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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To not want to pay this fine?

96 replies

Imamiddleclasstwat · 05/08/2017 18:22

My 8 ur old dd is in hospital with suspected appendicitis. I drove her to a and e and she was in agony, could barely stand and the nearest car park is about 3-400m from a and e. There's no way she could walk so I parked in the 20 min drop off slot and carried her in. She was then sent straight to the surgeons and spent the night on morphine and didn't want me to leave her to move the car (massive hospital, probably would have taken about 20-30 mins on total), she was in pain, unwell and scared. I didn't feel I could leave her in that state. First thing next morning I went to move the car and have received a £50 fine, the ticket was put on after an hour.
I'm going to have to pay it aren't I? Feels like there's no compassion. I saw a police car also with a ticket.

OP posts:

Oops4 · 06/08/2017 03:17

I find it extremely unlikely that many people, having just rushed their potentially seriously ill child into A&E, would think "oh dear, times nearly up better move my car".

Yes it's a drop off space, yes other people could have used it but I think we're being a bit harsh here. She wasn't being selfish, she was stressed, worried and had more important things to worry about.

OP, check with the hospital. They all have different set ups. They may control their own parking in which case it might be waived. They may have tokens they issue for emergency situations like this. Worst case, pay the fine then forget about it.

whiteskyblueclouds · 06/08/2017 04:07

I understand why you are annoyed, but what if someone else in a similar situation to you came along and couldn't park there to carry a poorly patient in?

What if everyone left their car for several hours?

The system is there to help everyone.

kmc1111 · 06/08/2017 04:17

I think you were extraordinarily lucky not to be towed!

It's a hospital, full of ill, stressed, upset people having very bad nights!

How about some compassion for all the people who would've hoped to get a close parking spot because they were disabled or having an emergency, but couldnt because you took up a space all night? Undoubtedly in making your life easier you made quite a few people struggle. So pay the fine.

ivykaty44 · 06/08/2017 06:06

If op had called an ambulance she wouldn't have got this invoice
The ambulance would have been paid for by general taxation and the op wouldn't have this bill now.
It was an emergency and an ambulance would have been valid

Floggingmolly · 06/08/2017 08:28

She wouldn't have gotten the invoice if she'd moved her car when her dd was in theatre, ivy...

He11y · 06/08/2017 09:24

Don't pay it. Most private parking companies are scammers. I'm shocked at the responses you've had on here to be honest!!!

Follow IvyKaty44's advice and also check out the moneysavingexpert motoring forum. They have a very good newbies thread pinned at the top.

Most importantly, if you want to appeal, and you can win this if you follow the correct advice, don't contact the company or admit who was driving until you've sought advice from the wonderful people on the forums I and IvyKaty have mentioned.

You'll get a far more sympathetic and realistic response then most of the ones you've had here.

Best wishes to you and your daughter

He11y · 06/08/2017 09:26

The ticket was placed in an hour from parking Floggingmolly. I doubt the op could have avoided this invoice!

Mouikey · 06/08/2017 09:33

We did this when I was in labour, but we were forewarned by the maternity ward that we could do it (and leave the car) if we let them he parking office know. We did this, car was left for about 5 hours and no fine. Hubby went to move it as soon as he could which was when baby was settled in SCBU.

In all these types of situations - if you communicate with the right people then they are generally reasonable about it (and as a hospital they will have things in place for this type of situation as it's not a one off).

brasty · 06/08/2017 16:33

He11y Yes she could have avoided it, if she had moved the car. I understand why she did not, but it was a choice.

brasty · 06/08/2017 16:34

Oops4 Actually I have, because there is no way I can afford to pay a ticket.

SafeToCross · 06/08/2017 16:51

At my local hospital you might well get a refund if you ring the operator - they seem to have a policy of fining everyone, then giving refunds to most people who ask for them.

SpartacusSaiman · 06/08/2017 16:56

Think about it this way.

What would the OP have done if the drop off point was full with people who felt they couldnt leave their sick loved one.

The op would have had to try and carry her from the car park.

If eveyone just uses it as a parking spot, then its not a drop off point and people eho need a drop off point wont be able to use itm

summersgoneaway · 06/08/2017 17:09

Could u have left a note in windscreen explaining

MaisyPops · 06/08/2017 17:17

summers
Why should that make a difference?
Much as the OP was clearly worried about her child, she is in no more need than many other people also attending hospital.

It is a drop off zone. For dropping off.

What if 8 people all did what the OP did because their situation is more important than anyone else's? No drop off point, limiting everyone else's access to the hospital.

It's not a nice situation to be in, but the drop off zone is for dropping off.

ivykaty44 · 06/08/2017 19:09

Floggingmolly- I missed the part where it said that the child was taken to theatre within an hour of reaching a&e. I only saw the part that op got the ticket after an hour

But it's a lesson to anyone in an emergency - call an ambulance because you may end up blocking car parking spaces for those in need

BabsGanoush · 06/08/2017 19:24

Most private parking companies are scammers. But not those used by NHS trusts (according to guidlelines)

PelorusJack · 07/08/2017 09:32

But it's a lesson to anyone in an emergency - call an ambulance because you may end up blocking car parking spaces for those in need

I think calling an ambulance because there is a medical emergency that warrants an ambulance is ok but any thoughts about parking shouldn't come into the decision at all.

Wouldn't there of been time to move the car when the DD was in the OP. The op might still have got a ticket but unless the op was very quick there would have been time.

SunnySkiesSleepsintheMorning · 07/08/2017 09:40

Erm I don't think advising people to call an ambulance to avoid a parking ticket is good advice. The child clearly didn't need medical intervention on the scene or on the way, thankfully. That said, I have buckets of sympathy with the OP and I understand why the car park wasn't her first priority.

Ima hope your daughter is on the mend now. Whilst hospital car parks are owned by private companies, I find they tend to be slightly more compassionate. I once forgot to display my blue badge and got a ticket. I wrote a very apologetic letter, explaining the circumstances and they waived it. I was once in hospital intensive care and my dad overstayed as the doctor was late and completely forgot to top up his parking - totally his fault. Again, he wrote a letter and they waived it. Our PALS office help when people get tickets too. The company doesn't always waive the fee as they don't have to but it's worth an apologetic letter and an explanation of the circumstances. You've got nothing to lose.

He11y · 07/08/2017 16:21

They're one and the same BabsGanoush. Do some reading up on private parking companies - it will shock you. They don't change just because they are operating at a hospital.

He11y · 07/08/2017 16:24

Fact remains OP, you can get this written off of you follow the correct advice, so you can pay it if you like, but you don't have to.

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 07/08/2017 16:28

Don't pay it. Most private parking companies are scammers

Well many are also going to court and now winning.

There is now president. It is no longer a case of 'ignore. They can and do go as far as court.

OK didn't over stay by 10 minutes. She was there for many hours in a 20 minute zone.

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