ComplaintsforNorthwest Parking Control LLC

• Initial Complaint

  08/25/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On August 25 2024 this business violated a city ordinance and cited drivers who had already paid for parking. This business is performing predatory business practices and taking money from consumers in a 'scummy' way. They should have to fix their signs and let the public know who choose to park in their areas that they are NOT free to park, even on days that it is free to park on the city ordinance. This is blatant predatory business actions, preying on those who assume because the city says it's free to park - that it is indeed, free to park. However, their signs do not >clearly< indicate that it is NOT free to park, even on those days that the city deems it free to park. They are obviously taking money from people who don't have a chance to be informed.

  

  Business response

  08/27/2024

  Please see attached photos stating that the parking lots are "PAY TO PARK ALL HOURS"

  Customer response

  08/27/2024

   
  Complaint: 22193747
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  These pictures are of >OTHER< parking lots you own - NOT the one I was given a ticket at.  You may have photos of signs on your OTHER PROPERTIES, but the one I received does NOT have it.  You showed photos of OTHER parking locations - NOT the one I parked at on *******************************  Again - fix your signs!

  "Pay to park all hours" doesn't encompass days where it is FREE TO PARK (Saturday + Sunday).  You would need to attach a sign that says "PAY TO PARK ALL DAYS AND HOURS".. If it is "Free to park in the city of  ********* (to help businesses make money) during weekends" and your business goes against that - you need to CLEARLY display a sign that denotes "ALL DAYS" are required for paying for parking on your property.  You have sent pictures of OTHER properties that contain this sign, but the ones at your VANCOUVER BLOCK 10 LOT DO NOT CONTAIN THIS MESSAGE.
  

  This is not sufficient, I reject this response.  You also do NOT reply to disputes, as I have not received a call back and I have left SEVERAL messages regarding this incident.  You also have NO physical location listed for taking you to small claims court over this, which proves you do not want to be found or taken to court.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *********************

  

  Business response

  08/27/2024

  Correct, I sent the file showing all the lots have such signage.  I have only attached the block 10 to this response.

  You can see the block 10 sign behind the entrance sign.

   

  Customer response

  08/27/2024

   
  Complaint: 22193747
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  I do not see where on the signs it says "Weekends" ... Again, the City of ********* Washington says it is free to park on the weekends.  "All hours" on the sign does not include the implied "Weekends", which ********* WA deems to be free parking.  You are preying on people who have been living in the city for years and understand that the city says it's free to park on the weekends, whereas your signs DO NOT SAY "Weekends" >anywhere< on them.

  I >reject< your response until you can include a photo that shows the Block 10 sign with "Weekends" mentioned for requiring pay to park. 

  People have the money to obviously go downtown and patronize the businesses, spend money, and enjoy the city.  You are completely ruining it and making the city look bad, since you have no affiliation with them at all! 

  I will accept your resolution and response, once your signs contain "weekends" on there.  Until then, you will continue to hear from me.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *********************

• Initial Complaint

  08/16/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I parked my vehicle in downtown ********* at a lot managed by Northwest Parking Control. There was a kiosk to pay to park OR you could pay to park from the Passport app which is owned and managed by Northwest Parking Control. Since I have the app and have used it in the past, I paid with the app when parking on this instance. I received a ticket for not showing proof of payment.I appealed the ticket per instructions on the ticket and provided proof of my payment on the app which they advertised. The proof I provided showed time, date, vehicle license plate, hours and time payment and parking were granted.They denied my claim 12 hours before payment was due before cost doubled. They stated I needed to email them to show proof of payment or pay it. I once again emailed and showed proof of payment.

  

  Business response

  08/27/2024

  Thank you for providing the proof of payment.  The penalty notice was voided.  We apologize for the inconvenience.

  Customer response

  09/02/2024

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***************************

• Initial Complaint

  07/30/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I was parked at a parking lot in down town ********* 5/30/2024. All signs said permit required Monday thru Friday 8am-5pm. No signage nothing on the collection computer about 24 hours pay. I parked in one single spot with my truck. I showed up at 6:59 pm for a dinner meeting with another vehicle that was parked next to me. When I came back at 9pm I had a ticket on my truck. The person who showed up at the same time did not. So I walked around the lot and found I was the only person who received a ticket in the outside lot. I have made countless calls, emails, talking with the city of *********, the company who does there payments ( the computer stand at the lot) everyone has tried to get me in contact with them and they will not respond to any of our emails, calls, or voicemails. I feel like I was targeted because I was in a full size truck and everyone else was in small cars or small cross over SUV's. This was a money grab and totally singled out for what I was driving since the person I went to dinner with who was parked next to me did not receive a ticket. Nor did anyone else on the lot. I have tried and tried to contact them but they refuse to call me to make this right. This was discrimination because I had a truck in there lot.

  

  Business response

  08/01/2024

  The facility is PAY TO PARK, ALL HOURS, ALL DAYS.  This is stated at the entrance of all area parking lots.  This particular facility is reserved for monthly permit parking during normal business hours, M-F.  It is not free parking at any time.  It is PAY TO PARK ALL HOURS.  You admit you did not pay to park which is why you received the citation.  Please follow the instructions on the citation to resolve this matter.

  Customer response

  08/07/2024

  NW parking. You obviously did not read your message or you would have spoke on this. The only thing you stated was "I admitted fault" well ya. Why I got a hold of the BBB for your 0 communication and yet this email you did not talk about any thing I address. Your lot does not say that it's 24 hour park nor does your stand to pay. I have attached more photos for the case. You targeted me because of the vehicle I was in. Why was no one else including the person in the other vehicle that DID NOT PAY to park there get a ticket? Why was it only my truck and no one else in the lot? Most people did not have a paid slip on there windshield. This is discrimination and I want this ticket dropped to $0. This was totally understandable standards by a company and understand how you have some many complaints and poor ratings. 
  
  
  Advise if you will drop this or not. If not. My complaint with the BBB will stand if needed I will take further action 
  

  
  

• Initial Complaint

  07/05/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  This is my third complaint as the company has not reached out for my appeal approval made June 30th or responded in any manner. On June 30th 2024 at 11:02am I paid for parking via the parking passport app for lot #**** block 11 in *********, ** at the waterfront. Upon returning to my car I was ticketed for $23. As shown in the photos I added, there was a ticket issued at 11:06 am which stated no proof of payment from *************************. I have been unable to make contact to further appeal this ticket as I have proof that clearly shows I paid $2.50 4 minutes before for an hour of parking. I will not be paying the $23 fee as I was paid and I was charged $2.50 with the parking passport app which was on a signed posted above the parking pay station. I will continue this action with the BBB against NW parking control until I receive notice that this ticket issue has been cancelled due to proof I have included.

  

  Business response

  07/08/2024

  Hello,

  Thank you for brining your concern to our attention; however, from the pictures you've provided it appears that the parking session purchased does not cover the vehicle cited.

  Parking purchases was for Washington License Plate ********

  Penalty Notice #******** was issued for Washington License Plate *******

  Is the vehicle cited your vehicle or is the vehicle with the paid parking your vehicle?

  Please let us know so we may respond further as needed.

  Thank you!

  Customer response

  07/08/2024

   
  Complaint: 21946211
  
  I am rejecting this response because: I used the parking passport app and the license plate number provided was automatic. The app didnt let me add one so paid for parking with the assumption it was for my car that I drove the Kia ******* I did pay for parking. This is the point. 

  
  Sincerely,
  
  Dakota ******

  

  Business response

  07/09/2024

  The option to add a different vehicle license plate is clearly visible and adjacent to where you selected the existing vehicle information as the vehicle you paid to park.  Alternatively, you could have also used on-site equipment for a physical receipt.  The vehicle cited did not have an active paid parking session associated to the license plate and was therefore cited.
  

• Initial Complaint

  06/24/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Penalty Fee Notice #******** I was issued 6/12/2024 a ticket for no paid parking at ************************ parking. There was not sign in front of my car where I had received a ticket. This was not clear this was a pay for parking area. I appealed the ticket and it was declined. They need the area to be more clear.

  

  Business response

  07/08/2024

  There is signage at each entrance into the facility explaining that it is a: "PAY TO PARK FACILITY, ALL HOURS, ALL DAYS" and that "PARKING PERMITS ARE REQUIRED."
  

  There are also large, pole mounted signs high above each machine that states: "PAY HERE" in a fashion that is clearly visible throughout the facility.

  This customer apparently expects that we mount a sign at each parking stall which is unreasonable. 

  Furthermore, one picture provided by the customer even shows their vehicle is parked in 2 parking space.  Other operators would have charged a fee of $50 or towed the vehicle.  Our penalty fee is a reasonable amount as we really hope it to be a coachable ****** in how to properly park.

   

   

  Customer response

  07/09/2024

   
  Complaint: 21895708
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  

  The signs state public parking after 5pm and on weekends. 'one sign reads "Permit parking only Mon-fri until 5pm" This is not very clear that this is pay parking. How it reads it appears you have to pay if before 5pm. And for the parking lines/stalls...not very clear as you can see double lines. 
  Sincerely,
  
  *******************************

• Initial Complaint

  10/13/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I parked in a lot in downtown ********* Saturday October 7th, 2023. As shown in my supporting documents, the lot I parked in had a sign at the entrance stating there is no public parking except after 5pm and on weekends. Also, there was a sign by the parking payment machine stating permit parking is only required Monday-Friday until 5pm. Lastly, the light pole in front of my parking spot had a sign offering to pay for parking with an app called Passport Parking using zone #****.Since this was a Saturday I considered this acceptable public parking and paid for one hour of parking using the Passport Parking app at 11:22am.I returned to my car shortly after and found a penalty fee notice issued at 11:29am for no "parking without required permit. Note: no proof of payment."I sent an appeal via email October 7th at 11:40am with the screenshot of my payment receipt showing I had used the app as advertised in the parking lot. This app does not provide anything to place on the dash nor does it state that I needed to handwrite anything to place on the dash. There was no message on the app sign stating I needed to do so to use the app as proper payment.Today, October 12th, 2023 at 10:12am my appeal was denied.This business also does not provide any way for me to further communication on the matter. I will not be strongarmed into paying this fee.Please contact me so we can find a resolution.I am concerned that there were tickets on several other windshields in this lot and one of them I watched stand in front of this app sign and pay on their phone. This is detrimental to the tourism of the ********* waterfront area and the local businesses there.I was present to pick up my race packet to participate in the Girlfriends Run for breast cancer awareness the following day. It would be a shame for organizations like this to lose donations because the parking fee policy is taking advantage of people.

  Customer response

  10/13/2023

  The fee has been voided after calling and emailing the company the same photo of my receipt again which showed proof of parking payment.  This business should be flagged as they are charges fees to people who have paid correctly on the app and denying appeals unless the individual goes to great lengths.  Thank you for your help BBB.

• Initial Complaint

  08/03/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Ticket issued on 6/23/23 I have paid the **** fine. The ticket issued was for "parking over the line" at the very end-space that obstructs no-one and prevents easier access to everyone passing through or between the vehicles. There is no other way to describe such a scenario as anything other than routine, common courtesy. The neighboring vehicle was resting on the line in what is already an inherently cramped environment. That's the reality in tight garages. We all recognize this reality. The company I work for pays for our parking and has spent thousands of dollars annually on daily passes for it's workers. Not a good look. Particularly since I was driving my mother's car that day so she could run some errands while I was in the office. So, thanks for that.I am not looking for a resolution because there is no resolution in matters of legal exploitation. I am merely expanding on the nature of what is a demonstrable, *****, sandbagging grift. Worse yet, **** has the audacity to tack on an "admin fee" like the scoundrels over at Ticketmaster. Admin fees are on principle, utterly unethical. And therein lay the ultimate grievance. Double-dipping. P.S. If **** could be so kind as to implement a print-at-home fee so I can frame this money-grubbing certificate-of-honor above my desk, that would be pretty neat.

  

  Business response

  08/04/2023

  Please provide your license plate number and/or the ********************** notice number and we will look into this matter further.

• Initial Complaint

  06/09/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Citation: June 6, 2023 There is absolutely ZERO signage saying that if your tire is barely over the yellow line, then you will incur a parking ticket. I was cited with a penalty fee notice of $47. Mind you, this is inside of a parking ********* parked a tiny bit inside of an area where no cars park. I was not blocking any traffic flow at all. They have a fake appeal process in place, but I wouldn't even bother, because they do not care. They declined it. I park there every week day. They need to warn customers that if your tire even touches the yellow line, you will have to pay $50. If they had posted this information, then I guarantee, they would not be issuing near as many penalty fee notices. The very fact that they are misleading people into falling into a predatory trap, warrants a low BBB score. I'm sure they will respond to this with some snarky comeback, but they 100% know, in their hearts, that I am right.

  

  Business response

  06/21/2023

  Hello,

  Based upon the picture you have provided, it does appear that your entire tire is fully and completely over the yellow line AND the end of your vehicle may also be extending into the traffic lane.  In order to review this matter further, please provide penalty notice number issued to you so that we may review the notes and pictures we have on file further.

  Thanks!

• Initial Complaint

  02/28/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On 2/15 I received a ticket for $47 regarding my parking. I have the ticket stub to show that I pulled into my spot at 6:30 pm and the lot was almost close to full capacity, I struggled to find a spot that was open and large enough for my full size van. I finally had to park in a spot wedged between two other large vehicles. Because of the way they were parked, the one on the far right was over their line. I had to ride my tire on my line in order to fit. I let all 7 of my passengers out then pulled in to the TIGHT fit. But we were able to make it to our reservations on time. When I came back to the lot just before 10 pm I found this ticket on my car, issued at 9:08 pm and AFTER the two cars that had been parked beside me had vacated. This left my Van looking like I had intentionally taken a bit too much space on the left side. It NOT taking up "Two Spaces" like this fake parking ticket says. These folks are just trying to extort more money from their paying customers.The picture they provide on the ticket, look at it with your own eyes. My van is barely on the left line and those parking spots are SMALL especially for a large van like my ****** sienna. You can see the van barely fits on the right side as well. I have already asked them twice to drop this ridiculous fee. I was not taking up "two spaces", merely taking the one space that was actually available at 6:30. If your parking enforcer had seen it earlier surrounded by other large vehicles it would have made perfect sense.

  

  Business response

  03/01/2023

  After additional review of the additional photos available to you online, we consider the penalty issued to be valid.  Your entire tire is clearly in the other parking space, and space #**, which you "squeezed" into is located on the 2nd level of the parking garage and very clearly painted for "COMPACT" vehicle use.  There are another 8 levels of parking above where you parked.  Your slanderous claim regarding our policies is false.  This policy is to ensure parking spaces are used correctly and available as intended for our other customers too.  IF, as you state, the other vehicles were parked over the line too, it is likely that they also received penalties for improper parking.  You doing something wrong because others have done it wrong does not make you doing it right.  We encourage you to please pay your penalty timely to avoid further escalation. 

  Customer response

  03/02/2023

   
  Complaint: 19516501
  
  I am rejecting this response because: as I stated before there were not other spots open, we had been to the top and finally found this spot if it had not been open I would not have had a parking spot.

   

  By the time your attendant put this ticket on my car it was 9:08 pm I have no idea if the other folks were penalized but I do know that by 10 when I discovered my ticket there were a bunch of spaces available and my tire being inches over a line cost your business nothing. Parking over a line by inches is NOT taking up "2 whole spaces". On your signs posted it just says "Parking incorrectly" that is a wide WIDE interpretation.

   

  I ask that the BBB person act as a mediator, and use their own eyes.

   

  Drop this fee and I promise never ever ever to return to your parking complex. 

  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***********************

• Initial Complaint

  02/12/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On January 11th, I paid for an all day ticket that last till January 12th at 4:59am. I worked at 520 *************** till 6pm at night. NW Parking ticketed me they said around 8ish in the morning. I don't trust walking around in the parking lot so I used the online app, I was a little late getting into the app when I got to work. I tried to work with NW parking and asking them to forgive the penalty of $49.00 because when you buy an all day ticket it is good for hours that a normal working person would not use up. They were rude and unwilling to make exceptions as I have never had a ticket before. This is a new company that took over. My penalty is worth almost 4 times of a day pass. Plus they add $4.00 surcharge to pay the ticket, and the only way to pay they said in the email was on line. I feel they take advantage of good hard working people. I will no longer use their parking as I feel cheated by them.

  

  Business response

  02/27/2023

  From the explanation submitted, it seems like the penalty was issued correctly as the customer did not have a valid ********************** permit to use the facility at the time the notice was issued.  Penalty fee amounts are set by the ****************.  Based upon the information provided, we do not see a reason to adjust the fee amount.

   

  Customer response

  02/28/2023

   
  Complaint: 19390576
  
  I am rejecting this response because:The business does not post any fees in the parking area.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *********************

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩