Parking signs spray painted

anewman

Likeabagofsand wrote: »

I would love to print my own signs and get the message across to every resident, but these signs would easily be removed.

http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=20001&partNumber=098901&c_3=3|cat_14115016|Sealants%2C+fillers+and+adhesives|14115021&c_2=2|cat_16849219|Paint+accessories|14115016&c_1=1|category_root|Decorating|16849219

If I was really nasty I would suggest razor blades under the edges where those going to remove them would get their fingers

fb1969

It seems that I live in a similar estate to you as this system was brought in last year with no prior notice by a similarly ignorant property manager. It was that action that brought me to these forums in the first place. The signs here say you can only park with permission, but the property manager says you must display a permit - so how can they enforce any contract when they can't decide what it says? The signs also avoid use of the word "fine" until it tells you how to pay one, thus shooting themselves in the foot!

Which company is it that is issuing the tickets? People on here may be able to back up what is posted with experience of the company.

See if they have a website. Some allow "self ticketing" and you could find that the property manager is the one taking a photo and sending it to the company for them to issue the invoice.

I was tempted to put a sticker on each sign here saying "unenforceacble invoice". How about a leaflet through each letter box on the estate. It need only have a few lines and refer people to this forum and the similar area on the Pepipoo website.

Coupon-mad

If you want some ideas on how to fightback, ask on pepipoo.com (fightback forums):

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showforum=30

Start reporting the private parking company for any illegal flaws in their letters or signage or PCNs. Who are the company? Did you get a ticket from them, that would help as you could see the threats that arrive in the post and whether they break any laws.

From reading threads on here and on pepipoo, many PPCs which are Limited companies seem to break the law as regards having to put their Company Number/registered address etc on all their paperwork. That can result in a fine of a few thousand I think; a good start!

Many fraudulently impersonate Council tickets or even Police tickets 'Fixed Penalty' on the envelope they stick on the windscreen.

Many harass people with letter mis-stating the legal position, or making even worse threats (could make them answerable under the Protection from Harassment Act).

Some even impersonate Bailiffs, saying they have a Warrant (have you read the PCN_UK thread?).

Others have dodgy websites you could report, registering as 'not trading' when it is (report to Nominet I think, others can advise on this). Some have insecure websites set up to receive payments without the usual Padlock system and/or just sending your credit card details by email when you click on a link.

I reckon ask pepipoo, and keep that spray-paint handy. It's something I was really tempted to do the other week (either accidentally remove or accidentally splash paint on a clamping sign) but I was scared of meeting a bunch of knuckle-dragging clampers so that stayed as a pipe-dream!

You could try reporting what you find to Trading Standards but you would be lucky to find a branch which understood the scam and was willing to act to stop it. Most Trading Standards still rejoice in advising people to pay up and appeal later...derrrrr...!

Coblcris

"I am glad the property manager is equally liable, he is a very shrewd man. Before the parking enforcement was put into place, the residents were warned of the plans for introducing a parking enforcement which would go ahead providing there were no objections from more than 50% of the residents."

He is not that astute it appears.
How are you bound by this 'vote' ?
This is a contract matter.

If you respond to the other questions I posed we would know a lot more.
Absent such abrogation of rights or specific clauses, sue both parties.

The Private Parrking Company may 'feel' that it can issue tickets without signs however its feelings are irrelevant. There is much well established law in this regard.
Not that a company can have feelings.

What does your lease say about parking exactly ?

Have you signed any other documents about parking ? If so what did they say exactly ?

Please forgive this somewhat forthright comment but you need to take control and exert your rights.

Likeabagofsand

anewman wrote: »

If I was really nasty I would suggest razor blades under the edges where those going to remove them would get their fingers

Lol I love it!

Pepipoo is not a bad shout. On the other hand the support on here is overwhelming, especially from Coblcris.

Coblcris... I don't have exact details about my deeds to hand, I will post them up this evening when I get home.

No I haven't signed any further documents about parking. There has been a meeting held by the property manager explaining to the residents that a parking enforcement will be put into place, and the residents were asked to sign a document, which in turn allowed them to obtain their parking permits (one for yourself and ONE for a visitor), but I was not present at this meeting, and therefore I don't display a parking permit. This is the reason why I have now recieved two parking invoices for parking in my own space.

The company issuing the tickets is County Parking Enforecement Agency. I did take a look at the website, and I noticed they delibrately left out a phone number and email address. There is a parking attendant on site, so I don't think it is a self ticketing issue.

As mentioned earlier, I have received two notices, and I am interested to see what their follow up letters will say, if any! And then of course, I will post it on here.

UsagiYojimbo

Is this the one?....

http://www.countyparking.co.uk/index.htm

The telephone number is on there but I wouldn't recommend ringing them.

I love this part on the "appeals" page....

"[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The moment an appeal is received the notice is held at its current amount until a response is made by the committee to the appeal."

I bet the committee consists of the bloke who issued the ticket and Albert and Amanda Powell who are the two company directors. The company was incorporated in 1996 so they've been around for quite a while. There must be some money in the extortion business.
[/FONT]
http://www.countyparking.co.uk/appeals.htm

trisontana

I like the way they call themselves a "Parking Enforcement Agency" which to many people might imply they are some sort of government department.

fb1969

UsagiYojimbo wrote: »

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] There must be some money in the extortion business.[/FONT]

Add the fact that they have someone onsite issuing the invoices they must think a lot of people there will just pay up.

Coblcris

"but I was not present at this meeting,"

and did not sign any document ?

If so you are not party to the contract, I would have to see the document to see if anyone was bound by it. It may be that no one is. Please obtain a copy.

Coupon-mad

Agreed, the OP is not party to any alleged contract handed out at a meeting he did not attend. And the implied contract (new permit system) foisted upon the residents may well be unfair anyway...

Also, to the OP it is worth reporting private parking firms to the authorities, they can get whopping fines I believe! Here's a thread on pepipoo where the OP has made great efforts to report 'his' local PPC to the Oft and Companies House - and has had encouraging replies:

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showtopic=45276&st=20&start=20

HTH