Following my visit to Scotch Hall today I feel I must write to complain about the car park policy. I arrived into the centre at 9.53 this morning with my two little girls, Étain who is 2 and Siabh who is 7 weeks old. Was very happy as car park not too busy at that time of the morning and I managed to acquire a Parent/Toddler parking space. We all get out of the car and go shopping. We then left around 1pm as Étain needed her nap and I had enough walking around and had got some bits and pieces I needed. When I went to pay my car park fee I was a bit annoyed that I hadnt managed to leave 10 minutes earlier as I incurred an extra hours parking fee but that couldnt be helped as when little ones say they have to go to the toilet (for the third time!) they cant be ignored.
Anyway I get both babies strapped into their seats and then I try to collapse my buggy which after many attempts just wouldnt fold and because it is too wide to fit in the boot without folding I ended up taking off the wheels and struggled to get it into the front seat of the car.
Between all this the baby keeps crying so I think it must be her nappy so I do my best to change her and she was barely wet! Then we leave. When I get to the exit barrier the display tells me that I have to pay an extra 1.20 so I pressed the help button and the security guy says that you get 20 minutes to exit and that he will send some one down. I wrongly assumed that he is coming to raise the barrier so that I can exit, oh no! He informs me that he has come to get my 1.20 so that he can go back to the machine with my ticket to validate it. I explained to him my story of buggy and babies and surely he could show some goodwill let me out but he says he cant and holds his hand out while I go to the boot of my car and finally retrieve my handbag to hand over the money.
I was so annoyed, considering that I had already paid for four hours parking even though I was in the centre for barely over three hours and still had to pay a further 1.20.
It gets my goat that you have to pay for parking at all considering that every other shopping centre provides free car parking or some free hours of car parking.
I think every one shoule boycott the place - that's my wish! and I definitely won't be going there again and boy am I sorry I didn't go to Blanchardstown or Swords instead!!
Thats it and if you've managed to read the whole thing - well done! rant over!
That's appalling - I rarely go shopping there due to that very reason - I know they have to pay for the car park but it's very excess and they probably would find that the centre would be much busier if the parking was free.
In light of your experience I would seriously consider writing a letter of complaint to the managers of the shopping center and state that you have encouraged all your friends to boycott the centre.
letter posted on monday morning, whether i hear anything remains to be seen. posted this on magic mum also and apparently they have to charge for the parking as because if they didn't people who commute would use it and catch the train to town. fair enough point but surely if you spend X amount in the centre you could get your ticket stamped and get out for free - know they do this in another car park but for the life of me i can't remember where or it could even be from when i was in the UK ... he ho!
don't worry, if i hear back from them i'll let ye know. in my letter i did end with the line that i would like an apology in writing
No I hate that too. Its enough that we go there I honestly think parking for 1-2 hours should be free.As for parking, well its the second worse for parking, its one way one day and not the next. Buggys abandoned in the trolly by. No lift to -from, its mad.Swords is better, but whats even better again...is on line. Honeslty most of my shopping done now.Easy.No Qs no hassel, no kids crying, and as for the loo runs. Oh my rant.Did you see in Busara its 20 c to use the mans loo and 25 to use the womans.Now its not the money, its the point.An extra 5 cent because we dont piddle on the flor.Hows that? cathy
Hi all, Since we're venting some shopping annoyances on scotch hall; have you ever tried to catch the lift in there? it's like winning the lotto!!! we waited nearly ten minutes at one time just to get back to the car!!! I agree on the parking bit, I prefer swords over scotch hall for that because you should have two hours at least of free parking when you go somewhere to spend your money!!! The boycot is a great idea, maybe we should sign a letter addressed to the manager of the centre......?
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