First Parking Reviews 

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

Rubbish organisation. App wouldn’t work and could not pay with money!
Got stung for £30!
Appalling!!

We tried to park to take a pair of my orthotics shoes in for repair. But no spaces anywhere. We drove round 4 times and ended up parking at Madford retail park where my partner had to walk to the hospital to take my shoes in for me as my mobility scooter would not be able to get there and back. Orthotics needs a drop point at doctors surgery for collection of shoes and other medical repairs can be collected and a van could collect them.

Total scum and a scam, should be shut down.
I appealed because their sign was so small and up in the air, not only that I was let into the parking by officials for an event. Later I get a notice from the debt collector DCBL, even bigger scum, the parking was £80 and they want £150! I try in good faith to pay First parking and my ticket does not exist-this cannot be legal! Is this even legal or a criminal scam operation. PLEASE BE CAREFUL OUT THERE-SCUM ALERT

This company sent me a parking charge notice when I visited my son who stayed in university accommodation this is absolutely SCUM

This company are absolute scum of the earth, their dodgy ticket machines don’t work most of the time (probably on purpose) then because you can’t pay for your parking they might send you a letter asking for £80 but usually they don’t even arrive you just get a debt collection letter for £150!!!! How are these scam artists not moderated better

This company tried to make money on sweat and blood of hard working NHS staff. It functions as a Mafia organisation. They know that staff need parking to go to work, so they act like God when offering parking permit. If any staff makes complaint about them, they punish the person by not issuing parking permit and make day start difficult thanks to weak Trust Executive board.

Disgusting company out for money, I went to get my son from Hertfordshire University and we have previously been told we are allowed to have half an hour to get students or drop them off, I did this in febuary as my son was having a mental health breakdown we were there no longer than 20 mins as i needed to help him with bags and change my 3 month old after an hour long journey,7 months later I have received a debt collection letter telling us we owe 150 for a parking fine that I have never received, this was our first knowledge about it. i asked for evidence for this so called offence but had no contact at all and then we get a court letter saying we now owe over 200 now. We have been told by the debt company evidence is only given at court I'm absolutely disgusted and will fight as much as I can. Crooks just targeting people that are in the right and people that are struggling as is.

I really don't understand how this company is getting away with daylight murder in the first degree. I work for an NHS (Kent & Medway) trust they operate from. Have a parking permit they issued (though showing it's expired, like everyone else's). When I enquired, was told as long as you display it, its fine. I parked in the designated slot as usual but my pass fell on the floor of the car on a windy day as I was closing the door. The next thing I saw was a parking ticket. I appealed and gave them proof of my permit but this was declined and there is no further way of communicating with them. The next thing I see is a very harsh letter with £130 from dcbl. I called DCBL and the lady I spoke to said that she could not help but seek legal advice. Honestly.

Poor operation and indifferent to victims suffering from third party operators acting freely as booking agents and operating at scale on their premises ... dont be caught by a third party scammed operation!

They and third parties have now been reported to trading standards and action fraud for investigation. The public need protection from this greedy type of operation!

Scammers! Mistyped a letter when putting in my reg number. Paid for 4 hours even though I stayed 1 hour. No letters nothing for 2 months - then I get a final warning letter from Dcbl bailiffs demanding £155 or I’m taken to court. When I type in my parking notice ref number for appeal (as found on the dcbl letter), nothing comes up so how am I meant to appeal!