Horrendous service
I recently parked, as always on private land (a car park) located on Strand Street, Whitehaven, Cumbria.
Parking is provided by ipark services and is one of the most reasonably priced in the town, hence repeat custom by myself.
On the 3rd June I parked, entered my registration into the machine (which was displayed on screen), paid a very reasonable £1.50 and printed my ticket placing it on the dashboard of my car.
I went into town, later returning to my car and left the car park within one hour.
The following week I received a parking notice from i park services and a request to pay £60 for non payment of parking charges!
I found my parking ticket and on checking it it displayed the registration details (in part) different to those entered into the machine and different to those it displayed on screen BUT I had paid for parking.
My ticket showed the first part of another vehicle registration PX13 followed by the first part of my registration, PT11.
I made an appeal using the company i park services mention in their letter.
I wrote to the company attaching a copy of the ticket. It clearly showed the first part of my registration printed on the ticket as shown on a photo and detail from the car parks ANPR.
It demonstrated a payment for parking as I always have done on this and every car park.
I wrote a nicely worded appeal and asked if the machine maybe had a fault?
I demonstrated that a payment had been made and that their ANPR showed a photograph of my car detailing the first part of my registration as shown on my £1.50 parking ticket.
Appeal denied!!! They said I should have checked the ticket printing.
The machines display screen showed my registration in full as I typed and subsequently checked it.
Never before in 40 years of driving / parking have I encountered this problem.
I have owned a cherished number plate for 11 years. I have entered the full detail into machines throughout this period without error.
I later read Trust Pilot reviews on i park services, the appeal company that it mentions and then other appeal companies like POPLA who receive funding from other car park associations. Horrendous!! Especially in this instance i park services and the appeal service!
They rely on the financial pressure imposed on individuals from all walks of life, not knowing their financial positions or abilities to seek and pay for legal advice. By sending letters requesting money or more money if you fail to pay within 2 weeks or other 'neccessary' actions they force you into making a payment, in effect a fine even though you have paid for services and shown this by photographic evidence.
Strand Street, Whitehaven. If you are a local land owner in the area, in the first instance thank you for providing reasonable parking prices / durations in comparison to other car parks in the area.
Secondly - you should be totally ashamed of yourself. Initially I thought your prices were reasonable BUT I take back everything I said in praise of your services.
You are now the most expensive car park I have ever encountered!! £61.50 for one hour parking. Shameful!!!
My father in law (80 years of age) experienced similar problems within the last month.
You did the same to him, an 80 year old pensioner who always pays from pension a parking fee!
DISGUSTING!
Try and contact this company - its not easy. If you appeal and speak to customer services - they won't speak to you!
It might only be 4 regular customers you lose on this one occasion but never the less, you have lost them, mistreat them and shown no real consideration of any loyalty, evidence or appeal.
If I could have selected no stars I would have!
Strand Street - Whitehaven, Cumbria.
i park service office Cockermouth
June 13, 2022
Unprompted review