A Disabled Charity And A PPC

trisontana

Don't forget this item of news about "ethical" UKCPS" (CAG November 2010):-

At Elk retail park Oldham,Lancs, UKCPS have been removed from the site by the landlords (Savilles) after about 4 months of aggressive ticketing and harassment of customers.

taffy056

And here is the Advice from Helen Dolphin, it's from a parking bay outside a house, but the same applies to every parking bay that is not a council one

http://www.disabilitynow.org.uk/have-your-say/ask-the-experts-folder/ask-the-experts-27

taffy056

Hello Mobilse aka Disabled Motoring UK, I thought i'd post this excellent post by Coupon for you, now please feel free to comment

Coupon-mad wrote: »

Maybe it's time we reminded ourselves and Mobilise or Disabled Motoring UK about the devastated disabled motorists subjected to threatograms by UKCPS and their debt collector, Court Proceedings Ltd.

Many, many people who are genuinely disabled have posted, very upset by this practice in 2010 and beyond - and that will be the tip of the iceberg as most people won't have even come to a forum. The excerpts below are a snapshot of a few months of 'parking enforcement' by UKCPS and do not even include the infamous recent case where they took a disabled guy to Court who was too ill to attend so they actually won judgment against him. :mad:




https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2756200
By sans1961 on 28th Sept 2010
Hi wonder if anyone can give me some advice I was on Deepdale retail park yesterday parked in a disabled bay, I got out my blue badge the picked up my bag , I forgot to display it in the window and left it on the seat. When i came out of the shop 5 minutes later i had a parking ticket. I drove straight to the hut and explained and asked they had seen my disabled tax which they said they did but still had to issue me with a fine. please tell me what I should do.

(Answer given on the forum, as ever = ignore it, make a paper aeroplane out of it).

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2731483
Post number 16 by MR ANGRY - 17th September 2010
My father (79 years old and disabled) parked in a disabled bay in B and Q using a blue badge. He came out and found the car had a ticket on ! He also discovered that the car had been damaged on the front. The blue badge was in the footwell.
So looking at it logically, rather than help my father by asking the person who damaged the front of his car with, we presume, a trolley, for insurance details, this 'helpful person' decided to ticket the car with £100 fine…
I have written to the company - UKCPS - they have said they are not listening and will enforce the debt through the courts. They have 'kindly' offered to reduce the fine to £44 and enrol my father in a disabled scheme - very generous indeed. As we have not admitted who the driver of the car was, they have said that my father will be 'made' to tell the judge' etc etc etc. Bully boy tactics…
I just hope my fathers nerve holds out. I am furious with the fraud that is rained on a daily basis on people and especially the elderly !

(Answer given on the forum, as ever = ignore it, make a paper aeroplane out of it).

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2674905
Post number 37 on this thread, by iggypop 10th Sept 2010
ukcps - i'm at my wits end i received a parking ticket from ukcps on 2nd july - the ticket was dated the 7th july and the time was 12.00 - 12.05 in speke retail park in a mobility bay. I am a registered badge holder and i always put my badge on the dashboard but over this period there were high winds and as i and my friend opened the doors the badge must have dropped to the floor. i took advice from a solicitor on the phone and he said the ticket was void because the date was wrong and to write to tell them this. unfortunately i sent my letter to council in error not realising they were private firm and the letter was returned to me however i rcvd a letter from ukcps saying 60 had increased to 100 pounds i contacted c a b who told me theyd write to them on my behalf - they still havent had reply.
i received letter this morning telling me ive ignored an offer of 95 pounds and that they are giving me last chance to pay or court proceedings will incur costs of 325 pounds i have rang c a b and he is now going to forward to their solicitor to look at. in the meantime i received a second ticket on the 20th july again at speke retail park and again same threatening letters.
i was also parked with my badge on display a few days later in speke and a warden came up to me and started to write a ticket until he realised i had my badge on display!
I am now paranoid at parking anywhere for fear of these invisible people who are in hiding waiting to pounce on me i cannot afford these fees but they say they have photographic evidence and i have to pay. PLEASE HELP what should i do im scared ill end up in court with ccjs against me and a massive bill to pay.

(Answer: ignore this scam. You owe absolutely nothing, Courts would not enforce it).


https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2674905
Post no 17 by CosmicGirl 1st Sept 2010
My partner parked my car in a disabled bay at Aintree retail park and was displaying a blue badge… I received the same letter mentioned above and have today received a letter from ‘Court Proceedings Limited’ London as above. I was considering writing to them to state the ref number of the blue badge displayed but after reading these posts I don't think I'll bother. My partner is a bit nervous as the letters keep coming but I'd love them to take me to court. It's worrying how much money must be STOLEN from law abiding people in this way?

(Answer: ignore all letters, UKCPS like to make people think they are ‘UK Court Prosecution Service’ and the debt collector name ’Court Proceedings Ltd’ is worse)


http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/local-west-yorkshire-news/2010/08/10/disabled-bus-banned-from-great-northern-retail-park-86081-27029780/
News story (August 2010) re UKCPS:
Parking bosses have banned a minibus for old and disabled people from a retail park. The service…used to transport its passengers to the door of shops at the Great Northern Retail Park, Great Northern Street. The minibus…would also wait at the bottom of the car park to take shoppers home.
But now UKCPS, which runs the car park at the retail estate, has banned the minibus from entering the gates of the park. Now old and disabled people must walk, hobble or wheel their way out of the car park and across the busy Great Northern Street to catch the ML4 home. Customers unable to walk the distance may now have to stump up extra cash for taxis now the service, which is free to over-60s bus pass holders, has been barred.


https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2692549
By Lindilu 29/8/10
My mum received a parking ticket from ukcps at speke retail. My mum parked in a disabled bay, displayed her blue badge, but as she and my sister got out the car with both doors opened the badge must of blew of the dash board. I wrote to ukcps explaining what happened and that my mum will not be paying the fine. They have now sent my mum a letter asking her to pay a reduced charge of £44.00 and this will include free membership of Mobilise for one year. They have stated that by parking my vehicle i have entered a contract to display my badge what is this contract? help what should my mum do.

(Answer: ignore this scam. You owe absolutely nothing, Courts would not enforce it).


http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showtopic=54303

Posted by ‘stressed out’ 26/8/10
I am a disabled man and I parked in a disabled parking space in Great Northern Retail Park…I placed my blue badge on the dashboard slammed the door shut behind me and went in to pick up a paint card. When I returned to my car I noticed the Parking Notice Charge on my windscreen…it said there was no badge displayed, I then noticed my badge had slipped to the floor. I went back into Homebase with my blue badge and the Manager agreed it was up to date. I then showed the notice to the guy at Perrys where I had just recently got my Motability car from, he was astounded and said, apart from anything else, your tax disc displays disabled on it.
He contacted UKCPS and spoke to a guy in administration who was amazed the car was from Motability and said I hadn't to worry and to appeal.
I returned to Homebase and saw one of UKCPS' staff with his tickets. I related the above to him, and he could see my disability. He said he hadn't given me the ticket but he would back up my appeal when he got back to the office.
I wrote my appeal and have just received a reply saying they sympathise with my situation but it is the driver's responsibility to ensure the blue badge is displayed (which I did), and that UKCPS are working to stamp out abuse of disabled bays, (but I wasn't abusing it), and the parking charge will stand...£100 reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days. I can't afford that. I am totally stressed out with all this, which doesn't help as stress increases my disability. I don't know what to do.

(Answer given on the forum, as ever = ignore it, make a paper aeroplane out of it)


http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showtopic=54294
26/8/10 posted by kegs28

I got a ticket from UKCPS while parking in a retail car park, where it is free to pay, that i have visited many times and never seen a rules and regulations on parking there. I was displaying a disabled badge however the ticket says the date wasnt displayed correctly… i looked at the badge and the timer badge has covered the date…
I have read a few of the posts (here on the forum) and most say to just ignore the ticket and any correspondence. I ignored the ticket and my 2nd reminder letter has come today which I am planning to ignore, my questions are:
Am I really right to ignore all correspondence from them?
Are they legally allowed to threaten me with knocking on my door for payment, or sending a bailiff to my home or with court action?
How likely is it that this will end up in court action being taken against me?

(Answer given on the forum, as ever = ignore it, and ignore the threatening letters but in fact harassment is a criminal offence and many PPCs break the law in this respect)


https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2682799
(25/8/10, scroll to post number 10 which is about UKCPS in spite of heading):

I was 'presented' with a Parking Notice Charge...for 'parking' my vehicle in a disabled bay outside Curry's in New Mersey Retail Park (recently) so I could take my disabled daughter into the store…To my mind...the accurate and visible display of her current and lawful blue badge was sufficient, therefore, 'ONLY' the badge was displayed NOT the timer clock (as would be used when parking on yellow markings etc on the roadside.) When we emerged from the store we were gifted a PARKING NOTICE CHARGE from UKCPS Ltd - Our Crime (vehemently denied) was to have parked in a disabled bay with NO Badge displayed!?!
I rang the Police who were extremely understanding....But unable to help as they have no involvement unless it can be proven that this 'firm' UKCPS Ltd are acting unlawfully... Hmmm. I am stressed by this and has taken my attention from more important and vital issues in my life. What on Earth is going on with 'stuff' that is allowed in our Country for the sake of GET RICH QUICK SCHEMES?
This type of money making schemes should be outlawed. Many vulnerable Law Abiding People would panic and Pay - this CANNOT be right!

(Answer given on the forum, as ever = ignore it, make a paper aeroplane out of it)


http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=35340775&postcount=1767
I recently received a parking charge notice for parking in a disabled bay, but failing to display my blue badge. I'm a (recent) bi-lateral amputee, and have just returned to driving after a long absence. I parked my car in a disabled bay - and simply forgot to display my badge. My car is a mobility vehicle, clearly has 'disabled' written on the excise license and fairly obvious hand controls.
Foolishly, I paid the penalty the next day and submitted an appeal with mitigating circumstances. The company, using a somewhat misleading name (UKCPS) replied, stating that the charge stands, but inviting me to subscribe to a company called 'Mobilise'. They're offering to pay the annual £44 subscription, and refund me the remaining £16!!!!

(Too late to tell this poor victim to ignore! Appeal rejected of course, they ALL are!)



http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showtopic=50678
By firefox 1943: disability rights

Some weeks ago I had to return a faulty telephone connection box to B& Q. As I arrived it began to rain heavily with extremely gusty winds. Being disabled it would have been impossible for me to walk from the disabled parking area to the store so I parked my car outside the store. On my return to my vehicle I found a UKCPS parking ticket. My car does display a disabled drivers badge on its front screen. Now I have received a letter demanding I pay them £100. What can I do?

Answer given = ignore


http://www.justanswer.com/questions/3qlqx-this-is-the-letter-i-sent-to-ukcps-they-have-refused-my-appeal

By Mrs J L McGill
THIS IS THE LETTER I SENT TO UKCPS - THEY HAVE REFUSED MY APPEAL. DO I REALLY HAVE TO PAY £80 TOMORROW OR £100 AFTER THAT?
12 July 2010 Without prejudice UKCPS Ltd PO Box 1355 Huddersfield HD1 9ZN Dear Sirs Penalty Notice 505081 On 29th June 2010 I visited the Great Northern Retail Park. Firstly I went to Homebase…when I came out I needed to visit Boots...I turned in there and displayed my blue badge correctly. Although it is only two shops away I was obliged to move my car nearer to that shop due to my walking disability. I will be eighty years old in three months and suffer from severe osteo arthritis…I got out of the car leaving my mentally handicapped daughter inside.
As I closed my door a gentleman approached me from the direction of Boots and I took him to be the Boots security guard. He said I should not leave my car as the back end was protruding. I explained that due to my disablement it was extremely difficult for me to get in and out of cars and caused me a lot of pain. I informed him that I would only be a few minutes making my purchase. It must have been very obvious to him that I could walk only with great difficulty. He then came nearer, put the notice in a plastic bag and stuck it to my windscreen.
I feel that I have been very unfairly treated. It seems to me to be disablement discrimination. The ticket has ticked the box ‘out of marked bay’. In fact at least 90% of my car was inside the disabled bay…

Answer given = ignore


https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/34371667#Comment_34371667
By lindamac20
Couple of days ago I received a "ticket" from UKCPS. I was parked in a disabled bay, unfortunately my blue badge had fall off the dash.
Someone said they had had the same experience and although they sent a letter of apology and a copy of blue badge they still had to pay fine. I have to respond by Monday 5th July or cost will go up from £60 to £100. What should I do?

(Answer given = ignore, you don’t have to display a Blue Badge on private land).


http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?270791-Do-I-have-to-pay-this-fine
BY PARKING-FINE: Do I have to pay this fine? I am a disabled driver, and went in to a shop (on a private car park) and forgot to display my blue badge…when I returned to the car some five minutes later I had a ticket. The ticket was from UKCPS. I did make a purchase from the retail park, so how can I have been trespassing? Now I feel really upset and confused. Can anyone help me please?

(Answer given = ignore, you don’t have to display a Blue Badge on private land).


http://www.maghullstar.co.uk/maghull-aintree-news/maghull-aintree-news/2010/04/01/confusion-over-parking-bays-in-aintree-costs-mum-hefty-fine-104897-26142287/
Case of UKCPS issuing a parking charge for a parent with a toddler parking in a bay clearly OK for her, with a P&C sign in front of it (but with a faded disabled painted bay under the car!).


https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/27933477#Comment_27933477
By: Nellydunne
I was parked on double yellow lines on private land ie aintree retail outlet.all the available disabled bays were full so i parked on double yellow lines near to the shop.
I displayed the blue badge and accompanied my disabled wife inside the shop. when we returned to our vehicle there was a parking notice charge put in my wipers.
I thought i was ok with my badges showing in windscreen but it seems not the ticket was basically telling me to pay £100 or £60 if paid within 14 days to ukcps.

Answer given = ignore


http://forums.examiner.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=811
by pam re UKCPS ticket in the Great Northern Retail Park:

‘I was fined £75 in this car park. We were not in Currys five minutes we only picked a leaflet up. The attendant must have been in hiding she wrote the ticket out stuck it on the car and disappeared within five minutes. I wrote to the company giving them my disabled permit number, expiry date etc. But they said the £75 fine stood, as a gesture of goodwill they would allow me 5 extra days to pay! Seeing as I had sent a cheque with the letter (as instructed) this was not exactly generous.’

By Rightangle:
I was also caught in this car park. I took my 90 yr old father to buy a new tv. I parked outside Currys in a disabled space because I need the wider space to manouver his wheelchair and help him into it. I am sure the attendant must have watched me with the wheelchair before I went into the shop and then placed the ticket for a £75.00 fee on the car. My father does have a blue badge but I did not think private car parks were part of the blue badge scheme. I found out the e-mail address of UKCPS and forwarded details of the blue badge…It was totally ignored. I have paid the charge but I will not shop on this site again.


http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?248137-UK-CPS-Ltd&p=2971463&highlight=#post2971463
By Reddogs, post number 17
I parked at Aintree Retail Park outside M&S on double yellow lines with my blue badge. I wear calipers on both legs and can't walk far and there were no spaces near either disabled or ordinary. When I came out ten minutes later there was nothing on my car, but 3 weeks later I get a letter stating I haven't paid my fine and it is now £100. I phoned their number and got the 'pay now and appeal by email otherwise it is an extra £3 a day'. I didn't pay and emailed them to state what had happened. Of course there has been no reply. Today I have received a 2nd reminder notice. I have read the forum with interest, especially the gentleman who went to the police. I am happy to sit it out and see what happens and hopefully they will eventually forget about me! Fingers crossed.

(Answer given = ignore it, the Blue Badge scheme doesn’t apply on private land!).

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?211349
By Liz B: UKCPS threaten legal action!
Despite having reminded them that I have no legal obligation to divulge the details of the driver to them they have now threatened legal action in that they will apply to the court for bailiffs to be given permission to clamp the vehicle ANYWHERE it may be i.e. at my home address or on the highway. (= illegal).
As I am disabled and need the car to be available at all times I am now at the stage where I feel I should quote chapter and verse of the rules and regulations they should be acting under to them. The letter threatening court action arrived today and says that if payment is not made within 10 days court proceeding will be issued!

Answer given = ignore


http://www.pepipoo.com/forums/lofiversion/index.php/t50791.html
By Sponge:
My mother in law is a disabled badge holder. She was visiting Aintree Racecourse Retail Park recently and received a parking ticket. There were no disabled bays available, so she parked on double yellow lines outside one of the stores (Next).
She was displaying her badge and parked there as she thought she was allowed to park on double yellow lines:
Issuer: UK CPS Ltd ‘Offence(!!)’: Parked out of a marked bay
I have told her to keep hold of the ticket, but to ignore it and not contact them in any way. Not to respond to any letters threatening court, bailiffs, etc.
She's easily worried (OAP), especially by some of the wording on the ticket about courts, etc. Some reassurance that this is the correct way to handle it would help her sleep.

Answer given = ignore

Mobilise, Disabled Motoring UK, are you proud of your association with UKCPS?

taffy056

Well as Disabled Motoring UK is formally Mobilise and has a commercial interest with UKCPS , and profit directly from Gemini Parking Solutions, it's only right that we inform people about Disabled Motoring UK formally Mobilise so they can make informed decisions if they want to associate themselves with Disabled Motoring UK.

Gemini Parking Solutions and UKCPS are parking companies that pay Disabled Motoring UK £300 a year to have commercial links to Disabled Motoring UK formally Mobilise, so the questions must be asked do these commercial links to Disabled Motoring UK from Gemini Parking Solutions and UKCPS take priority for Disabled Motoring UK ?

HO87

Make sure you send a copy to Helen. She is apparently a member of BPA, well at least according to Mencap she is, although I suspect Disabled Motoring aka Mobilise have a "corporate" membership rather than her a personal one:

We have consulted Helen Dolphin – Director of Policy & Campaigns at Disabled Motoring (formerly Mobilise). Helen is a member of the British Parking Association and has written a paper on access issues in car parks.

[my emphasis]

Read the full article here.

And DPTAC:

Helen writes the motoring column for Disability Now magazine and is a member of the British Parking Association

Read the full article here

Kite2010

taffy056 wrote: »

Well as Disabled Motoring UK is formally Mobilise and has a commercial interest with UKCPS , and profit directly from Gemini Parking Solutions, it's only right that we inform people about Disabled Motoring UK formally Mobilise so they can make informed decisions if they want to associate themselves with Disabled Motoring UK.

Gemini Parking Solutions and UKCPS are parking companies that pay Disabled Motoring UK £300 a year to have commercial links to Disabled Motoring UK formally Mobilise, so the questions must be asked do these commercial links to Disabled Motoring UK from Gemini Parking Solutions and UKCPS take priority for Disabled Motoring UK ?

Only £300, I would have imagined it would have been at least £1000 a year they donate to the charity in ill-gained gains

taffy056

Kite2010 wrote: »

Only £300, I would have imagined it would have been at least £1000 a year they donate to the charity in ill-gained gains

Well that's what they quote on the website, but as they earn commision on people paying up they probably get a whole lot more, and this so called charity encourages people to pay up even though they know that the invoices are unenforceable .

Must bring joy joy feelings to people who are struggling with a disability that they are told by a charity to hand over thier dla to such scum bags

taffy056

Well this thread is certainly worth bumping for the New Year, lots of stuff mobilise would rather be buried

edgex

daveyjp wrote: »

I've written to the Mobilise head trustee - I await a response.

daveyjp wrote: »

Just thought I'd let you all know that I'm still waiting a response from the Chair of Trustees.

wonder if they received a response from the Chair of Trustees at Disabled Motoring UK / DMUK / Mobilise ?

geoffky

I do wonder if it is worth the time and effort for us to ask two years later how much have they learnt and what changes they have been able to get from these scum parking company's..should be interesting to see the reply.