31/05 and no reminder, as I had received in previous years. PCN received and the chap in the parking office told me that a notice had been posted on their website telling everyone that reminders would no longer be sent! I challenged the PCN but it was turned down.The issue has become a minor news story (http://neighbournet.com/server/common/eaparkingfines001.htm).I contacted my local councillors who said that they knew of many people who had been caught by the changes.  I suggested that, if they couldn't go back to sending reminders, it might be helpful if parking wardens put notes on cars they see that are approaching expiry, which might make people appreciate them.I'm highly tempted to appeal the PCN further.

Richard Stone ● 3852d

Interestingly the letter refusing to cancel a CPZ fine states that it is an offence not to display clearly a permit. Surely this is no longer the case and therefore a PCN should not be issued on that ground (although something else might apply).  Ealing council's 'standard' letters need updating.Out of interest on the day a PCN was issued I was having an injection in my eye at Moorfields and could not read the notice for 24 hours when I got home and could have incurred another 'fine'I also understand this is a major problem with large numbers of complaints to the council most of which are rejected.

Keith Mason ● 3866d

I had the same problem some time ago.  You would expect it to be like the renewal for the car tax where you get a confirmation email - because they've asked you if you want one but when I renewed they didn't ask for an email address and there was no confirmation.I had the same problem in that I tried to check whether it had been renewed logically like you and it said that it had been renewed.  Only I later learned that they had had a problem with the payment.I ended up phoning them up where I had to leave a message as they don't answer the phone they only phone back. I reckon they called me on a withheld number line so that I couldn't tell whether it was actually them or not.A couple of days later and totally stressed I called again and got a call back which I managed to get to in time.  Perfectly helpful chap who I gave my payment card details to.  Not the way to run a business though.

Philippa Bond ● 3866d

be warned....I tried to renew online with a CC. All went OK until the final 'confirm' after I'd given my CC details. Then I had 2 screens telling me there was a problem with my request and the webpage crashed back to the start point.Then I tried to enter renewal details again and was told it had already been renewed! I've had no confirmation by email.I'm guessing it's all OK but it makes me nervous when online CC transactions 'fail' without further notification!

Philip Alford ● 3867d

I am in a similar position - I challenged the fine but this was turned down as according to the regulations they are within their rights - however this is sneaky. I guess I shall have to find the money to pay this (before it doubles in cost) but I do intend to continue to challenge as others less able than me will struggle.

Peter Turner ● 3868d

Yes. We are called to support the weak and the poor. They are being charged £15 if they order these tickets in person. I eventually got our two tickets on-line after a struggle and the withdrawal of the system when my PIN request was lost. We got in before the price of the second car rose in price. We campaigned hard against these CPZs because we knew the price of permits would rise. When the chips are down principle and promise fall victim. Now I notice some boroughs are charging more for diesel cars. My feeling is that these are sensitive issues and no decision should be made without a public debate. I am not keen on the "soviet block" type decision making using a box made from the skeletons of dead trees; a cabinet. Correction it is Bassam Mahfouz who will answer this legal challenge.

Arthur Breens ● 3868d

It is actually a breach of the Disability discrimination act. You do not have to be registered disabled to be protected by the act.Discriminating against those with out the means or ability to use a computer or smartfone is exactly that. Discrimination.Complain to Cllr. Bassam Mahmoud who is responsible for overseeing these "enhancements",Also contact Age and disabilities charities as well as your local MP. Especially if it someone you know who is affected or struggling with these ill conceived impositions.The thumping being meted out to elderly, infirm and even individuals of this borough by this council is no longer acceptable.

Mark Kehoe ● 3868d

request to council to cancel two parking fine due to do remonder being sent turned down. Now have to decide if to pay up over £100 or go through the appeals procedure. I feel ripped off. I have paid parking charge on time for five years and the new permit was backdated to end of previous permit and yet a request to cancel charges was rejected.

Keith Mason ● 3869d

And the next things you will have to worry about is getting visitors vouchers which are no longer purchased as paper booklets ( when stocks for your area run out) but require you to register,  download an app etc etc .  How will anybody without smart phone or internet access be able to do this?

Peter Cranmer ● 3876d

"how much do you normally pay"!?."Why, I never pay more than seven shillings for as far away as Uxbridge or the City, my dear man.  Do you have change for a ten bob note?"Seriously - I tell 'em "two pound fifty" and let them squirm on that.

Tony Colliver ● 3878d

These days you can, very conveniently, use your credit card directly on TfL.It was a joyous day indeed when I was able to bin the Oyster card as redundant.

Tony Colliver ● 3878d

Thank you Keith for raising this. The system has failed me and common sense. My held details won't allow me to pay on-line and mine runs out in 10 days time.(last year's pin and permit number) I didn't get a notification like I do with DVLC or 28 days notice with new pin? When I tried to request a renewal on-line I got the same request to register to renew on-line. Sort of going round in circles. This is beyond a joke so I have invented my own pcn such that when the time I spend on this exceeds 2 hours there is a minimum charge of £100

Arthur Breens ● 3879d

Yes Philip and Peter, but its very much less expensive not owning a car, despite the slight inconveniences!  And less pollution too. That solution suits us.

Gerry Tan ● 3879d

Buses not my favourite. That is a whole topic on its own, they are erratic - 2 on same route directly behind each other, half fullAlong Argyle Rd theres the E2,E7,E9 all travelling togethewr spilling out of laybys & causing congestion. If you should want a bus which is at the back, theres a good chance it goes sailing past.Bus stops opposite each other causing a bottleneck.Bus stops located near traffic lights where the bus then has to cut across & turn right causing major congestion in Greenford Bdwy.Cabs - the fare always alters, with the driver asking - "how much do you normally pay"!?.

Peter Yale ● 3879d

So we all give up our cars and rely on friends?

Philip Coe ● 3879d

I have a solution to the parking problems and cars. My wife and I no longer own a car - we sold ours and rely on public transport, friends giving us lifts and minicabs. Its so much cheaper for us now; no transport worries.

Gerry Tan ● 3879d

yes I can see the benefits, im of the old fashioned school that like to park outside their house. Nowadays of course many households are multi car owners & this isnt feasible.I have mixed feelings regarding parking charges, we cant tolerate a free for all, yet some charges are excessive & there are increasingly less & less free places to park

Peter Yale ● 3879d

We're very pleased when they introduced CPZ in our road.  Situated near Ealing Shopping Centre and Walpole Park, we had constant parking in our road, so we were very inconvenienced by outsiders using our road to park. Now we can use our road ourselves.

Gerry Tan ● 3879d

My road introduced CPZ which I am against, there is no reason as I can see for it - we are near no shops, a school, station etc.I imagine it is where cars are pushed away from an area holding CPZ. Unfortunately the only cars (3) I have seen ticketed are residents, neighbours.However in a fair & democratic society the people voted & so it was introduced.From a work perspective my company is seen as a cash cow & relentlessly ticketed while carrying out maintenance works. Rather drifting away from the point, I feel it is unfair & typical of the council amongst others to make it awkward to purchase permits.TFL, another in buying a buss ticket, as an infrequent passenger - what happened to simple cash payments!!?

Peter Yale ● 3879d

Yes I approve of the CPZ zone. I previously lived in a road whereit was always difficult to park.Only problem is I would like a few areas where a parking ticket can be bought, visiting my doctor by car can be a poblem for example at certain times of the day.

Keith Mason ● 3879d

May I enquire if you were in favour of parking restrictions, also whether you feel your road & surrounding area warrants this?

Peter Yale ● 3880d