A further string of visitors to University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire were hit with fines despite paying for their parking.
Four motorists contacted CoventryLive to raise the issue after we previously highlighted similar issues with the ANPR system in place at the Walsgrave site.
Some paid what machines told them to pay but still later received a demand for £100 in the post.
Others found their vehicles had not been recognised by the system and so guessed how much they owed, again later to be slapped with a fine. One was just 60p under the owed ammount.
They are the latest incidents calling into question the parking system at the hospital. In one instance, the driver, an NHS worker, appealed the fine only to be refused by Car Parking Partnership, the company running the car park.
After CoventryLive contacted the hospital and parking operator, that fine, and three others were all quashed. But CCP made clear it was not a blanket reversal on all outstanding fines from the site.
But the visitors have still slammed the system for fining them over mistakes that are not their fault.
These people got in touch with us following the last story we did about parking fines from the hospital.
You can get your Coventry and Warwickshire news straight to your email inbox – and it’s FREE!
All you need to do is sign up here.
The emails come out twice a day, at lunchtime and in the evening, with the latest news, what’s on and sport from across Coventry and Warwickshire.
Shereen ordered to pay £100 over 60p
Shereen O’Driscoll attended A&E at the hospital on June 27 with her child. After parking her car she rushed to get them inside.
The 31-year-old is a single mother to two children and has worked for the NHS for seven years.
Upon returning to pay for her parking, the pay machine said it did not recognise her registration, but gave her the option to pay.
Having rushed into the hospital with her child Shereen said she wasn’t entirely sure what time she had arrived, so worked backwards and paid what she thought was the correct amount.
Shereen said: “I then received a penalty charge as I was 60p under the correct amount.
“I have appealed it which was refused, again I then appealed their decision and went through a company called “POPLA”. I have just received an update to which my appeal again has been declined.
“I have offered to pay the remainder of what I owe but think it’s unfair for me to have to pay £100 for 60p when it wasn’t officially my fault. They of course declined this offer.
“I’m a single parent, I work for the NHS and just feel so let down. With the current times I just don’t have £100 to pay for a genuine mistake that wasn’t actually my fault.
“I’m worried because I don’t have the money to pay and I’m scared in case bailiffs come knocking at my door.”
She asked her local MP to write a letter to the company which combined with emails from us, led to the fine being cancelled.
Keith fined for the time it took to get in his car
Karen Keene reached out to us after she helped her disabled son atteend a routine hospital appointment on September 10.
Karen said: “Keith had a routine appointment at the Walsgrave Hospital on 10 September 2020. Keith parked in the specific Blue Badge parking area.
“The appointment was very quick and we went to the parking machine which told us there was nothing to pay. We assumed that this was because we were there for less than 30 minutes and went out to the car.
“It takes Keith a long while to get out the hoist, attach the scooter and use the hoist to get it into the boot. Keith then has to pull himself around the car.
“The reason he does this himself and I do not help is so that he can maintain the small vestige of independence that he has.”
Keith then got a letter stating he was being fined £100.
“Keith wrote a letter of appeal explaining the circumstances but we have received another letter today stating that there is still a fee to be paid”, Karen said.
“I would be very grateful if you would highlight this especially as other disabled people may well find themselves in a similar situation.
“I would advise anyone to photograph whatever it says on the machine as you have no proof whatsoever.”
CPP have cancelled the fine stating it was a “gesture of good will”.
Andy fined despite paying
Andy Cuffley, 36, from Eastern Green, went to UHCW on June 17.
Upon paying at the machine, it said it didn’t recognise his registration number, so he paid for the time he was there.
He then received a letter stating he was being fined £100.
This fine has since been cancelled.
A fourth lady contacted CoventryLive about her fine, but has asked to be left out of the story until she receives written confirmation of the cancellation.
A spokesman for CPP said: “There is not a blanket cancellation on all outstanding PCN’s, but cases referred to the NHS from yourself [CoventryLive] have been cancelled at their request.”
They would not comment further on the issue.
A UHCW spokesman said: “Our priority is always to ensure all the patients and visitors who need to use our services receive the best care possible and this includes their car parking experience.
“We understand that attending hospital can be a stressful time and are continuously working with our partners to manage this parking experience.
“Anyone who encounters problems is encouraged to contact us with their details so we can investigate further. There is a dedicated email address – visitor.parking@uk.issworld.com – for anyone who wishes to raise any questions or concerns.”
To sign up for our newsletter, delivered free to your inbox, click here.
