A vehicle left without a duly paid parking fee for more than 3 months shall be considered as abandoned vehicle with all consequences related thereto – is the regulationapplied by Polski Związek Motorowy - Okręgowy Zespół Działalności Gospodarczej in Bydgoszcz (Polish Motor Union OZG Bydgoszcz). The President of UOKIK decided that the Union infringed the collective consumer interests

The proceedings regarding the case was initiated based on the information provided by the consumer ombudsman in Toruń and concerned one of the paid car parks in this city, run by the Polish Motor Union OZG. UOKIK has established that the undertaking applies in the parking regulation provisions entered into the Register of Prohibited Clauses.

According to the terms applied by the Union, the car which is parked for over three months shall be regarded as an abandoned vehicle. This way, the undertaking excluded the responsibility for the entrusted vehicle and released itself from the obligation to return the car to the consumer, thus, could easily deal with the car.

Pursuant to the law, the car park owner is responsible for any car left and entrusted for parking purposes. Whenever the due payment is not incurred, the car park owner has the right to charge the car owner with the parking costs, and, can specify the time limit to collect the car. However, it is unlawful to arbitrarily decide that the failure to pick up the car from the parking shall be interpreted as if the car owner would no longer need it.

The President of UOKiK stated that Polish Motor Union OZG infringed the collective consumer interests and imposed on the Union a fine amounting to PLN 2 763. The decision is not final; the Union has the right to appeal against the decision to the court. 

Additional information for the media:
UOKiK Branch Office in Bydgoszcz
tel. +48 52 345 56 44
e-mail: bydgoszcz@uokik.gov.pl 

Małgorzata Cieloch,  Spokesperson for UOKiK
Department of International Relations and Communication
Pl. Powstańców Warszawy 1, 00-950 Warszawa
Tel. +48 22 827 28 92, 55 60 314
faks +48 22 826 11 86
E-mail malgorzata.cieloch@uokik.gov.pl