Clamped in obrien off licence athlone

diar1000

Hi all, new to this but i was clamped in athlone about 3 weeks ago. i parked my car, went up to meter and out of order was displayed on the meter. so i asked a lad beside me and he said they cant clamp you if it not working. so i went, ate my dinner and arrived back 20 minutes later to be clamped. i explained to the clamper that it was out of order and he wanted none of it so i payed in cash and sent in my appeal form. after 17 emails and about 20 phonecalls they rejected my appeal today.. i can send it another appeal but at a cost of 20 squids. is it worth it after all this?. what can i do. i wont go down without a fight.

schemingbohemia

Don't trust lads on the street with issues that can get you fined. Did you look for another machine?

diar1000

hi, there is only 1 machine in the car park. if i could turn back time i would have cut it off but at the time i pursummed it would be sorted.

Procrastastudy

diar1000 wrote: »

hi, there is only 1 machine in the car park. if i could turn back time i would have cut it off but at the time i pursummed it would be sorted.

I take it you whipped out your phone and took a picture of the out of order meter?

What was the fee? You can probably fight it on the basis on unfair contract terms.

diar1000

i wish i did...
120e... nasty price ta pay for a student. any idea what i should do? . will i send in the second appeal form even tho it set me back another 120e??

afatbollix

At the end of the day its a in house appeals system. Giving them another 20 euro would be stupid. Could this come under small claims court?

diar1000

ya i reackon would be an ass ta give them more money. however i may send off the appeal and state they can have 20e out of my returns because i cannot afford it. i not sure does it i was hoping someone here would know

afatbollix

As its in house dont expect them to over turn anything. They wouldn't care if the machine was out of order they got your 120 euro thats all they care about. They will just keep rejecting it as its not a independent appeals system. They only way to get your cash back is by taking them to court.


More than likely they have to have an appeals system in place like they do but they can just reject all cases. Then slap a €20 fee for a second one how many people will appeal again? not many!

coylemj

You asked a complete stranger for advice, followed it and it cost you €120.

It's somewhat ironic that your next step is to go on boards.ie to ask for more advice and that's the most charitable slant I can put on it.

seb65

I'd contact my TD about it.

coylemj

I'll bet my Christmas dinner that the 'out of order' meter had a notice on the front which stated that in the event it was out of order that the individual should go to another machine. There can't be only one ticket machine in Golden Island shopping centre considering there must be a few hundred parking slots.

Reloc8

coylemj wrote: »

You asked a complete stranger for advice, followed it and it cost you €120.

It's somewhat ironic that your next step is to go on boards.ie to ask for more advice and that's the most charitable slant I can put on it.

Ah here. Where are we when you can't take the word of a lad beside you as regards paying for parking ? What kind of country have we become ? Lost our soul so we have, we have Joe and I'll tell you something else zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

whyulittle

coylemj wrote: »

I'll bet my Christmas dinner that the 'out of order' meter had a notice on the front which stated that in the event it was out of order that the individual should go to another machine. There can't be only one ticket machine in Golden Island shopping centre considering there must be a few hundred parking slots.

He didn't say he parked in GISC. Funnily enough he should have, as there is only a two hour limit there, but no ticket needed.

I presume he parked in one of the little carparks between O'Brien's and Supermacs.

Reloc8

But does anyone really think there was only the one ticket machine governing the location ? That would be vastly unusual.

maidie

Reloc8 wrote: »

But does anyone really think there was only the one ticket machine governing the location ? That would be vastly unusual.

There is only 1 ticket machine there, The guy manning the machine would sit in a parked van and hop out with clamp as soon as he got a minute, its a very small carpark, but lethal for clamping

segaBOY

Desperate little town for parking.

I would write a strongly worded LETTER to the company involved. Explain your case clearly. Have another look at the car park and ensure there is only one ticket machine. Explain that you were willing to pay for parking but were forced not to do so. Explain that without satisfactory results you feel that you are left with no further option but to contact your solicitor, small claims court and the media.

Keep copies of all further correspondence. Best of luck. AFAIK clamping is generally unregulated in this country.

Reloc8

^ Yikes ! I won't be using it so.

OP will have no problem with his appeal though, if there was only one machine and it was in fact broken.

Thanks, guy on the internet, :pac:

Procrastastudy

segaBOY wrote: »

and the media.

This, and my inability to command the English language, is why I could never be a journalist. I'd spend all day telling people to get a life.

To be fair the rest of the comments were sensible to a point.

segaBOY

Procrastastudy wrote: »

This, and my inability to command the English language, is why I could never be a journalist. I'd spend all day telling people to get a life.

To be fair the rest of the comments were sensible to a point.

Fair point, however I think the likes of the Athlone Advertiser would have a good chance of publishing a letter which could damage business for the car park. If you know the area it is a small car park surrounded by council spaces and a large selection of spaces from Dunnes and Golden Island centres. I don't know why people park there really.

Anyway fair point on your behalf, I still think it is a valid option.