First Parking Reviews 209

This business is unethical and non compliant with the regulations of its own regulatory body the BPA. They need to be reported for unethical practices. They gave one of our third party suppliers a fine for being over by under 4 seconds. LITERALLY 4 seconds!!! Absolutely shocking considering that they issued a fine without giving a grace period and then also rejected the appeal knowing for well that it is in breach of their own code of practice, i.e. their own regulatory body/accreditation body's code of conduct! and ! A complete and blatant disregard of the fact that they are in breach of the code of conduct set out by their own regulatory body by not allowing for a grace period, not to mention again the shocking fact that it was just over 3 seconds, less than 4 seconds!!! completely unethical and am not sure how they are still being allowed to operate by the BPA which is meant to be ensuring that they are not in breach of their own code of conduct and that their practices are adhering to the standards. Also considering the blatant disrespect and refusal to even consider the fact that it was Literally 3 seconds, we will be reporting them to all relevant authorities and regulatory bodies so these practices stop and we urge any other victims to do the same.

Another member of NHS staff. I was attending an emergency in A&E as an on-call Doctor for DPOW hospital. Came back to a ticket and they dismissed the fact I was attending a medical emergency when I appealed. Ended up paying but it sticks in the throat.

I have been fined for parking at Nottingham city hospital where I work. I pay monthly to park there but unless I arrive an hour before I start work there are no parking spaces available. Surely this is an unfair transaction where I pay but do not have an available parking slot. Why am I being fined for parking when I am paying for a space already ?

Would give minus stars if I could... absolute robbing b****rds. Unfair, rude, no care whatsoever about people, just bothered about who they can thieve money off next. If you see their logo on the car park sign just probably leave and park somewhere else

I received a Direct Collection Bailiff letter 29/3, for a parking contravention in Feb. This is the first i have heard of the issue. We park in this car park every week and wasn't aware the parking rules had changed. I am 'happy' to pay the original PCN. Very frustrating! I have attempted to contact both DCBL and First Parking LLP, no luck as yet.

I paid via paybyphone while parking at Sussex University - which was so unnecessarily lengthy and time-consuming it was like a joke, but I did so anyway as I had a talk to attend. One week later, I received a penalty notice, which I appealed with proof I had paid. The appeal was refused anyway. It's highway robbery.

Unfair, not logical, pick and choose, dont follow their own rules.

I parked my car in one of their car park, but the machine didn’t work, they gave me a fine which I refused then they send me to court. I had to pay £££ for the parking , this is criminal, i really don’t have time to deal with it , but anyone please be very careful with this company , thieves!

Car park barriers (at hospital site) regularly fail to open. This happens repeatedly and has for many months. Often wait 15-20 minutes to get through on the phone in order to get the gates open.

Awful company to deal with - delivered a job to a hospital as we are a preferred supplied, had to move 15 boxes x 12kg a box, had a sign in my car stating i was delivering and yet got a ticker as attendant more than likely couldnt read! Tried to appeal but they were not interested. I was trying to do my job.

DISGUSTING - I parked at Springfield hospital to attend some training as a staff member paid using Ringo. I then received a fine through the post stating I had not paid enough as there was a time difference. I appealed stating that A) I had to wait for a parking space and B) could not get any reception as it is an underground car park, after three attempts I left my car and went outside and had to re enter the details and my payment was accepted. I sent my receipt to show I had paid, the appeal was considered the same day (a matter of hours) but it was rejected. The next day I receive another letter with Bright RED across the top a very threatening tactic in my view stating I must pay. I have had to pay the fine because I would not want to run the risk of any increase. I will be informing our CEO of the hospital as I feel the aggressive nature of the company is unacceptable!! I am disgusted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WARNING WHEN ENTERING A CAR PARK MAKE SURE YOU PAY FROM THE MOMENT YOU ENTER BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T YOU WILL BE FINED!!!!!!

Absolute scammers!!!! Was waiting for my parking permit to be issued by University of Sussex of which I had an email stating that while the application was being processed I should pay no parking fees. I received a parking fine, appealed which was successful. I subsequently received a further 3, appealed them and all have been rejected at every Avenue . I have all evidence showing that my application was being processed (since been granted) and that no money should be paid. Absolute crooks and just after money money and more money. No care for what is correct and right!

they are thug, I got two penalties at Royal Holloway University, my car permit was in process I was under the impression that I was cover while it was being processed. I request them to cancel at least but it seems they don't care.

If I could give a 0 star review I will. This company is issuing illegitimate fines. This is the second from University of Sussex campus. Fortunately, this time we have digital proof.
Will be contacting the University regarding this nefarious company.

You do not have to pay these scammers. 99.9% of the time they will drop it when it's clear that you know your rights.

Don't be worried when they pass this on to DCB "legal". These are just another firm of scammers who send empty threats.

The only thing you need to react to is if they send you an actual court claim. If this happens, visit FTLA (dot) co (dot) uk. You will get all the information you need to contest it and then DCB / First Parking will discontinue the claim just before they are due to pay their court fee.

Both organisations are despicable ex-clamper thugs.

I see a lot of people are complaining about this company being dishonest or unreasonable. Of course they are - they are a Private Parking company. PPCs survive on being threatening and misrepresenting the lawful process. Here are some tips for dealing with and understanding the process:

- Your appeal to First Parking - this will almost always be refused, even if you have a solid case. Don't be put off if they refuse your appeal, as this stage of the process is completely meaningless. It's your next appeal - to POPLA - that has some meaning

- When First Parking refuse your appeal, they will give you a reference number to make an appeal to POPLA, which is the regulatory organisation for private parking. Make an appeal on the POPLA website, stating your grounds for appeal clearly. There will usually be legal issues with the paperwork provided by First Parking. It is worth checking some of the main internet boards dedicated to challenging Private Parking invoices, but if you don't want to do this just submit the appeal to POPLA in your own words. You have nothing to lose in appealing to POPLA, the supposed fine will stay the same

- After the POPLA appeal. If you have a genuine case, it is likely that POPLA will uphold your appeal and demand that First Parking cancel their invoice. Even if they don't, you can still refuse to pay if you are happy to tough out the threatening letters

- Not paying. In order for you to be legally liable for this payment, or to have any credit damage, all of these things would need to happen:
a) They would need to take you to small claims court (they don't like to do this as it's a risk for them)
b) They would need to win (very unlikely, as it is a case of contract law, which they are unlikely to have a solid basis for)
c) You would then need to still refuse to pay
First parking will misrepresent this process all the way. They will try to make you believe that their "fine" is going up, that they will take you to court, and that your credit record will be damaged. This is NOT TRUE. This can only happen IF they take you to court, IF they win and IF you still don't pay. Obviously this is very unlikely to happen, and you would always have the chance to pay it before any damage.

They will pass it on to a "debt collector", even though there is no actual debt. Their debt collector will send threatening letters, but ultimately they have no power at all, as there is no debt and if there were one, the debt would be to First Parking not to the "debt collector". If you like, you can complain to the Financial Ombudsman that you are being pursued for an unproven debt and that they are misrepresenting the legal process. This usually scares the "debt collector" who will pass it back to First Parking, who will realise you are not easy prey and will finally leave you alone.

So to sum up:
- Make your appeal to First Parking although expect it to be refused
- Make your appeal to POPLA which will likely be upheld
- If it is not upheld by POPLA, ignore the threatening letters from First PArking
- When you receive threatening letters from a supposed debt collector, report them to the Financial Ombudsman
- Eventually they will leave you alone
- Only respond to actual Small Claims Court papers. The chances of this happening are so small as to be practically impossible
- Private parking companies cannot legally issue fines, only government bodies can
- Private companies work on contract law, which is complex, and which they will usually have made some mistakes on
- Whatever they tell you (and they will lie about this), you cannot get credit damage unless they take you to court, you lose and then you still refuse to pay.

Got a fine today parking at west Middlesex hospital. Needed a procedure. Car park was full and a long and not moving queue, there was no other choice to park on a little patch of grass as time was getting near appointment. We weren’t obstructing the road. Many people parked on grass patch or half on a pavement. This company behaving like thugs. Nobody going hospital for fun! And can’t risk to reschedule another appointment.

Got Two Charges sent Tickets got charged admin Fee Its a con on scam by camera
Do Not Use £100 extortion 28 days £60 14 days
Like council parking fines pay early to save just a money extortion scheme

This must be one of the worst companies in UK. I am totally surprised that public sector institutions have working relationships with a company of this standard. If I were responsible for such transactions I would urgently review. Poor communication and policy to handle queries among other things. Have no words for this one