Private Parking Tickets discussion

Oopsadaisy

VKNS wrote: »

Hi guys. I was a victim of private parking 'crime' last year - having had to pay 278 £ for release after my car had been towed away from a car park in Tennant street, Bimingham. I had actually displayed a ticket but from the wrong machine! It so happened that the only visible pay and display machine was that of the council (I realised only later that the private machine was at a corner of the fairly derelict car park) and on returning an hour later after a meal, was shocked beyond belief. I wrote to the company -Car Clamping Securities (CCS) based in London-to protest, on the lines recommended on this site- and they said they could do nothing- as expected. I am now planning to file a claim online (moneyclaimonline) - but it is a year since the event occurred (22 Jan) and the reply I received from CCS was in Feb 2010 . My questions are twofold-
1) Is there a time limit for the claim to be made - will a year be considered too long
2) Is it right to ask for interest to be paid- considering I hadn't filed the claim earlier

would really appreciate some help

1. Typically 6 yrs
2. Why bother it's only about 2%?? But iirc yest you can ask for interest.

It's vital that you include the land owner in the claim. This is because the clampers won't pay you a penny even when you win, but you'll have more chance of a refund/settlement from the landowner.

Rember never sue a man of straw [someone with no realisable assets] ie make sure that you will be able to get the money collected if you win; there's no point spending money chasing someone who will never pay [unless you particularly want the moral high ground, which is pretty over-rated cf cold, hard cash].

VKNS

Oopsadaisy wrote: »

1. Typically 6 yrs
2. Why bother it's only about 2%?? But iirc yest you can ask for interest.

It's vital that you include the land owner in the claim. This is because the clampers won't pay you a penny even when you win, but you'll have more chance of a refund/settlement from the landowner.

Rember never sue a man of straw [someone with no realisable assets] ie make sure that you will be able to get the money collected if you win; there's no point spending money chasing someone who will never pay [unless you particularly want the moral high ground, which is pretty over-rated cf cold, hard cash].

Thank you oopsadaisy...that was very useful. I have no idea who the land owner was/is ...any suggestions on how to find out? In fact, the money claim form needs the name of the person being sued and I was wondering whether to use the parking man whose name appears on the receipt ...because that is the only name I have:(

esmerobbo

As Oopsadaisy says its six years for a claim to be made. Again as advised sue the landowner and the clamper jointly. The interest is 8% you can ask for it to be added to any judgement you get!

It looks like you may have to go after the landowners only!

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/CLAMPING+BOSS+GUILTY+OF+CON.-a0244870467

http://www.birminghampost.net/news/west-midlands-news/2010/11/18/car-clamping-firm-doctored-ticket-machine-to-con-motorists-out-of-cash-65233-27678846/

They may not be around much longer!

And https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/1609599

Oopsadaisy

Owner....check the signs. Land registry [costs about £3 online].

Name...bloke doing clamping should have had badge [criminal offence not to] showing name and company details. Sue clamping co as bloke was prob just an employee [clamping co details should deffo be on the warning signs].

wiganer78_2

got a parking fine of £80 on a private parking place.i.e retail park.didn't display disabled parking badges but on the bak of the disabled van its says this is a disabled vehicle.i was just the driver but had the owner with me who was in his wheel chair.someone had removed the badges from the vehicle and i didn't know this.the people who i work for are saying its my fault.and there saying i have 2 pay this fine.:money:

trisontana

wiganer78 wrote: »

got a parking fine of £80 on a private parking place.i.e retail park.didn't display disabled parking badges but on the bak of the disabled van its says this is a disabled vehicle.i was just the driver but had the owner with me who was in his wheel chair.someone had removed the badges from the vehicle and i didn't know this.the people who i work for are saying its my fault.and there saying i have 2 pay this fine.:money:

You don't have to pay a penny. You have done nothing wrong and haven't broken any laws. What was the name of the parking company?

Oopsadaisy

wiganer78 wrote: »

got a parking fine of £80 on a private parking place.i.e retail park.didn't display disabled parking badges but on the bak of the disabled van its says this is a disabled vehicle.i was just the driver but had the owner with me who was in his wheel chair.someone had removed the badges from the vehicle and i didn't know this.the people who i work for are saying its my fault.and there saying i have 2 pay this fine.:money:

Private = ignore, ignore, ignore some more.

Yes really, ignore everything from them and they will send you some letters which sound dreadful and then they will disappear up their own backsides, never to be heard from again.

Yes, that's right...just ignore.

!!!!!! do not write to them.

Relax and ignore.

Read the stickies on this board.

Oh, and have I mentioned to ignore everything???

Coupon-mad

wiganer78 wrote: »

got a parking fine of £80 on a private parking place.i.e retail park.didn't display disabled parking badges but on the bak of the disabled van its says this is a disabled vehicle.i was just the driver but had the owner with me who was in his wheel chair.someone had removed the badges from the vehicle and i didn't know this.the people who i work for are saying its my fault.and there saying i have 2 pay this fine.:money:

Are your colleagues just telling you to pay because they don't realise that private parking companies are cowboys? If so then they NEED to learn fast before they are caught out as well!

Or are they telling you to pay because it's a company van?

Either way DO NOT PAY.

But if it's a company van show them a printout or link to this Fleet News article:

http://www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/2009/5/28/question-private-parking-fines-fleets-urged/30698/

IMHO if it's a company van then your Fleet Manager needs to get a life and learn what this 'parking charge' really is if he really thinks it's OK to pressurise someone legitimately using a disabled bay to pay a fake invoice. He CANNOT make you pay, it's the driver's issue, not his issue because it's NOT a fine. Once he understands this then he can relax and pass you any letters, which you can then file and ignore of course.

There is NO comeback on the company on private land, it is NOT the same as a real PCN. And there will be no comeback on you the driver either, you have done nothing wrong as the Blue Badge scheme does not apply, the Equality Act does.

lucylucky

wiganer78 wrote: »

got a parking fine of £80 on a private parking place.i.e retail park.didn't display disabled parking badges but on the bak of the disabled van its says this is a disabled vehicle.i was just the driver but had the owner with me who was in his wheel chair.someone had removed the badges from the vehicle and i didn't know this.the people who i work for are saying its my fault.and there saying i have 2 pay this fine.:money:

Tell the people you work with they are ignorant of their, and your rights, in this matter.

And you have not received any sort of fine at all

misssammy

hi there, I've looked and done a search of this thread and not found a similar problem, so apologies if its already been answered - I just want to be sure as I can't afford the fine plus admin charges, as has been threatened.

I spent 4hrs at heston service station on the M4 and have received a £50 fine thru the post from CP Plus private parking firm. It was dark and I didnt see any signs, however they must be there as they state in the 'parking charge notice':

"In accordance with the terms & conditions clearly and prominently displayed and agreed to when your vehicle parked on our clients private property the payment of £80 is required within 28 days"


Should I still ignore this 'invoice'?

If they state on signs that I have to pay then surely I have to pay... My argument is that I didnt expect to be charged there so I didnt look around for signs - but that wouldnt hold up in court! The signs must be there.. are they still legally wrong? Shall I just ignore it?

Thanks