Private Security Company gave a ticket on Public Highway, what shall I do?

northerner79

Hi,

I really hope you can help as my mum has been given a ticket by a private security company on Public Land. It has been confirmed with the Police and the Local Council's highways authority that the spot where she was parked is public land. My mum appealed the letter and was sent a reply saying they have looked at her appeal and the penalty notice stands. The penalty was for causing an obstruction, there was no obstruction being caused, she was parked on public highway and was not blocked any access or egress from the nearby private land, a former bus station where the private security company operates.

I find this astonishing and my mother is now wanting to pay the penalty as she doesn't want any hassle, but I don't want her to be bullied, as the private security company can't ticket on public highway. This has been confirmed with the local authority and the police.

Can anyone please advise me on how I can help mym mum sort this out as I don't want these bullies to get her money.

Any help would be much appreciated.

[EMAIL="magnus1979@yahoo.com"]magnus1979@yahoo.com[/EMAIL]

Thank you

pogofish

Simply ignoring them would probably have been be the best course - See the many other threads on private/cowboy operators.

Post-up the firm's details & maybe even the ticket (see the stickies at the top of the forum) others here may be able to comment on their previous antics/behaviour.

d123

northerner79 wrote: »

Hi,

as the private security company can't ticket on public highway.

In fact, a private company can't "ticket" a vehicle anywhere, public or private, if you park on their private land they can send you an invoice for a parking fee, but as they hold no legal weight can generally be ignored.

bargepole

northerner79 wrote: »

My mum appealed the letter and was sent a reply saying they have looked at her appeal and the penalty notice stands.

She might as well have appealed to a mugger holding a knife to her throat - there is no appeal process with these private companies, they are scam artists who just want your money.

The "penalty notice" is no such thing; it is an unenforceable demand for money. No doubt they will send half a dozen letters now, threatening plagues of locusts, famine and pestilence; tell your mum to ignore them all, and don't pay these bloodsuckers a penny. When they realise they aren't getting their pound of flesh, they'll move on and try to con some other mug.

Trust_2

totally ignore it,

Yes easy to say, but you have confirmed the land, with the authorities

Step back and see what they do, do not reply to anything they send you

If they decide on court let them do it, but I very much doubt it

If you have legal advice on your house insurance have a word, and give them the full facts etc

Good Luck, but you will not need it!

sarahg1969

I would go further than to say they hold no legal weight. If they are ticketing people on public land, then this is fraud.

Are the authorities doing anything about it, now you've made them aware?

northerner79

Has anyone had dealings with a company called LDK Security Group Ltd?

I will do as advised and contact trading standards and the city council.

Anything else I should be doing?

Thanks for your help

pogofish

A quick google on their name turns-up a thread about LDK on another forum - Where they come-out as a right bunch of cowboys.

Further down the search, they also turn-up on the BPA's list of "approved operators" & it seems they also trade under the name of "Yourcarpark" as clampers.

Think that is evidence enough of their wholly disreputable status?

northerner79

Thanks for all your advice, I confirmed with Highways, The Council Parking Dept and the Police that this was Public Highway and the Security Company appear to have taken it upon themselves to issue a Charge Notice on the Public Highway. I would hate other people to feel bullied by these 'Security' companies and have therefore reported such practice which I believe is a fraud to Trading Standards, The Police and the Local Highways Dept.

javalava

This week my daughter received a letter from Roxburghe Debt Collectors regarding a civil parking charge that had been unpaid and it said £140 should be paid in 7 days. We were shocked as this was the first we knew of the matter so I rang Roxburghe to explain our situation - I was not happy with the way the conversation went with them. They refused to send me photos (under the data protection act they have to supply them if you send a request in writing by the way)!!
I rang LDK Security directly and explained we had no knowledge of the notice and asked for photos which they duly sent immediately by email. When I saw the photos it was clear that a notice had been issued but somebody had removed it from the vehicle before my daughter returned to the car. Having looked at the photos I would have said that the vehicle was parked on a public highway - I had already contacted the police and the local council to confirm that the road was not private. LDK explained to me that the section of road where my daughter parked was in fact privately owned by a company who own property in that area. As there was no clear indication that it was private property and it appears to be part of the highway they agreed they would waive the charge on this occasion. Not the actions of a cowboy company - I feel they were very fair and dealt with me in a very reasonable manner.

If you believe you were parked legally/correctly then appeal the decision having researched your grounds. If you park where you shouldn't bit the bullet and pay the ticket - you are in the wrong!!

neilmcl

Why are bumping a nearly year old thread?