Park & Collect experience

[Korla 14]

tl;dr; first

Guys, I messed up. I parked somewhere where I should not have. The owner uses the Park&Collect app, took the evidence, and now I received the bill for 147€. I am guilty, I exactly know when and where this happened, and I am ready to pay the settlement. I understand that this is an alternative dispute resolution (wiki). The property owner gets 40€ the rest is for the company behind it.

Is there a chance that he may still require more money when I pay the settlement? Using e.g. a different app?

I am not trying to get off the hook. I just want to make sure that the owner can't use five different apps where every single one sends me a bill for 150€.

 

A longer (but slightly entertaining) story:

I built a new desktop PC for my elderly father as a Christmas gift. Due to the pandemic, I decided to ship it to him along with my spare LCD screens. The package was over 30Kg. I had to change the packaging about three times to get under the GLS limit (31.5Kg). I rushed to the nearest GLS Paketshop on 18th of December. Since the package was difficult to carry I wanted to park as close to the door as possible. I turned on the hazard light to show that I am around. There was room for one compact car but not for my station wagon. The rear axle was already on the border. A part of the car slightly blocked the exit from someone's house. At the same time there was a guy leaving the backyard and he could easily pass by. I knew that I exceeded but the guy made it. We even nodded to each other so everything was all right. I took the beefy package and brought it to the GLS Paketshop. On the way back there was already a guy in Cayenne (what a silly car) waiting for me to move away. I went straight to him and apologized as much as I can. He was extremely mean (a guy with golden Schmuck like disco owners used to have in 90'). I was not surprised. I would be also mean if I had to drive white Cayenne. I guess most of you know how much time it takes to drop off a package. It may have been 3 minutes, probably less. 

Even though the guy was a grotesque resemblance of Al Pacino he was right and I was wrong. I also somehow understand that if this happens to him 4 times a week it sucks. Driving a tractor is not convenient in the city and when somebody blocks the entrance? That ruins the day ;-)

 

#Stay healthy & park well. 

 

Korla

[DoubleDTown 287]

I hadn't heard of this sort of app before.  Interesting dilemma.   I suggest you read:  https://www.test.de/Park-Collect-App-Aerger-fuer-Falschparker-5550045-0/ 

 

I don't think the property owner can charge you more than once.  Were he to try to collect from more than one app, I suspect that you having submitted to the extortion of the first app would be a successful defense to any subsequent apps.  NOTE:  I am not a Rechtsanwalt, I'm just speculatin'. 

 

Potential plot twist: how can you be sure the guy making the demand is the land owner or authorized agent of the owner?  I dunno.  

[Korla 14]

3 hours ago, DoubleDTown said:

I hadn't heard of this sort of app before.  Interesting dilemma.   I suggest you read:  https://www.test.de/Park-Collect-App-Aerger-fuer-Falschparker-5550045-0/ 

 

I don't think the property owner can charge you more than once.  Were he to try to collect from more than one app, I suspect that you having submitted to the extortion of the first app would be a successful defense to any subsequent apps.  NOTE:  I am not a Rechtsanwalt, I'm just speculatin'. 

 

Potential plot twist: how can you be sure the guy making the demand is the land owner or authorized agent of the owner?  I dunno.  

 

Thanks for the feedback. I see it the same way.Yesterday, I discovered that some people make good living out of this app. I suggest this reading:

https://www.welt.de/wirtschaft/article198634201/Park-Collect-Neue-App-macht-Privatpersonen-zu-Freizeit-Polizisten.html

 

Actually the letter I received mentions the address and the name. He is quite publically known person and google revealed the photo (from newspapers). This is the guy I spoke with. He does not need to be the owner. Just a resident is enough. I suggest reading at least the end of the article I linked above.