Me VS PCN, Council and Thames Valley

zaphod1979

Hi

I posted this on another forum as well (pepipoo) where people have been very hepful. Just wondered if anyone had any advice for me, especially in regards to obtaining a permit somehow? I can't post llinks yet so just copy and paste the tiny pic urls into IE, you may need to add http://


I'd appreciate some advice on the following if possible.
Firstly I'll start with the PCN's that I have been issued with, and the letter from the debt collection agency. After this I'll try to explain the point of it all...

The first two pictures are of the actual PCNs I have been receiving. The thing I noticed on here is that under location they have put a completely different address from where the alleged offence took place!! I presume as I was definitely not parked in Beckenham at any point, and that the issuing officer made a mistake this is a good get out cause?

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Below is a letter from a collection company that the details have been passed on to. I only ever received one written letter from UKPC stating I had a fine (aside from the PCN itself). Am I ok to ignore these?

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Now onto why I've accumulated various PCNs (try and bear with me):

My GF and I are both Key Workers and took advantage of the government’s keyworker housing scheme (rent to buy etc etc). We moved into a place owned by Thames Housing in a cul de sac with private parking. We were told before we moved that there would be parking for those that needed it.

We moved in and applied for a permit, but Thames Valley turned us down and said all spaces had been allocated. We would be put on a waiting list that would definitely take over a yr with no eta. I then turned to the council and enquired about getting a permit from them BUT I got told they had an agreement with Thames Valley that meant any residents living on my street could not a get a permit from the council. The council said that this agreement was reached during initial planning stages for the property and that all residents should have been told before moving in. The council then said that there was no way they could issue me a permit, and also uttered something abut trying to encourage people to use public transport!!!!

I began writing to Thames Valley asking what/how/why about permits and if I could appeal. I also asked how permits were given out and how the waiting list was formed. I was told that there was no way to appeal and that permits were offered to whoever moved in first, regardless of whether they had a car, likewise the waiting list was formed of people who have no vehicle. I explained my circumstances, that a car was a necessity for work and I had what I felt was a right to park where I lived. I got no decent response and a lot of my questions went unanswered.

I contacted Thames Valley again and told them that as I needed a car for my work I would be parking outside where I live come what may on a certain date and expected this to be ok. There only response was that there were no parking spaces available.

I have since written to my local MP criticising the deal between council and Thames valley and how it victimises keyworkers, but have yet to get a response. The CAB could offer no advice. I have spoken to the parking dept of the council who couldn't even locate where I lived in the borough and they seemed very clueless.

So since I moved in I have been happily parking outside where I live in a road monitored by UKPC, although logically how can I park there when there are no spaces? I have been issued with various PCNs by the UKPC. All of the PCNS have had the incorrect location on them, also I have seen the wardens remove older tickets and issue new ones. At other times the tickets have not been sealed correctly and rain has made them unreadable.

So far my collection is mounting but I have ignored the PCNs and have had two letters from debt recovery agents (see pics). Currently I am drafting a long and sarcastic letter to the council, Thames valley and my local MP expressing my disgust.

I believe that I have either a right to park where I live or park within my own borough, where I pay taxes, and the refusal of any permit or even any kind of help is infuriating. I have no intention (and I hope that you think I am in right t do so) not to respond or pay anything to do with the PCNs or debt agency letters.

I simply wondered if anyone could offer some advice about my situation, firstly about what to do with the PCNs and letter from the debt collection people, and secondly about the issue I am having in regards to getting a parking permit from either Thames valley or the council.

Many thanks.

molerat

What has this got to do with the council ? Private parking notice = ignore. Do not contact them. Ignore and they will go away. The only problem you may have is clamping, are there any signs that mention it ? They cannot clamp you for non payment though.

Paradigm

I'm assuming this is your thread http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showtopic=50774

The guys on pepipoo know their stuff & I'd be going with what they say to be honest!

zaphod1979

yep that's my thread

what's it got to do with the council?

well the fact that I can't apply for a permit to park anywhere in my borough. I'm confined to one small street and have to get a permit via a private company. If wasn't a keyworker and rented as usual I'd have no trouble and could park anywhere in my borough.

robredz

I'd go with Paradigm on this one, the whole area of controlled residents parking is a nightmare, with postmen and delivery couriers falling foul of them, let alone people living in a controlled area. Check the documents regarding your lease and see if there is any mileage in a breach of contract implication, due to the non appearance of the promised parking facility as in your post:

"My GF and I are both Key Workers and took advantage of the government’s keyworker housing scheme (rent to buy etc etc). We moved into a place owned by Thames Housing in a cul de sac with private parking. We were told before we moved that there would be parking for those that needed it". You could try a no parking place = breach letter, and tell them you are invoicing them with the cost of the parking tickets + £50 for "administration"if they feel it may get nasty and give them unwanted adverse publicity, you may suddenly be given a space as an ex gratia settlement. Then again you might not.
It may be a bargaining point, in the unlikely event of the "debt collectors" who may also be the parking enforcement agency actually going to CC for a judgement.

Look here for more on Debt Recovery Plus:

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/parking-traffic-offences/189511-ukpc-debt-recovery-plus.html

Hope this helps.