Motorist ripped off

[BMK]

Hi guys.

If you get a moment Google

Trip Advisor Holiday Inn Express Taunton UK

After spending and speeding for seven weeks overseas I was pretty pleased with myself in avoiding every cop, speed camera and parking fine.. aaah the wide open M5 and winding lanes..

Mmmmm -

That was until I received 5 Traffic Violations in two days from Somerset Council UK.

Guess what - I had been caught driving in a Bus Lane.

Anne and I decided at the last minute to stay in Taunton UK and booked a room at the Holiday Inn Express Taunton UK. It was central to where we wanted to base our self.

It is right on a clover leaf type double roundabout and very difficult to get into the motel. We used our GPS and managed OK. But as we left the GPS directed us down the side street next to the motel and into Taunton township.

There are signs on the street only visible from the roundabout. Mmm you know the rest 5 fines in less than 48 hours.

I was p!ssed off and put my comments on Trip Advisor for the Holiday Inn Express Taunton only to find four others were also booked in the preceding few weeks.

A cash grab by Somerset Council....

I was really upset to read the Trip Advisor entry from the family in obvious convoy heading to a funeral and the poor woman who received multiple fines and was worried how she was going to pay.

As motorists we need to let this Somerset Council know they are ripping off unsuspecting people - blatant cash grab.

I went on the Somerset Council 'Contact Us' site and voiced my thoughts.

My Bookkeeper was so annoyed she copied every Councillor into my response.

Mmmmm maybe we can collectively complain and save these families attending a funeral and cash short..

I have also Posted a Thread on the England Cobra site encouraging motorist to voice their dissatisfaction with the rip off.

Trip Advisor - Holiday Inn Express Taunton UK

Somerset Council UK - contact Us - Illminister Rd Taunton cash grab of motorists.

[byroncobra]

....are you going to pay the fines Bernie?

I was in Ware, Hertfordshire a month back, we parked for a couple of minutes in a council carpark to grab something from a pharmacy only to return to a council officer printing off a ticket....

we chucked it curious to see if the rental company chases us up

not so far!

[Rog246]

Oh come on Bernie, just think of it as doing your bit for old Good Queen Bess !
You're just contributing to the fiscal fund for the running of the realm!
You know sending them some money from the colonies !

[BMK]

Yes paid.

I had no option. The first thing I knew was Avis advised me they had received the fines and they were paid as re Clause 6 of my Avis contract.

So I lodged an objection - on the principle of it. The 5 fines totaled just under $500.

The Council response was that the fines had been paid and the matter was closed. Just billed to my credit card by Avis. Mm that's another issue. Maybe a debit card would muck Avis up..

So I thought F;ck them - so my Bookkeeper sent an email to the 65 Councillors in Somerset.

I laughed about this - it is the wonder of emailing when you can type an email and paste all the names in..

Then I had her log into Trip Advisor for the Holiday Inn Express Taunton and that review appears tomorrow after cleared by Trip Advisor moderator.

But I was surprised to see so many people have been booked. See the Trip Advisor site.

Mmmm anyway my gripe..

[BMK]

Rog246

Yes a donation to Council.

But now called the Taunton Sting.

[Donunder]

Bernie I've read some of the comments by others caught out by the Taunton Sting.

The manager of the Holiday Inn Express sounds like a typical motel manager. He states in reply to a similar complaint to yours that the bus lane has been designated as such for the past decade, and then goes on to blame the satnav people for not updating their data. What a copout! And what a nice little earner it must have been for the Council over that period! Really, how difficult would it be for the staff at the Holiday Inn to be instructed to bring this to the attention of guests by way of a printed flyer showing the "no go" lane?

The Council, being what Councils everywhere appear to be, will never seek to remedy the signage situation while it continues to fleece innocent visitors so easily, (you're only there one night and there's no electoral disadvantage in ripping off non-voters!) but the management of the Holiday Inn is missing a golden PR opportunity by not notifying its guests of the problem. In fact, you'd think that given how long this abysmal state of affairs has been running, it would be almost beholden upon the management to warn their guests of it on arrival.

I dislike motel chains immensely. I find nothing appealing in their sterile atmosphere and bland impersonal service. Your unfortunate (and expensive) experience here just serves to convince me even more that in the UK, staying in friendly family-run B&Bs is the way to go.

It'll be interesting to see what sort of reply you receive from the Taunton Council...

[427 sam]

Originally Posted by Donunder

Bernie I've read some of the comments by others caught out by the Taunton Sting.

The manager of the Holiday Inn Express sounds like a typical motel manager. He states in reply to a similar complaint to yours that the bus lane has been designated as such for the past decade, and then goes on to blame the satnav people for not updating their data. What a copout! And what a nice little earner it must have been for the Council over that period! Really, how difficult would it be for the staff at the Holiday Inn to be instructed to bring this to the attention of guests by way of a printed flyer showing the "no go" lane?

The Council, being what Councils everywhere appear to be, will never seek to remedy the signage situation while it continues to fleece innocent visitors so easily, (you're only there one night and there's no electoral disadvantage in ripping off non-voters!) but the management of the Holiday Inn is missing a golden PR opportunity by not notifying its guests of the problem. In fact, you'd think that given how long this abysmal state of affairs has been running, it would be almost beholden upon the management to warn their guests of it on arrival.

I dislike motel chains immensely. I find nothing appealing in their sterile atmosphere and bland impersonal service. Your unfortunate (and expensive) experience here just serves to convince me even more that in the UK, staying in friendly family-run B&Bs is the way to go.

It'll be interesting to see what sort of reply you receive from the Taunton Council...

Sad but true we brits welcome you all but alas its the state of the country, the councils are responsible for their budgets and the unfortunate motorist has to bear the brunt , we are easy targets as most of the fines are issued sometime after the event, and even if you challenge the fine you may well end up more out of pocket,( jackboot officials and spy cameras everywhere,)as for finding someplace to stay i have to agree find a nice B/B preferably out of the city, some country B/Bs are very well appointed, there you will find a warm brit welcome awaiting, sorry you had a bad experience. also sorry for ranting on hope you all come again, regards Sam.
http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/images/icons/icon9.gif

[BMK]

Donunder

The Council - Somerset Parking - basically replied that as Avis has paid the fines "case closed".

The Avis hire car contract states when they receive the fines, they pay them and forward the account on to the driver/hirer. This then let's them off the hook.

So it's up to me then to challenge the fine....

I only jumped on site here to assist others - in particular the others already booked.

I agree with the comments about the Holiday Inn staff and their placing a sign at the exit saying no left turn.

The Council could also place a second sign facing the motorists stating "no left turn bus lane"

Hell this would impact on Council income stream..

[Rob. Smith]

I rented an avis car while mine was in repair...I got a fine from M7 motorway sydney It took 3 weeks to sort it and each week the fine increased by $10.00 I only had the car for 2 days and the infringement was a week previous to me hiring the car !