FEW things in life are as frustrating as being given a parking ticket and feeling it is unjustified.
Until now drivers have been able to go to Kirklees Parking Office on Albion Street in Huddersfield town centre and talk to someone face-to-face.
Some people can be irate in such circumstance and no doubt it could be a challenging role for the office staff.
But they could often explain the situation fully to the motorist, understand the point they made and help towards a resolution.
This option has now been taken away from drivers.
People can only appeal the Penalty Charge Notices online or by post.
Many people find it difficult to write their thoughts down and can explain things far better face-to-face.
The new system does make the whole process far less human. Drivers no longer have a fixed point of contact and will be far less sure that someone is dealing with their complaint.
It can also raise people’s stress levels as they struggle to put their points into words.
Let’s hope the parking office responds quickly to the emails and letters. After all, how often do people send a complaint to an organisation by email only to never get a reply at all so they have to keep chasing it up themselves.
Once again people will see it as another organisation hiding behind a veil of anonymity.
For complaints to be handled quickly, efficiently and sensitively, people working for such organisations have to take responsibility.
Let’s hope this is what happens at the new-style Kirklees Parking Office.
