Driver’s anger at unfair parking charges in Chatham Dockside car park

Chatham Dockside are facing numerous complaints from visitors after ‘unfair’ parking charges were issued.

The car park is run by UKCPS, a private car parking company, on private land. It offers four-hours free parking to those who visit the area.

However, many people are unhappy with the service that the company provides.

Their standard parking charge for staying longer than allowed by UKCPS is £100, although a £60 charge can be agreed if there is an early settlement.

It is important to note that a Parking Charge Notice is not a legally binding fine, which is only administrable by the county council or police.

Reports of attendants issuing tickets for cars in disabled bays despite clearly showing a disabled badge, and tickets that are not properly fixed to the window screen flying away, are among the many complaints to the company.

Mark Kraftwerk spoke about his elderly mother’s experience of parking at Chatham Dockside: “I have been parking on and off in the outside and multi-story car parks at Dockside for the last seven years.”

His mother and partner went to Bloomers at Dockside for something to eat. They parked in the multi-story car park and on returning found a parking ticket claiming they had “left the area”.

UKCPS have failed to clarify exactly what having “left the area” refers to, which has led to some visitors feeling frustrated and cheated.

“My mum panicked and paid the ticket there and then as it threatens of a much larger fine if she did not pay. This had happened to her once before when she forgot to pay.”

“When they returned home and told me I went ballistic as I know these sorts of tickets are at times not worth the paper they are written on.”

Mr Kraftwerk returned to the Dockside the next day to dispute the ticket for his mother and found that one of the terms of parking was not leaving the car park.

He continued: “Since this happened they still have no defining rules about the multi-story car park. It’s hard to tell if it is public or not. It’s a mess. It’s total confusion.”

The laws regarding private car parks, however, are different from parking on public property.

Alice Barrett, a Paralegal, said: “Firstly the best way to avoid this situation is to abide by the guidelines that the car parking company provides although sometimes these can be unclear.”

“When you enter a private car park you enter a contract with the parking company. If you break any of their terms or conditions they are able to issue you a Parking Charge Notice, it is unlikely, but the company can take you to court if you fail to pay. There is usually a reduced charge if you pay immediately but it threatens to go up if not.”

“However, it is very difficult for the private company to prove you entered a contract with them and this will usually stop them from taking you to court – despite threats through the post.”

“If you are struggling with constant threatening letters from the company, you can quote the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977, Group 5 paragraph 1(e).”

UKCPS were unavailable for comment, however their website states: “We are uniquely placed to understand the real needs and requirements for any parking area. We offer a range of parking management services that work ethically and in a non-confrontational way.”