What is a legitimate company?

Jai786

My friend recently received a LETTER (not a fine or ticket on her windscreen) through the post with two pictures of her car; one showing her STOPPING(not parking) in a NO ACCESS AREA of a shopping centre, and the other of her car positioned facing toward the bus route (on her way out.)
Now I think this is unfair as she did not know not to park there, she merely WAITED.
She has received a letter from CENTRAL TICKETING, who has a website, I went onto the website and it has images of West Midlands Police badge and BPA (British Parking Association) although they are not hyperlinked which also send alarm bells ringing as to the authenticity of this website. I have told her to ignore and ignore and ignore this letter but she is scared she will be prosecuted.
The fine starts at £60 after 14 days it will go up to £85 and after another 14 days, to £135; now I have received legitimate parking fines in the past which I have paid, am I right in thinking the standard code of practice is for it to start at £30 and rise to a maximum of £60??

As for being positioned facing the bus route, I think they merely took this photo for the cheek of trying to blackmail her if she didn’t pay the parking.

So my question is, can anybody tell me if Central Ticketing is an actual legitimate company and should I advise her to pay or not?

This website does not allow me to post with a link but if you google Central Ticketing it is the first website that comes up.


Thank you very much, ANY feedback or advice will be very much appreciated.

PS it was in One Stop Shopping Centre, at the front opposite Argos for those who know where I mean!

trisontana

Here is their website, complete with the West Midlands Police logo. I wonder if the police are happy with that?

Jai786

Trisontana, Am i right in thinking you also suspect this is fraudulent and not legitimate? Jai

trisontana

Jai786 wrote: »

Trisontana, Am i right in thinking you also suspect this is fraudulent and not legitimate? Jai

I think it is a legitimate company (just look at the list of their clients), but I am very wary of them using that police logo. Don't forget that they look after civil parking matters which has nothing to do with the police.

Jai786

Well they also have a DVLA badge aswell, isnt the DVLA just an organisation who regulate the licensing of drivers and vehicles? What business would they have with supporting the enforcement of parking tickets?

trisontana

Jai786 wrote: »

Well they also have a DVLA badge aswell, isnt the DVLA just an organisation who regulate the licensing of drivers and vehicles? What business would they have with supporting the enforcement of parking tickets?

Believe it or not, the DVLA, does sell car details to parking companies to help them identify drivers, but they are are not directly connected to these parking companies. Many people are very unhappy with this situation.

It seems that this company is slapping on any old logos to make it look like a semi-official organisation. I'm surprise they haven't also included the Boy-Scouts Association and the Woman's Institute for good measure.

bargepole

Jai786 wrote: »

... So my question is, can anybody tell me if Central Ticketing is an actual legitimate company and should I advise her to pay or not?

They may be a legitimate company, but they are almost certainly acting fraudulently by putting the police logo on their website.

Absolutely do not even think of paying this, it isn't a fine, it's a scam invoice for money that they have no entitlement to. Ignore all their letters, this company is well known and wouldn't ever go near a court.

Meepster

I've just emailed West Midlands Police, to see what they have to say about it:

I am a regular poster on a well known consumer advice site and one of the recurring issues we come across is parking tickets, especially those that are distributed by private parking companies. Whilst I appreciate these companies have the right to trade and run their businesses as they see fit, it concerns me that a company such as Central Ticketing; http://www.central-ticketing.com/content/home.htm is using the West Midlands Police logo on their website, to suggest that they have the backing of yourselves in their operation.

If you do indeed back this company and the services they provide, I apologise for this email.

If however you have no connection to this company and you were unaware of them using your logo, to make their company look more reputable, then I am pleased that I could inform you of this.

I would be grateful (and very interested) to learn of any outcome, with regards to the matter I have brought to your attention.

I'll let you know what they say if they get back to me...

Jai786

Wow thank you mwilletts

scottishlass

And the West Midlands Police logo has suddenly been taken down!

Meepster

scottishlass wrote: »

And the West Midlands Police logo has suddenly been taken down!

Nope, it's still there...