Dad ‘relieved’ after firm drops bailiffs threat and hospital parking fine
RESIDENT MADE IT CLEAR HE’D PAID TO PARK AFTER FINE 18 MONTHS AGO
A DAD-OF-TWO revealed his relief after his 18-month dispute over a Coventry hospital parking fine reached a ‘happy’ ending.
Herlas Cosmin was left concerned about his family’s safety and all of their possessions after he received a letter from bailiffs demanding a payment of £170.
The demand stemmed from a dispute with Car Parking Partnership which started on November 8, 2020, when he went to University Hospital Coventry to pick up his wife and their newborn baby.
Mr Herlas says he parked for around 90 minutes and paid £3.90 when he left the site.
The company does not dispute that Mr Cosmin paid, but maintains he was in the wrong by parking in a section designated for BMI Healthcare patients and visitors. Nevertheless, the Lancashire-based firm has now agreed to waive the charge after the Telergraph intervened in the row.
“I feel happy, relieved and very grateful to the people who helped me solve this issue,” said Mr Cosmin.
“Thank you very much for everything. It seems it was in part my fault. I’m really sorry for any inconvenience.
The 38-year-old said he had felt worried and intimidated after receiving a letter threatening him with bailiffs. It arrived after Herlas had appealed the initial £100 Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).
He approached citizens advice because ‘I didn’t know where else to turn’ and said he had left frustrated in his attempts to contact CPP to resolve the matter.
“When you try to solve a problem and no one wants to help it is very annoying and frustrating,” he said.
But Herlas, who lives in Rugby with his wife and their two children, now longer has to worry with the row resolved thanks to a ‘gesture of goodwill’ from CPP.
A spokesperson said: “Car Parking Partnership has partnered with University Hospital Coventry for over three years to significantly improve how it’s car parks operate.
“During this time there has been investment in modern consumer-facing systems which has enhanced accessibility and made parking at the hospital easier and safer for staff, patients and visitors.
“The system is designed to ensure the efficiency and smooth operation of the hospital by ensuring that patients, visitors and staff park in their allocated car parks. “BMI Healthcare also operates within the healthcare campus and the motorist received a parking charge notice after parking in the car park reserved for its patients and visitors.
“There is clear and highly-visible signage throughout advising that the car park is for BMI Healthcare patients and visitors only and that they should enter their vehicle registration into a terminal at reception to receive free parking.
Despite the motorist not parking in the correct area, we have cancelled the charge as a gesture of goodwill.”
I feel happy, relieved and very grateful to the people who helped me solve this issue Herlas Cosmin