Parking companies grrrrrr
#1
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Parking companies grrrrrr
So, I'm in a parking dispute with a private parking company.
I parked my car in a disabled space in the car park of a shopping centre. I had a friend with me who is disabled and he had a disabled badge which we displayed on the dashboard. I also collected a free for "two hours" parking ticket and placed it on the dashboard too.
My friend and I were in the shop maybe 15 minutes, when we came out there was a parking fine left on the bonnet of my car, not even attached to the windscreen. I looked around but could not see an attendant so I took a photograph of the front of my vehicle displaying both the parking ticket and blue disabled badge.
I sent a letter to the parking company including a photo copy of their parking fine (Parking Charge Notice) and also a photograph of the front of my car showing the parking ticket and disabled badge. In my letter I stated that I was unhappy about their parking attendant hadn't even bothered to check the windscreen of my car properly and that I wouldn't be paying their parking charge notice. I also stated that I consider the matter closed and should I hear back from them I would charge them a £50 administration fee for my time and expenses to reply to them.
Well, would you believe it. A few days ago another letter from them stating that any time to appeal had lapsed and that I owed them £90 otherwise they would consider court action. So true to my word I've written back to them stating that I have supplied them a photograph as evidence that the car was not parked in contravention to their rules and that they now must pay my £50, otherwise I will take them to the Small Claims Court for my £50 administration fee.
What do you think they will do? I think they're so up their own **** that they'll send me another final final demand.
Oh, and I intend to see it through if they don't pay up. lol
I parked my car in a disabled space in the car park of a shopping centre. I had a friend with me who is disabled and he had a disabled badge which we displayed on the dashboard. I also collected a free for "two hours" parking ticket and placed it on the dashboard too.
My friend and I were in the shop maybe 15 minutes, when we came out there was a parking fine left on the bonnet of my car, not even attached to the windscreen. I looked around but could not see an attendant so I took a photograph of the front of my vehicle displaying both the parking ticket and blue disabled badge.
I sent a letter to the parking company including a photo copy of their parking fine (Parking Charge Notice) and also a photograph of the front of my car showing the parking ticket and disabled badge. In my letter I stated that I was unhappy about their parking attendant hadn't even bothered to check the windscreen of my car properly and that I wouldn't be paying their parking charge notice. I also stated that I consider the matter closed and should I hear back from them I would charge them a £50 administration fee for my time and expenses to reply to them.
Well, would you believe it. A few days ago another letter from them stating that any time to appeal had lapsed and that I owed them £90 otherwise they would consider court action. So true to my word I've written back to them stating that I have supplied them a photograph as evidence that the car was not parked in contravention to their rules and that they now must pay my £50, otherwise I will take them to the Small Claims Court for my £50 administration fee.
What do you think they will do? I think they're so up their own **** that they'll send me another final final demand.
Oh, and I intend to see it through if they don't pay up. lol
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Good, keep fighting and eventually we'll beat these unscrupulous companies.
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#9
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The old mantra of "unless it is council/police you can ignore" is unfortunatly outdated advice
The law has been changed recently giving them more powers of enforcement
(Obviously they have to conform to the correct legislation/signage/procedure etc - and if they have then they may well be able to enforce the fine)
The law has been changed recently giving them more powers of enforcement
(Obviously they have to conform to the correct legislation/signage/procedure etc - and if they have then they may well be able to enforce the fine)
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IIRC they can "force" you to disclose the driver, that's about it. Since there was no charge for parking (but you still need to display the 'free' ticket) they have suffered no loss. I can't see any judge in the land awarding them anything, especially since I had a valid disabled badge on display!
#11
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Did you display the free ticket?
If they just have a photo of the rear of your car, and the disabled badge was in the front - then they will lose with that evidence.
By writing back to you, they have entered your contract for £50 per letter - I would draw up an invoice and send it to them.
They have changed the law so now these private car parks have a lot more power and are winning cases ..... it's not a case of ignoring a request for payment these days.
I would fight, but that's because I am a cantankerous old **** ...... wait for their summons and counter claim your agreed costs.
Let them attend court .......
If they just have a photo of the rear of your car, and the disabled badge was in the front - then they will lose with that evidence.
By writing back to you, they have entered your contract for £50 per letter - I would draw up an invoice and send it to them.
They have changed the law so now these private car parks have a lot more power and are winning cases ..... it's not a case of ignoring a request for payment these days.
I would fight, but that's because I am a cantankerous old **** ...... wait for their summons and counter claim your agreed costs.
Let them attend court .......
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Looking forward to reading the outcome of this. Im glad I live in Scotland where this isn't as large a problem as it is for our Southern cousins.
I gotta laugh at companies like KFC up here with the signs up threatening to clamp your car if you stay for longer than two hours as clamping is illegal in Scotland as it is considered extortion and only the DVLA / Police are allowed to clamp vehicles here.
I gotta laugh at companies like KFC up here with the signs up threatening to clamp your car if you stay for longer than two hours as clamping is illegal in Scotland as it is considered extortion and only the DVLA / Police are allowed to clamp vehicles here.
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If the car park in question has one or more BPA notices then they can enforce their PCNs, but I'm yet to hear of one that has done so even for a genuine case whereas yours is clearly a 'mistake' on behalf of the parking attendant. If they don;t have BPA notices ignore them completely.
Either way I wouldn't correspond any further and my guess is you will get a threatening letter or letters from a debt collection agency next that when you look them up on Companies House will just happen to be the same company as the parking company or have the same address or the likes. It's a legalised scam that the government seem reluctant to deal with (as is usual with our w4nker politicians).
Only if you get a court notice should you even worry and even then you have the evidence to prove your innocence, but I doubt very very VERY much that it will get that far.
With all due respect the only mistake you made was communicating with them. They then prioritise you somewaht for further communication or so it has been summised. Anyway what is done is done and I am fully confident you will just stop hearing from them eventually!
Either way I wouldn't correspond any further and my guess is you will get a threatening letter or letters from a debt collection agency next that when you look them up on Companies House will just happen to be the same company as the parking company or have the same address or the likes. It's a legalised scam that the government seem reluctant to deal with (as is usual with our w4nker politicians).
Only if you get a court notice should you even worry and even then you have the evidence to prove your innocence, but I doubt very very VERY much that it will get that far.
With all due respect the only mistake you made was communicating with them. They then prioritise you somewaht for further communication or so it has been summised. Anyway what is done is done and I am fully confident you will just stop hearing from them eventually!
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1.Did you appeal within the time frame for appeals.
2.Have they replied specifically to your appeal. ie not a standard letter about paying within a timeframe.
3.Who is the parking company.
I was caught by parking eye 12 months ago. I appealed, it took three months to get a reply. (but the "standard" letters kept coming).
It is still ongoing btw, and yes, they do take "some" people to court.
2.Have they replied specifically to your appeal. ie not a standard letter about paying within a timeframe.
3.Who is the parking company.
I was caught by parking eye 12 months ago. I appealed, it took three months to get a reply. (but the "standard" letters kept coming).
It is still ongoing btw, and yes, they do take "some" people to court.
#21
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Looking forward to reading the outcome of this. Im glad I live in Scotland where this isn't as large a problem as it is for our Southern cousins.
I gotta laugh at companies like KFC up here with the signs up threatening to clamp your car if you stay for longer than two hours as clamping is illegal in Scotland as it is considered extortion and only the DVLA / Police are allowed to clamp vehicles here.
I gotta laugh at companies like KFC up here with the signs up threatening to clamp your car if you stay for longer than two hours as clamping is illegal in Scotland as it is considered extortion and only the DVLA / Police are allowed to clamp vehicles here.
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If the car park in question has one or more BPA notices then they can enforce their PCNs, but I'm yet to hear of one that has done so even for a genuine case whereas yours is clearly a 'mistake' on behalf of the parking attendant. If they don;t have BPA notices ignore them completely.
Either way I wouldn't correspond any further and my guess is you will get a threatening letter or letters from a debt collection agency next that when you look them up on Companies House will just happen to be the same company as the parking company or have the same address or the likes. It's a legalised scam that the government seem reluctant to deal with (as is usual with our w4nker politicians).
Only if you get a court notice should you even worry and even then you have the evidence to prove your innocence, but I doubt very very VERY much that it will get that far.
With all due respect the only mistake you made was communicating with them. They then prioritise you somewaht for further communication or so it has been summised. Anyway what is done is done and I am fully confident you will just stop hearing from them eventually!
Either way I wouldn't correspond any further and my guess is you will get a threatening letter or letters from a debt collection agency next that when you look them up on Companies House will just happen to be the same company as the parking company or have the same address or the likes. It's a legalised scam that the government seem reluctant to deal with (as is usual with our w4nker politicians).
Only if you get a court notice should you even worry and even then you have the evidence to prove your innocence, but I doubt very very VERY much that it will get that far.
With all due respect the only mistake you made was communicating with them. They then prioritise you somewaht for further communication or so it has been summised. Anyway what is done is done and I am fully confident you will just stop hearing from them eventually!
I've another one ongoing with a similar outfit whereby I parked at my customers premises and received a ticket. I should have signed for a permit but the guy I wanted to see wasn't in so I left. I returned to my car about 5 minutes later where a parking womble was completing a ticket. I explained and he just repeated permit, permit. So I told him to stuff it, see me in court if you like but it's not being paid. I've had three chasers so far and I'm quaking in my boots
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For that to happen they have to take you to court, then they have to win the case and an order is made to pay. If you pay straight away, no entry is made. It's only when you don't pay. So you have a long way to go.
#29
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Yes, interesting, and that's what I would have thought
But I had an unpaid bill registered on my credit file 15 odd years ago
It was done by Vodaphone, I cancelled the contract and paid up the balance (or so I thought) as I got a new job (and phone - and I have never had a personal mobile since)
Fast forward a few (3) years and I got tuned down for a credit card - suspicious I paid for an experience credit report - and there it was, an unpaid bill of £60 odd pounds
I rang vodaphone and paid immediately - I did not even bother to argue the toss tbh
And in fact they we very good at removing from the credit file
Bu I am pretty certain they did not take me to court etc
This was all 14 odd years ago, maybe the rules have changed
But I had an unpaid bill registered on my credit file 15 odd years ago
It was done by Vodaphone, I cancelled the contract and paid up the balance (or so I thought) as I got a new job (and phone - and I have never had a personal mobile since)
Fast forward a few (3) years and I got tuned down for a credit card - suspicious I paid for an experience credit report - and there it was, an unpaid bill of £60 odd pounds
I rang vodaphone and paid immediately - I did not even bother to argue the toss tbh
And in fact they we very good at removing from the credit file
Bu I am pretty certain they did not take me to court etc
This was all 14 odd years ago, maybe the rules have changed
Last edited by hodgy0_2; 24 March 2014 at 08:56 PM.
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I only had a quick look, but as yet can't find one case they've won reagrdless of whether someone responded or not (before the court summons). As I said only had a quick look though!
If it's not a BPA car park I still wouldn't respond and even if it was I would wait and see what ensues!