Hotel Campanile - Parking Warning

[JamiePunter89]

Hotel Campanile in Dartford, often used by girls in the area. No obvious parking charge signs and you don't need to go past reception to go to the rooms (which I'm guessing is where it is made clear that you have to register for parking...). Cameras clock you entering and leaving if you don't register.

£60 down and some very creative Pinocchio work on my part to avoid complete disaster as the Mrs opened the letter.

Lesson learnt on my part, but heads up to everyone else - be smarter than me!

[luv2kiss54]

Yes i had the same problem last year at this hotel hence why i never park in hotel car parks anymore. It turned out to be a crap and expensive punt.

[webpunter]

Quality behaviour

Bet you felt the blood draining when she mentioned it  & its v.difficult to maintain a calm exterior whilst weaving the bollox explanation

Top tip:  remain on guard for a good few months as whilst the OH may appear to have accepted your explanation her antennae will be on alert more than usual

£60 down and some very creative Pinocchio work on my part to avoid complete disaster as the Mrs opened the letter.

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[advent2016]

Most hotels I stay in offer parking either free or for a fee. I budget for this in the cost of the punt. I treat it as a business expense and claim for it.  I tend to use rental cars quite a lot. I guess I'm lucky that all my travel is fully expensed about the only thing I don't get is a chauffeur.

[JamiePunter89]

She called me to confront me, so fortunately she couldn’t see that I’d basically turned transparent as I shat my pants. Completely right about being on alert for a while!

Was a crap punt too!

[Fuzzyduck]

..I guess I'm lucky that all my travel is fully expensed about the only thing I don't get is a chauffeur.

I hear they are around £150/hr for the good ones

[Fuzzyduck]

She called me to confront me, so fortunately she couldn’t see that I’d basically turned transparent as I shat my pants. Completely right about being on alert for a while!

Was a crap punt too!

What reason did you give (if you don't mind sharing)?
Also, any chance of a review of the punt?

[HawkG]

I hear they are around £150/hr for the good ones

Ha ha.

[timsussex]

What reason did you give (if you don't mind sharing)?
Also, any chance of a review of the punt?

I think in the circumstances we might forgive the OP if he lays low for a while - in fact I think he may have already posted too much info if there are still any not allowed spies around

[Fuzzyduck]

I think in the circumstances we might forgive the OP if he lays low for a while - in fact I think he may have already posted too much info if there are still any not allowed spies around

I did think about that, but OP seemed comfortable sharing quite specific details already. However, on reflection, I agree that he should just keep his mouth shut.

[webpunter]

our friends over at Mnet are far too busy to notice
pre xmas planning
pretending that they have a lovely life
all the food to prepare & their favourite @ xmas which is chocolate, coz they like stuffing their faces & don't feel loved

meanwhile blokes like getting pissed & seeing if any opportunities arise at the company xmas party
& getting in a pre xmas punt
coz between xmas & ny punting ain't easy
family relatives visiting    &  loads of the burds migrate home for a couple of weeks 

[webpunter]

Noting concern bout Mnet have just changed subject line removing D-ford

[advent2016]

It's nice to know that a good chauffeur is cheaper than an average WG.  I can't wait for self driving cars. "Car take me to AW/12345 then drive to a place where I should be with my phone"

[dieseldriver]

You can buy novelty number plates on ebay/amazon. Just fix one of these over your car plates both front and back. Bluetak or double sided sticky pads should do. But make sure your in a discreet place when doing it so prying eyes don't see you doing it.

Ibis in West Thurrock is another hotel they use. With that one have to enter your number plate on a visitors pad reception desk. Done that few times without problem. With any hotel meet, always need to check out the parking arrangements before using it. 

[advent2016]

Two of our field engineers with the same model and colour of car decided to swap plates to avoid tickets and thought out of a fleet of ten thousand cars they were on to a winner. They lost their jobs and were prosecuted with attempting to pervert the course of justice. Most cars the VIN is visible near the windscreen.

[timsussex]

Many years ago I  used to work with someone who had a French wife and he swore that her family who owned a large French farm in the middle of nowhere had 5 identical Citroen 2CVs with the same number plates - one car tax and one  insurance. Provided they didn't have an accident at the same time they reckoned they would be safe ! 

[bhudda]

Many years ago I  used to work with someone who had a French wife and he swore that her family who owned a large French farm in the middle of nowhere had 5 identical Citroen 2CVs with the same number plates - one car tax and one  insurance. Provided they didn't have an accident at the same time they reckoned they would be safe !

Or get done for speeding at the same time .... oh hang on ... 2cvs

[bhudda]

On the subject of warnings re hotel use ... a hotel a friend used once for an outcall phoned him a couple of days later on the landline and his mrs answered. Being a nosey so and so she asked who was calling and what did she want?

She then called out to him that someone from xxx hotel wanted to know if they enjoyed their recent stay! He told her to tell them not to be so silly, we havent stayed there since christmas have we love? Luckily it was a chain he had stayed in with his mrs on occasion.

Always make sure you tick the box saying you dont want publicity!!!

[dieseldriver]

Two of our field engineers with the same model and colour of car decided to swap plates to avoid tickets and thought out of a fleet of ten thousand cars they were on to a winner. They lost their jobs and were prosecuted with attempting to pervert the course of justice. Most cars the VIN is visible near the windscreen.

Not from what I've experienced. Two years ago got a ticket for a hospital car park as didn't see the signs. And wife had three this year for car parks just nipping in and out in five minutes, one successfully appealed. On all occasions was only the number plate shown on the photo. 

[dieseldriver]

On the subject of warnings re hotel use ... a hotel a friend used once for an outcall phoned him a couple of days later on the landline and his mrs answered. Being a nosey so and so she asked who was calling and what did she want?

She then called out to him that someone from xxx hotel wanted to know if they enjoyed their recent stay! He told her to tell them not to be so silly, we havent stayed there since christmas have we love? Luckily it was a chain he had stayed in with his mrs on occasion.

Always make sure you tick the box saying you dont want publicity!!!

I had that with a Travelodge many years ago. Foolishly gave my landline when booking. Think around the time mobiles were recently introduced and perhaps didn't have one? And not having internet banking at the time (or perhaps a computer also?), wife went through bank statements and there it was!

Since then only ever booked hotels for legit reasons. Certainly wouldn't book one to take an SP to. Or any casual hookup.

[Fuzzyduck]

I had that with a Travelodge many years ago. Foolishly gave my landline when booking. Think around the time mobiles were recently introduced and perhaps didn't have one? And not having internet banking at the time (or perhaps a computer also?), wife went through bank statements and there it was!

Since then only ever booked hotels for legit reasons. Certainly wouldn't book one to take an SP to. Or any casual hookup.

You booked using your home landline and a joint bank card? Did you pay for the hooker by cheque as well? I'm glad you survived to tell the tale, fella!

[dieseldriver]

You booked using your home landline and a joint bank card? Did you pay for the hooker by cheque as well? I'm glad you survived to tell the tale, fella!

Err, no. Not a joint bank card. Had my bank statements in their usual place in my filing cabinet. Wife knew where they were and had a look.
Probabely never had a mobile at the time? Even today when booking with Travelodge site asks for a number in case of emergency. As I remember, was years back. Didn't even have internet banking those days.......

[Fuzzyduck]

Err, no. Not a joint bank card. Had my bank statements in their usual place in my filing cabinet. Wife knew where they were and had a look.
Probabely never had a mobile at the time? Even today when booking with Travelodge site asks for a number in case of emergency. As I remember, was years back. Didn't even have internet banking those days.......

Fair enough. A reminder for all, partnered up or not, that we need stay on our toes and never get complacent, ever.

[Bigwilts]

Not from what I've experienced. Two years ago got a ticket for a hospital car park as didn't see the signs. And wife had three this year for car parks just nipping in and out in five minutes, one successfully appealed. On all occasions was only the number plate shown on the photo.

The APNR in a car park isn’t going to pick up the VIN markings.

However false number plates are going to risk other issues.
A false non existent number plate is going to be flagged up on any investigation.
A genuine registration from a different vehicle is going to work until anyone pays attention or the real owner gets mystery parking tickets

You may as well use ‘speed camera avoidance’ tricks that don’t work, or spray your plates with mud


Sometimes on here people appear to be risking more serious police trouble thinking that they need to be more undercover than spies, criminals and terrorists.
Just keep generally aware and always double check car parks no matter how many times you have used one before

[dieseldriver]

The APNR in a car park isn’t going to pick up the VIN markings.

However false number plates are going to risk other issues.
A false non existent number plate is going to be flagged up on any investigation.
A genuine registration from a different vehicle is going to work until anyone pays attention or the real owner gets mystery parking tickets

You may as well use ‘speed camera avoidance’ tricks that don’t work, or spray your plates with mud


Sometimes on here people appear to be risking more serious police trouble thinking that they need to be more undercover than spies, criminals and terrorists.
Just keep generally aware and always double check car parks no matter how many times you have used one before

With novelty number plates, the idea would be to put them on somewhere discreet as near to the hotel as can get. And remove them ASAP when leaving. Personally, never needed them so don't have any. Visited SP's in the Ibis Thurrock few times. Never a problem entering number plate on a screen using the visitors option.
To date, Travelodge and PermierInn I've used on lots of occasions for weekends away. Last Travelodge used was in Manchester September. Had to put a hotel parking permit in windscreen. Not used PermierInn for a few years so don't know what parking arrangements they use?
Moral of the story is check with hotel before parking

[Bigwilts]

With novelty number plates, the idea would be to put them on somewhere discreet as near to the hotel as can get. And remove them ASAP when leaving. Personally, never needed them so don't have any....

They would still take some explaining if caught by the police, either in use between ‘discrete’ locations or while swapping them
Then there’s also explaining the summons as opposed to a parking ticket
Let alone having false number plates being carried ready to be found by whoever the secret hobby is being kept from

[webpunter]

All the bollox about number plates is amusing
Just pay for parking
KISS - keep it simple stupid

A word of caution tho
Went on a punt recently & parking was entry / exit on a ticket
Payment on a machine with credit card [cc] only - NO cash
No bother with cc for me, but if OH in play who has access to cc statements this could attract some interesting questions 

If novelty plates are to be fitted why not go for something like PUNT 1 

[Stiltskin]

I avoid car parks with cameras altogether if possible. There's one near me (a free one) that's notorious for scanning you coming in, but sometimes fails to scan you out. So you overstay and get a letter in the post. 

[dieseldriver]

Wonder if SP's have problems with hotel parking on outcalls? Although not parking when I was using Ibis West Thurrock for an outcall. As she was cleaning up after the act, said now on way on Kent. Can't remember how the conversation went, but when I mentioned dart charge wasn't aware of it. None to happy that could have been landed with fine for non payment.
American SP so perhaps not too wised up on some of our road tolls?