Is Pay & Park trying to scam me?

[plutherus]

During Eugene Celebration last month, we unloaded our car using a corner of the Hilton parking lot. The rent-a-monkey that they had assigned there to profit off of the non-profit groups doing this immediately ran over and stuck a ticket under our windshield (after first making out the ticket while sitting across the lot, and when he thought our backs were turned).

I was rather annoyed, and sent the following letter to the General Manager of Hilton. I have, predictably, heard no response:

September 22nd, 2003
John Erickson
General Manager, Eugene Hilton
66 East 6th Avenue
Eugene, OR 97401-2667

Dear Mr. Erickson,

Our organization, Geeks Without Borders, was recently a participant of the Community Causeway in the Eugene Celebration. The street in which our booth was set up borders the parking lot at the Eugene Hilton. We, along with many of the other non-profit organizations in this section, unloaded our vehicle along the edge of your parking lot. At no time did we, or any of the other groups doing so, obstruct any of the 10 or so cars who were parked in this parking lot. No groups other than non-profit organizations taking part in the Eugene Celebration unloaded their booths from their vehicles in this area.

Despite the fact that the parking lot was nearly empty, and we were not obstructing any spaces or traffic, your parking lot attendant rushed over and stuck a $50 “parking” ticket on our vehicle as we were unloading. I immediately asked the attendant whether he thought that using the parking lot for less than five minutes to unload was worthy of a $50 fine, he replied that he was “only doing his job”. I pointed out that for two days, every community organization along this street had used this same edge of the parking lot to load and unload, he informed me that he had ticketed them, as well, and that if I should have any complaints I should “take it up with the president of Hilton.” So I am following his advice and doing so.

I have sent in the demanded payment of $50, though I also wanted to bring this matter to your attention and point out that I am deeply disappointed in the Hilton for choosing to deliberately target non-profit organizations in this manner. As a director of an organization whose volunteers frequently travel throughout the world, and who often stay in hotels in the nearest city to the areas in which they will be working, I do not feel I will be able to recommend patronizing a business that would not only not support their local community, but actively work against groups who are doing so.

I understand that at least half a dozen other non-profit organizations along this section of the Community Causeway were similarly ticketed. I sure hope the few hundred dollars that you reap from this practice compensates you for the loss of good-will in the community.

Sincerely,


Pat Luther
Director, Geeks Without Borders


But, as mentioned in the letter, I immediately sent in the fee (it's only $25.00 if paid within 15 days). The fee doubles to $50.00 if not paid.
I used the pre-printed envelope included with the ticket, but just today (after they'd had it for nearly a month), they sent it back, unopened, hand-written on it "Return to Sender". When I call them, they don't answer the phone, but do have an address on the machine which differs from the one on the envelope. (The address on the envelope is a street address, 811 NW 19th Ave, Portland, Oregon 97209-1447).

So, do they intentionall direct payments to the wrong address so that they can double the fines or are they really just this disorganized?

Comments

[31seel.livejournal.com]

I would hold on to the envelope, unopeened.

If/When they contact you for the payment, point out that the envelope they provided directed it to the incorrect address, & that subsequent follow up had failed to contact anyone.

You could really mess with them, I think.