$58.30 parking ticket at Bethesda Trader Joes/Target at 6:50 a.m

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Replying to 13:40
The first hour is free so no payment needed.

Didn't you say in your other post that they have time stamped photos? If so, then you should be able to contest.

+1. I live right near there and go there multiple times per week. I haven’t heard people complaining about tickets given in a fraudulent way.

[Anonymous]

OP with a quick update.

I paid the parking ticket online by credit card. There was a $5 convenience charge added on -- I didn't want to use ACHso it was a $63 charge. Had to agree to 13 pages of "terms and conditions" before I could complete the transaction. Some of the provisions in the 13 pages were about indemnification of this company.

I will not be parking there anymore. Just an FYI to those of you who use this parking lot and have not had any issues, there are reddit postings from people (not sure if they used this parking lot in Bethesda or ones in FL) where could prove they used the QR code or App but were still issued tickets and are unable to successfully dispute the charges.

I filed an online report with BBB. Received a reply that BBB forwarded the complaint to Vanguard Parking Solutions (in FL). Linking below the complaints on the BBB website.
https://www.bbb.org/us/fl/hollywood/profile/parking-facilities/vanguard-parking-solutions-inc-0633-92026845/customer-reviews

[Anonymous]

OP, I am a little late, but for anyone else who looks this up, you should contest by sending a letter to the address here

https://www.bbb.org/us/fl/hollywood/profile/parking-facilities/vanguard-parking-solutions-inc-0633-92026845

Vanguard Parking Solutions, Inc
3389 Sheridan St # 328
Hollywood, FL 33021-3606

And cite

Maryland Commercial Law Code 13-301 which prohibits engaging in deceptive consumer transactions which includes the misrepresentation of fees or fines.

[Anonymous]

If you click on the PP's link, it shows that Vanguard Parking has an F rating due to "Failure to respond to 194 complaint(s) filed against business" and "203 complaint(s) filed against business"

This is worth taking to the city council.

[Anonymous]

This is their linkedin page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unvacant/posts/?feedView=all

[Anonymous]

I go to this shopping complex regularly and this parking garage is the absolute worst. Total scam (on top of being perhaps the worst designed garage to ever exist).

A couple things--report it as fraud to the Bethesda Police and send a complaint to Douglas Development (202-638-6300) who own The Shops of Wisconsin and that I assume have a contract with Vanguard. It will take a critical mass of complaints to make change!

[Anonymous]

File a complaint here with the Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection.

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/ocp/consumer/filing_complaints.html

I've only used them once and they were **amazing**. I sense that they actually care about getting issues resolved. And if they see a pattern (multiple complaints) this is exactly the type of thing that they are likely to go after.

Use the terms deceptive trade practices
- they claim they have a dispute process but make it impossible to dispute
- if it's an hour free and they have evidence you stayed less than an hour it should be free; its unreasonable to fine you $58 for not using their app

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:File a complaint here with the Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection.

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/ocp/consumer/filing_complaints.html

I've only used them once and they were **amazing**. I sense that they actually care about getting issues resolved. And if they see a pattern (multiple complaints) this is exactly the type of thing that they are likely to go after.

Use the terms deceptive trade practices
- they claim they have a dispute process but make it impossible to dispute
- if it's an hour free and they have evidence you stayed less than an hour it should be free; its unreasonable to fine you $58 for not using their app

If you have the store receipt with the time stamp and the hours of the store are posted, then I doubt the parking lot management will want to argue "but our app says...." What do they do about people who don't have a smart phone? Is it posted at the garage entrance that you must have a smart phone to park there?

[Anonymous]

OP here with another update, and a thank you to everyone who chimed in with ideas and advice.

I reached out to my local councilperson(s). (Thank you to the DCUM poster who suggested this). They replied that since the garage is owned by a private company, not by the county, it is not under their jurisdiction. However, they forwarded my complaint to the Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection.

I filed a complaint with the Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection. (Thank you to the DCUM poster who suggested I do so, and to the poster who suggested that I cite the Maryland Commercial Law Code provision). I heard back from an investigator within 24 hours.

The investigator informed me that there is currently an open investigation regarding the company that owns the garage, as many people who have parked there have filed complaints regarding tickets received in the mail. The Consumer Protection Office is aware that the parking garage company does not have a mechanism for any sort of dispute resolution. I am one of the few people who actually paid the parking ticket. Others who received tickets in the mail contacted the consumer protection office before paying the fine. The complaints have been assigned to an attorney. They may look into whether someone at the DMV is passing along home addresses to the owner of the parking garage company using the scanned license plates, or if the private garage company is obtaining people's home addresses using another mechanism. I don't know where things stand on that issue.

Thank you again to everyone who brainstormed ways to get this resolved. I appreciate everyone's thoughtfulness and kindness.

[Anonymous]

You'd think that TJs and Target would care about this because if customers refuse to shop there because is the situation it impacts them directly. I hate that parking lot because of how claustrophobic it is now I have a new reason to stop shopping there altogether.