Forum Topic

Parking permit renewal reminder NOT received

I received a letter earlier this year from Ealing Council informing me that parking permits will no longer be issued in paper form for windscreen display but electronically.I was invited to register by email to receive a reminder before my permit expired which I did.Last night I found a Penalty Charge Notice on my car and on checking it seems my permit expired on 5th August but NO reminder was received. Do I have any right of appeal and does anyone know of anyone having the same issue ? I am thinking of giving the local paper a call about it. I have tried to call parking services at Ealing but of course there is no option for speaking to an operator.

Adam Porges ● 3821d11 Comments

Have now had a further letter from Parking Services acknowledging the mistake and the cancelling of the PCN and offers as an explanation 'Due to the change in the way that we now issue reminders we have received an exceptionally high volume of emails requesting for email addresses to be assigned to permit records'. I would have thought that they should have had a better idea on how many requests for the service they would receive and then taken some action once the problem manifested rather than let it develop to this situation.

Adam Porges ● 3802d

Seeking an uncluttered windscreen never thought of that angle - good idea.

Philip Coe ● 3804d

Well success in as much as I have had a letter from the Parking Services confirming the PCN has been cancelled following my appeal. Whether it has helped in any way with the 'Annual Permit email reminder' fiasco remains to be seen.

Adam Porges ● 3804d

Just a thought. I have kept my old one, in situ, as a reminder.

Simon Wycombe ● 3806d

Hello Mr Mason, how very annoying and a very similar situation to my own. I am attempting to take the issue  further and shall let you know of any developments.

Adam Porges ● 3807d

Read this month's Around Ealing - there is an article on parking permits which states substantially that reminders will be sent by email (assuming you gave them your email address) and you can also check online for your renewal date using your pin number which they should have sent to you.

Charles Campbell ● 3808d

My situation is similar. I eceived no reminder and two tickets were stuck on my car. I appealed but was turned down. The letter I received was rather nasty and warned fine could go up to almost £200 if I lost an appeal. I am 78 and decided I could not get worked up so I just paid up £100 but feel ripped off. I did write to my local councillor who confirmed there were a great many compalints.I think Ealing Council should refund all the fines imposed. When I renewed the starting date was from the expiry of the old permit therefore I do have a document confirming I have a permit covering the dates of my 'offence'

Keith Mason ● 3810d

There is a further issue here that comes to light.....it seems you only have the option to renew from the date of expiry therefore in effect in my case I am paying for a permit covering time during which I received a parking ticket / or I am getting 10 days short of the full years permit ! Many thanks for replies. Yes I do have the acknowledgement email to my request for reminder and my original email. I shall try to to leave a message today with the parking permit reply service though I could not find that option yesterday and sent just sent an email to complaints (no response as yet). I shall also try to make contact with some of the other complaint bodies suggested, thanks.

Adam Porges ● 3820d

When I called the parking department, I left a message as was suggested.  They did call me back the next day.  Do you still have a copy of the email stating they will send you a reminder?

Charles Campbell ● 3820d

The Parking Ombudsman, The Keep It posted campaign, Local MPs and the Minister for Local Government.They are all aware that there are issues with unethical practice and discriminatory impositions.But people must write to these organisations and raise the issue. Otherwise no actions and investigations can be implemented.

Mark Kehoe ● 3820d

Have a look at the thread on the W3 site. Lots of unhappy people.

Chris Hurley ● 3820d