Reader's queries answered by CONOR POPE

Clampers in fine form at Mespil apartments

A READER called Suzanne contacted us after her car was clamped in error outside the Mespil apartment complex in Dublin.

Parking in the area is policed by NCPS and the company has recently introduced a new permit system. According to letters sent to residents after the change, “these permits are valid for three hours only,” she writes.

“At 11.30am on Friday my car was parked outside the apartments. A permit was filled in and displayed (pictured). I returned to the car exactly three hours later to discover my car had been clamped at 2.04pm.”

She phoned NCPS to explain the mistake. “I wasn’t annoyed at this point as I assumed it was just an error,” she says. “The man I spoke to said that my permit was invalid. When I asked in what way was the permit invalid, he informed me that I had not filled in an ‘end time’ on the permit. When it was explained that there is no box for ‘end time’ just an am and pm box, I was told an end time had to be filled in anyway,” she writes.

She tried to explain to the man that he was mistaken about this. “You can appreciate that I have a three-hour permit and was clamped after two-and-a-half,” she told him “to which the response was: ‘You can appreciate there is nothing I can do’.

“I asked if there was anyone else I could speak with. He told me he was the most senior person there. He said the only way to get the clamp removed would be to pay the €90 fine. He said I could subsequently appeal if I wished.”

Three days later and without any further communication from the company the car was unclamped without any fine being paid. “They kept my property for three days in error,” she says.

Suzanne subsequently contacted us with an update.

Last week she got a call from the company. A spokesman said that after listening back to the recordings of the calls, he accepted things had been handled badly and said he would send her a restaurant voucher. “All’s right in the world,” she says.

Aer Lingus in the clear on fee

A few weeks ago we featured a query from a Mary O’Donnell from Connecticut who booked a return flight from New York to Dublin with Aer Lingus and paid with her Bank of America Visa card and she was less than happy to be charged a foreign transaction fee of $17.21. She emailed the airline to complain, but heard nothing.

When we contacted them we were told it “appears to be a mistake” that would be resolved. Aer Lingus then said that it does not impose a foreign exchange fee on purchases made in North America. “The fee referred to is a foreign transaction fee that is imposed by some credit card companies under the terms and conditions of the contract between the credit card holder and the bank.”

The company accepted that the information it had initially provided to us was wrong and said that it had advised our reader that the matter should be taken up with her credit card company, as Aer Lingus does not collect these fees.

Beware of pop-up ads when kids use your mobile phone

COLM BYRNE got in touch to share his experience and warn anyone of the dangers of what seem like simple annoying ads that pop up on your phone while playing games.

“I personally don’t play them, but have downloaded several games so my kids can play them,” he writes. “Last Saturday my son was playing one of these games when a message and a mail came through. When I checked them, it said I had subscribed to Audition Alerts and it had cost me two by €2.50 to subscribe and four by €2.50 per week,” he writes.

“My son is six and I couldn’t believe it. I instantly texted stop to the number given to opt out. I checked how he’d done it and it was incredibly simple. I tapped once on the ad myself and then a prompt appeared and had I tapped again I would have subscribed again. Two taps and you’re subscribed. The ad was on all the games I downloaded, but for the weekend only, had never been there before, and is now since gone. Other ads appear from time to time, but none as blatant as this,” he writes.

He contacted Comreg to complain and was told there was legislation pending, but nothing could be done.

“I’ve tried to contact Vodafone, but it seems they don’t speak to customers anymore, as I just kept getting pre-recorded voices sending me from pillar to post.

“So I just thought I’d let you guys know in case it has happened to anyone else.”

Buy Paris guide in the UK

LAST FRIDAY Liz Maher bought a DK family travel guide for Paris from Easons on O’Connell Street in Dublin and paid €27.65.

“When I arrived home I pulled off the euro price label and discovered the sterling price of the book is £12.95. I then checked the euro/pound exchange rate for that day, which would have put the euro price at €15.42,” she writes.

By her calculation Easons was charging an additional 44 per cent on the book.

“I used to think Debenhams and M&S were the worst offenders,” she concludes.