Private Parking Tickets discussion

bootsaholic

Have had a letter land on my mat this morning from OPC, cant find an awful lot about that particular company on here, and there are no sample letters on the other thread. Just wanted reassurance really that the same applies? ie ignore! I would be very grateful if someone would put my mind at rest.

esmerobbo

Lots about OPC on these forums below. OPC have been known to take court action! However they are suffering from a sore backside as its been kicked so often. One person was actually awarded £2.5K from them as damages.

I would ignore them, however look at the threads below, and then ignore them!

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?219588-OPC-Ingress-Park&highlight=OPC
http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?71953-OPC-Private-Parking-Tickets&highlight=OPC

Kite2010

bigzebdog wrote: »

Hello there.
I was just wondering what the outcome has been with your PCN from Senator as I recieved a ticket from them on Thursday this week at Didcot Sainsbury's.
I don't intend to pay as many posts I have read suggest that there is no legal action that these private car parking companies can take to get me to part with the £50 fine (£25 if paid within the week).
Any information is appreciated:rotfl:

Good that you don't intend to pay, but please don't call it a fine. Only Councils, Courts & Police can fine people, all you have received is an invoice for alleged damages

Pearly11

Kite2010 wrote: »

Good that you don't intend to pay, but please don't call it a fine. Only Councils, Courts & Police can fine people, all you have received is an invoice for alleged damages

which you never caused in the first place. So take Kite's advice and just ignore them to your life's content

King_Drax_I

Has anyone ever considered what appears to be blindingly obvious: If a cowboy company tows away your car, why are they not prosecuted for 'taking without owner's consent'?

Is there some law that gives them immunity?

esmerobbo

King_Drax_I wrote: »

Has anyone ever considered what appears to be blindingly obvious: If a cowboy company tows away your car, why are they not prosecuted for 'taking without owner's consent'?

Is there some law that gives them immunity?

In theory if the clampers/towers have adequate sign-age then by you parking your car on the land you are agreeing to your vehicle being clamped/towed.
There are high court decisions for and against this argument. It seems if they get the signs right, the law is in their favour, if they don't you have a chance!

Of course it does not excuse all the entrapment and underhand tactics they use, but the Police don't want to know and turn a blind eye. With the usual, its a civil matter sue them!

The few we have seen being charged and convicted is normally down to the way they are working, and not for what they are doing!

Sir_Roger_deLodger

King_Drax_I wrote: »

Has anyone ever considered what appears to be blindingly obvious: If a cowboy company tows away your car, why are they not prosecuted for 'taking without owner's consent'?

Is there some law that gives them immunity?

The police are not interested. They claim it is "a civil matter". In some cases they even help the clampers to steal cars.

Miniretta

Just found this in our local paper The Hull & East Riding Mail
Bill to outlaw clamping to be heard this week

Clamping on private land looks set to become a criminal offence from next year.
The new measures will be introduced later this week in the Government's Protection of Freedoms Bill.
It follows the Mail's Clamp Down On The Clampers campaign, which demanded tighter regulation of clampers.
It was launched after the Mail highlighted the case of Michael Lea, who camped in his white van at the Jet garage in Princes Avenue, city centre, for two nights to prevent it from being towed away after being clamped.

He claimed the £250 release fee was excessive and his story led to many more readers contacting the Mail with their own complaints about clampers.
We presented a dossier containing our coverage to the Home Office in London and last year the Government announced a ban on the practice.
Now it is expected to be introduced in Parliament on Friday as part of Protection of Freedoms Bill.
Once in force, the new law will mean only police or councils will be allowed to immobilise or remove a car in exceptional circumstances, such as a car blocking a road.
It comes as the Home Office today released figures which revealed clampers take up to £55 million from drivers every year.
Home Office Minister Lynne Featherstone said: "For too long motorists have fallen victim to extortion and abuse from rogue clamping companies.
"I have been outraged by cases of drivers being frog-marched to cash points late at night or left stranded by rogue operators who have towed their vehicle away. Clearly this is unacceptable.
"By criminalising clamping and towing on private land this Government is committing rogue clampers to history and putting an end to intimidation and excessive charges once and for all."
Evidence from England and Wales showed around 500,000 clampings take place annually on private land with an average release fee of £112 and 98% of fees being paid as drivers want to get their vehicles back, the Home Office said.
Clamping on private land in Scotland has been illegal since 1992.

Notoscam

Hi all, I am new to this forum. Yes, I am here because i have just received a parking charge notice for parking outside a certain cheap sports shop in st helens.

I entered this forum in a panic and now after reading many of your posts I would like to thank you all for the information I have read.

I will be ignoring this "charge Notice"

I would however love to know how many people this has happened to in St helens so the information could be used.
Also is there nothing that could be done via data protection act to stop DVLA giving our information to these scammers? Is it worth me contacting DVLA.

Thanks again for all your help and advice

AlexisV

Which company?