Private Parking Tickets discussion

peter_the_piper

Sorry, civil matter is what most of them will say.. Who else though can you complain to. Trading standards don't want to know. Press? next to useless in this matter as the ppc's just ignore them.

juliescot

I must admit when I got a "ticket" I was annoyed and thought about paying it until I visited a couple of sites, including this one, and read people's advice.

I made no attempt to contact the company at any time, just filed their letters.

Their final threatening letter to me told of a court appearance which could even at that late stage be avoided by paying some, by now, fairly high fee.

I was unable to see how me paying them would stop the already filed court action so I phoned the court, just to verify the details of the case against me. Very helpful lady told me there was no such case. No defendants with my name and no pursuers with the ticketing mobs name. So it was an out and out lie. Trying to obtain money by deception.

Like the other letters I filed it and never heard from them again.
That will be 3 years come December.

poet123

So, if it is a civil matter, breaking those laws and committing criminal acts in the pursuit of a civil matter does not count?

trisontana

poet123 wrote: »

So, if it is a civil matter, breaking those laws and committing criminal acts in the pursuit of a civil matter does not count?

Are you talking about the parking companies or the motorist "breaking those laws"?

poet123

I mean that just because the parking issue is a cilvil issue how can that mean the parking company can harass and intimidate, and obtain money by deception without those acts being criminal, and therefore be covered by the same laws the rest of us are covered by if we were to commit any of the above?

trisontana

Yes, I see. I would like this answered as well. At least a few clamping companies in Birmingham have been raided by the police. Let's hope this action spreads to other private parking companies.

peter_the_piper

I don't know if anyones tried to sue a ppc for harrassment, trying to obtain money by deception etc. To do so would then bring up all sorts of things including contract law etc(obfuscation by ppc) signage, legitimacy of trying to penalise a driver etc. A whole can of worms. It just needs someone with an iron clad case and deep pockets to take them on and even then being a small claim court it would not be a change in the law. Can't see it happening at present unfortunately.

Orford

peter_the_piper wrote: »

It just needs someone with an iron clad case and deep pockets to take them on and even then being a small claim court it would not be a change in the law. Can't see it happening at present unfortunately.

Absolutely, far better and easier is to spread the word and reduce their revenue stream as much as possible.

poet123

It should not be left to the individual to deal with these people, if they commit a criminal offence such as sending letters (with no basis in law) which induce people to pay monies which are not owed, then they are obtaining monies by deception. Similarly, if those letters contain threats, are intimidatory, and by their frequency are deemed as harrassment, it should then be a matter for the police.

The orignal parking infraction is a seperate entity to the actions of the parking company, and it being a civil matter should have no bearing on the the fact that the parking company is acting unlawfully by behaving in this manner.

James_N

peter_the_piper wrote: »

Just my choice, Martin believes its best to get your denial in first then ignore the following letters. Its up to you really.

I have followed Martin's advice. I have (correctly) denied being the driver and have also made points for response about signage, readability, changes of "regulations" and reasonableness of charges - their response only addresses the driver issue and falsely claims I should know exactly where my car is at any time. The other points were not responded to.

I'm now on their fourth letter. If they carry on I will issue an harrassment warning and file letters with the local trading standards.

I feel I have a watertight case should they choose to hassle or attempt court action.