Wish Street carpark in Rye is never far from the Rye News headlines, the last article, published last October Wish Street car park claims another victim struck a chord with many disgruntled customers who are sick of feeling ripped off by the owners, Euro Car Parks.
In a modern-day version of David vs Goliath, Euro Car Parks are being taken to court by Andrew Osbourne, a recent visitor to Rye who is taking a stand by counter-suing as he feels “their sharp practice, extorsion and threatening behaviour towards him is totally unacceptable and is seeking retribution”.
Andrew and his family took their first, post lockdown visit to Rye on April 24 2022. Fish and chips seemed appropriate so during a call to pre-order from the former Kettle of Fish chippy on the roundabout, they were advised to use the parking spaces next to the Wish Street shop, which they did.
Anyone entering this Euro Car Park should buy a 30p ticket for any stay over 20 mins which Andrew was not aware of but in any event, this should have allowed plenty of time to collect fish and chips but unfortunately, he was quite delayed due to a queue. As a result, a penalty charge notice was issued, which for clarification is actually a commercial invoice as it isn’t issued by government.
There was no barrier preventing entry or exit but cameras record customers’ car number plates, but what people don’t realise is that the clock starts ticking from the moment your vehicle enters the car park.
Mr Osbourne replied to Euro Car Parks and then received 19 threatening letters from five different debt collectors over the time since and is now being taken to court by Euro Car Parks. The amount they are claiming (due to them voluntarily incurring costs pursuing the 30p debt) is now a whopping £225.
Andrew feels these private parking companies are “intentionally luring people in with ’20 minutes free’ hoping they will overstay and leave without paying as there is no physical barrier like at honest car parks and then hit them with trumped up charges – £70 and then £170 and now £225 in total”.
He has had enough. In his own words he goes on to say. “I wonder if the town of Rye really wants this kind of sharp practice going on scaring away visitors who find somewhere less stressful to visit where any tiny mistake results in all kinds or threats and frankly extorsion. I have issued a defence and counter claim for £1,000 against Euro Car Parks in court for the above reasons. I wonder how many other tourists and holiday makers have been trapped by ECP ‘clip joint’ tactics?”
It will be interesting to see how the courts view this counter action, Rye cannot afford to lose visitors but perhaps if ECP lose this case we may see a change in the way they choose to operate their business.
Image Credits: Nick Forman .
I wish this gentleman well and hope he succeeds. We’ve all been caught unawares at some stage with car park owners in general, 19 threatening letters is ridiculous.