Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Parking catch 22.
I have just received a letter by post reminding me that my parking permit will run out on 19/02/2018. A month too late.
I found out my permit had run out a couple of weeks ago when I got a parking ticket however I could not renew my ticket anyway because I had not received the reminder containing the current "applicant ID".
When I rang up to complain I was told via e mail that I had not been sent a reminder because I had paid for but not printed the previous years permit. The fact that I had displayed a printed permit for the whole year seems to make no difference.
I found that I could not renew my permit online until after I had paid for the parking ticket so I could not challenge it.
On top of that I have had to exhaust my supply of visitors parking permits.
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by John D on
-
I always renew my parking permit on line and print it out immediately. And I think it cost £124, not £ 30.
-
Permalink Reply by matthew cuthbert on
-
After 14 days is it? It doubles from £40 to 80, then doubles again to £160 and then they serve you with a debt collector, or a court summons, nice folk! I’ve seen debt collectors serve on neighbours, enforcement is important but criminalising residents is too much.
When we had freinds round to meet for a BBQ two guests had babies to strughle with, and had parking fines ea in 20 minutes of each other, I’ll never forget that, you always feel bad when it’s a guest.
-
Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on
-
Hi Matthew. If you haven't already seen it, do please have a look at Derek Dishman's blog - Link here to Mr Mustard. You may also find it interesting to read his evidence in October 2013 to the (then) House of Commons Select Committee on Transport.
In my view Haringey's parking permit and Penalty Charge System (PCN) is based on a con, a rip-off, a set of half-truths. One such half-truth is that Haringey hasn't raised its Council Tax. The PCN and permit system is at best a de facto tax. At worst it's an inequitable and arbitrary system which is devised to rack-up profits and levy - in practice - fines. As you have observed, these are often out of proportion to the "offence".
In the past even when our Council has been completely and clearly in the wrong and levied these fines/ PCNs etc unlawfully they refused to repay any, pretending it would be far too complicated.
The system is an addiction to tax-raising. With decisions made by a bunch of people who - if they drive to the Civic Centre - get free parking behind the building.
Having written all that, I am actually in favour of parking management to balance competing interests. But I want to see a system which operates fairly, transparently, and where there is no pressure - as now seems - to raise money as the main priority.
I say that having seen the alternative in the roads where we live - a walk from Tottenham Hale station. These roads - and sometimes pavements, and occasionally green spaces - became uncontrolled free-parking areas. In the past the only road to the south - an ordinary three-lane residential street - became single lane with parking on both sides and sometimes on the pavements. On one occasion an ambulance taking a woman in labour to hospital couldn't get through. Another time the police had to be called when two drivers threatened each other with tyre irons.
Luckily very few people have access to guns. For many years Zena Brabazon and I used to visit friends who lived close to Washington DC. It was a walk to their nearest Metro station. Along the route, signs outside private homes had a picture of a rifle and the words "Parking? Don't even think about it."What should be done? My own personal opinion is that the new Council should rethink the whole problem, come up with, and consult on a fairer system. But I said that for many years when I was a councillor and nobody took much notice. The Highway robbery will continue as long as people vote for councillors who don't want to change it.
(Political Declaration on my Personal page.)
-
-
I have defended a resident from debt collectors, and the council officer was very helpful, it’s the third party groups that are not so generous.
-
-
Some interesting observations Alan, I’ve often though parking officers could also log dumping etc. as wardens for the areas they patrol, to reduce dumping and keep the council up to speed.
-
-
On your last point, Matthew, my gut feeling is that there ought to be ways to intelligently link-up these different tasks and functions. But I'm also aware of at least some of the potential pitfalls.
Years ago I suggested there might be a way for another service to be paid to do some street reporting and monitoring for mutual benefit. Having many decades ago read "Father Brown" detective stories and, more recently Henning Mankell's 'Wallander', there is an obvious possibility.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alanstanton/3471123221/
-
Permalink Reply by Madeline on
-
Haringey did, at one time, have 'Community Volunteer Wardens', I was one of them. We were supplied with Freephone numbers, information on rubbish disposal and other contacts to report any street problems including trees, holes, graffiti, general (not specific or personal) parking problems and the like, (mostly rubbish though). We could also offer advice on who or where to get help such as recycling centres and other council contacts. It worked quite well, at least in areas that had a CVW and did make a difference to the general appearance of the area.
-
Permalink Reply by Zena Brabazon on
-
Hi Maggie
This sounds perverse. Catch 22 is right! If you contact me I will follow this up with parking. Please email me at:
zena.brabazon@haringey.gov.uk with your details. It would be helpful to have your parking details - reference number and ID and also your name and address.
All the best
ZenaZena Brabazon
Cllr, Harringay Ward
-
-
Cc parking@haringey.gov.uk
ann.cunningham@haringey.gov.uk (Head of Traffic Management)
-
Permalink Reply by maggie on
-
APOLOGY.
An apology to all concerned as now having got the correct information and asking someone else to download and print this years permit for me it is obvious that what I printed and displayed last year was not the actual permit. Same details but completely the wrong format.
There ought to be a word for the confusion and stress caused by having to access and download from official websites however it seems that printing the wrong bit or rather not printing the correct bit caused the block on me accessing my account.
-
-
My sister-in-law, Laura Berryman, asked me to post this for her.
____________________________________"How can we be unhelpful today? This should be Haringey Council’s new motto.
Eager to purchase some visitor parking permits to replenish my supply I thought that I would test out my shiny new ‘My Account’ and make a purchase online as Haringey would like me to do.
In fact, I could hardly contain my joy, when after several attempts at creating a password, answering all questions and providing all details I received a congratulatory email on achieving this new status – as a Haringey ‘My Account’ holder.
Wow – life would certainly be so much simpler. I started to use the account to make my purchase but soon discovered that I had to produce information to prove who I was. Surely that was clear from the creation of the account.
Prove I am aged over 60. Quote an ID number for my permits. Quote my council tax reference. So I resorted to phoning Haringey Council. I wanted to know why if I have an ID for permits from the last purchase they would not also know that I am aged over 60 since I had to prove it then.
Alas. The operator tried in vain to explain that I could visit a customer service centre to pay and collect my permits. She put me through to the parking department but the wait was going to be 32 minutes to speak to somebody.
I have been purchasing permits ever since the Bruce Grove Controlled Parking Zone was introduced several years ago. And surprise, surprise – over the years I have not got younger although there is a portrait in my attic.
So much for ‘My Account’ and all the accompanying paraphernalia. I am not looking forward to a long wait presenting documents that the council already has. I wonder how helpful the customer service centre will be."
- ‹ Previous
- 1
- 2
- Next ›
© 2024 Created by Hugh.
Powered by
