Vocal Voices

About four weeks ago a car got parked outside my home. Nobody knows who owns it. It is not one of ours, so I checked it out.

It is taxed and has MOT till November, so I reported it to the police as we only have on-street parking and it is taking up a much needed parking space.

"It has not been involved in a crime and is not stolen... try the council".

Tried the council and was directed to their website where I found an email address. Told them what I had told the police and a bot replied with a cut and paste from the website - nothing can be done till the tax and MOT run out.... and then it could be six months.

The other day a few of us were trying the doors, which were locked, but there is a lanyard on the gear stick with a school identified, but the ID card is face down and there is a key attached.

I emailed the school, but as it is summer holidays I have had no reply.

Now here's the thing. When Ally and I tried the doors I was going to my car to get some things from the dashboard tray and as I came back for some reason I tried the boot. It was open - no alarm! There is plenty of stuff inside.

I have left a note informing the owner of its report to the police, council and school and politely requested that they be a bit more considerate in future.

We are near the airport so dumping a car gets free parking, but for a month! Some holiday.

That's odd. I hope the owner is ok

Have you opened the boot? Sorry you did open the boot might be at innocent explanation or free parking


???

Kaz wrote:That's odd. I hope the owner is ok

So do I, but with it not being registered as stolen or involved in a crime it is more likely to be a chancer getting free parking.

Saundra, the boot is unlocked, hence the note.

Parking is at a premium here with people parking half on-half off on pavements and verges.

It is pretty inconsiderate isn't it.

When I was flying out of Stansted I found that the Mountfitchet train station has cheap parking. About £5 a day or thereabouts. You can take the train into the airport and out again. Also a bus is available from the airport. There are always options to pay less but still be in a recognised parking area. You don't need to be a space hog.

Just a thought, I wonder if the owner paid for meet and greet parking at the airport. These firms are supposed to take the cars to a safe parking area while the owner is on holiday, but the reality is a lot of these companies just park them anywhere.

Jenn may have a point. It'll be interesting to see if the car is moved before school starts again. And if the owner is a teacher, then a one month summer holiday is quite the norm, esp if younger and they've gone somewhere where they can teach for a few weeks to supplement holiday spending

Jen / Ria, yes, we considered those things. The reality for those of us who are victims is to just sit it out. Hopefully the school identified on the lanyard will have (strong) words.

I’ve heard of people parking in residential streets near to Birmingham Airport while they go off on holiday.
There was a news story recently where a car was parked on someone’s lawn next to the drive, whoever parked it even had the nerve to open the gates to drive through.
It was believed to be a scam where someone advertised a parking space which happened to be someone’s garden.

JoM wrote:I’ve heard of people parking in residential streets near to Birmingham Airport while they go off on holiday.
There was a news story recently where a car was parked on someone’s lawn next to the drive, whoever parked it even had the nerve to open the gates to drive through.
It was believed to be a scam where someone advertised a parking space which happened to be someone’s garden.

This happened to Jackie on a few occasions.

Not the scam but people going on holiday and parking outside her house.