Private Car Parking Enforcement Agency

argiloso

I recently got a 'Parking Charge' from the Private Car Parking Enforcement Agency.

I was hunting in my sister's town for a place to put my rather expensive motorbike (I didn't want to leave it in the nearby underground car park as I have had problems of tampering etc) and opted for what looked like a motorcycle stand on the earth's surface outside the cafe where my she had arranged to meet. It turned out to be a bicycle park only but how was I to know? When I came out of the cafe I had a 'Parking Charge' with an option to pay £50 now or £75 after two weeks from the date of the offense.

When I looked around I saw a small blue notice with smallish writing saying no motor vehicles. The cycle stand was about 20meters from a road head in a pedestrianised zone but in Cardiff I often use motorcycle stands which are located in such places.

I do not want to lie but I do not want to pay obviously as I feel the signage was not clear. Plus it seems rather disproportionate to charge £75 for a minor incrimination even if I had seen the sign.

Can you advise me? I am 4 days into my 14 day payment period.

bromsgrovebarry

Oh these scammers like to give themselves titles that suggest they have official status and statutory powers! This is a scam outfit. Please ignore the bogus 'fine' and do not think about appealing. The charge is not enforceable but expect several threatening letters designed to scare you into paying.

bromsgrovebarry

Is it not criminal misrepresentation to have a trading name that implies official status?

trisontana

bromsgrovebarry wrote: »

Is it not criminal misrepresentation to have a trading name that implies official status?

Their website is full of nonsense. Take a look at this page which seems to have been lifted straight off a council website, with all that talk of "wardens" and "notice to owner".

bromsgrovebarry

But how can it be? This company are paid up members of the Guild Of Scammers (BPA) or at least they display a BPA logo!

trisontana

There is another PPC that's just been mentioned over on Pepipoo with an equally grandiose name. This time its "UK Parking Administration Office Ltd"

bromsgrovebarry

There ought to an award for the PPC with the most stupid and pretentious name. Perhaps the trophy could be made from recycled wheel clamps. These might be available on eBay for a knock down price.

molerat

trisontana wrote: »

A fancy name for the guy sitting at the next desk in their crummy office.

A big player then, 2 desks

cajef

trisontana wrote: »

Their website is full of nonsense. Take a look at this page which seems to have been lifted straight off a council website, with all that talk of "wardens" and "notice to owner".

Look at this informative piece of rubbish from that website.

I was not the driver, I did not know my vehicle was ticketed.

You should write to us as soon as possible. You must provide a signed declaration along with details of the driver at the time of the incident, which must include their name and address. We will then write to the person and request that they pay the amount owed. If we do not receive a response or payment or if the driver does not accept liability, liability will revert back to the registered keeper until such time as the charge is paid. It will then become then your own responsibility to seek reimbursement from the driver.

Coupon-mad

argiloso wrote: »

I recently got a 'Parking Charge' from the Private Car Parking Enforcement Agency.
Can you advise me? I am 4 days into my 14 day payment period.

This is such a common scam that almost everyone on this board has had at least one private parking ticket and ignored it (mine was over a year ago and the driver was allegedly there for four hours in a two hour private car park). There is no risk in ignoring everything in the absence of sealed, genuine Court papers, which won't come.

Funnily enough I was only looking at my collection of debt collector letters yesterday and laughing at them. You can see a preview of the letters to ignore, in the first post of the first thread on this board. Look at the pics now, you can see what will come next:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/...play.php?f=163

Plus you'll see by the number of current threads (of which there are pages and pages!) on that link, just how common this scam is. All the new questions on here today have been asked before lots of times, this thread is one of hundreds! Read some threads on the link above, then look back pages and pages and pages - except for the odd Police or Council ticket and clamping case - all of those threads are from people like you.

All the same, all ignored, doesn't matter who the PPC is. Nothing will happen.

You will just get some free paper aeroplanes (see this Watchdog link to see why that's funny!). Do show your husband these replies and these links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAIcdi9niHA

NEVER pay a private parking ticket. Think no more of it apart from to spread the word.

:T

HTH

AlexisV

cajef wrote: »

Look at this informative piece of rubbish from that website.

I'd say it was actually fraudulent.