Parliament on PPCs

ripped_off_driver

Readers may be interested in this debate which took place last week (need to scroll down a little to see it). The Minister, Norman Baker, does not quite get it but at least his heart appears to be in the right place:http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm100914/halltext/100914h0002.htm

landmark

ripped_off_driver wrote: »

Readers may be interested in this debate which took place last week (need to scroll down a little to see it). The Minister, Norman Baker, does not quite get it but at least his heart appears to be in the right place:http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm100914/halltext/100914h0002.htm

He doesn't realise that the BPA is failing to properly regulate PPCs, but Henry Smith (Crawley) (Con): Stated

"from the research that I have done, it seems that it (BPA) has failed to police its members and look after the consumer. It appears to be there to look after the interests of its members only. I certainly have yet to come across an instance-no doubt there are examples-where it has upheld a complaint by a motorist. Therefore, it seems that self-regulation is failing.

The sheer scale of the fines that some rogue private car park operators charge is another cause for concern. The car park in my constituency charges £70 on average when a ticket is issued, which must be paid within a fortnight. If that is not paid, the operators hike up the amount by £30 every fortnight. The letters sent out have a rather threatening tone. Not only is that worrying for elderly residents and those concerned about their credit records, but it is starting to damage town centre businesses.

I fully support the Government's proposal to ban wheel-clamping on private land in England and Wales. That has been successful in Scotland since 1992; the ban has not created any problems there. He is right, however, to highlight the fact that such a change could shift some private parking operators from their usual suspect practices to simply using the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency database, which is easy to register with, to continue issuing threatening fines. Although I fully support the proposed legislation, I feel that it might create an unintended consequence elsewhere.

A complete picture would be provided by better regulation of the way all private operators issue tickets. I wonder whether it would be worth considering giving a power to license private car parks to the local authority-the elected local government in an area-which would, of course, be responsive through the ballot box. Local councils are used to licensing small, local outlets. Publicans are licensed by the local authority, and if they are caught consistently selling alcohol to under-age individuals, they lose their licence. Taxi drivers are another example: they are licensed by the local authority, and if they fiddle with the meter or are convicted of dangerous driving, they lose their licence to operate.

At present, the only way that local authorities can have any real influence over rogue car park operators in their administrative area is through planning permission, but that works only if temporary planning permission has been granted to a site. Once a precedent has been set in planning and plans have been approved, rescinding permission is extraordinarily complex and difficult-I would argue that it is almost impossible. Local authorities really do not have many powers in their armoury that enable them to defend their residents-our constituents-from such practices.


My concern about civil cases is that most people do not have the ability or resources to pursue them, and it seems that rogue car park operators rely on that. Frankly, they scare many people into paying the fine; they think, "I'll pay the £70 because I just want the problem to go away." It seems that that accounts for 90% of their business."

As you will read above that although Henry Smith MP is more in touch, he still doesn't know the difference between a Parking Charge Notice and a Penalty Charge Notice:(

AlexisV

Still, this is right on the money:

He is right to mention the industry body called the British Parking Association, but from the research that I have done, it seems that it has failed to police its members and look after the consumer. It appears to be there to look after the interests of its members only. I certainly have yet to come across an instance-no doubt there are examples-where it has upheld a complaint by a motorist. Therefore, it seems that self-regulation is failing.

Might email him. He's off to a good start, and just needs a helping hand.

king100

You could start off with this point

BPA Code of practise

15.4 You must not use terms which imply that you are acting
under statutory authority; this will include terms such as
‘fine’, ‘penalty’ or ‘penalty charge notice’.

or this

You must accept payments in any reasonable form
offered, including:
a credit/debit card
b cash or postal order
c cheque, if supported by a suitable cheque guarantee
card
The use and acceptance of cash is discouraged and
should be used as a method of ‘last resort’ and after all
other payment options have been considered.

or this

B11.2 All charges advertised on signs and literature must
include VAT if appropriate. They must also say what any
extra charges are for paying by credit or debit card.
Note 1: If a vehicle is first issued with a parking ticket, then
immobilised and then removed, you may charge:
• the parking charge, and either:
a the release fee following immobilisation, or
b the removal fee plus any storage charges.
Note 2: You must wait at least two hours before fixing an
immobilisation device to a vehicle that has already been
issued with a parking ticket. These vehicles may be removed
immediately, however, if they are causing an obstruction, are
a danger to the public or are recorded as ‘persistent
evader vehicles’.

Jeff_Bridges_hair

king100 wrote: »

You could start off with this point

BPA Code of practise

15.4 You must not use terms which imply that you are acting
under statutory authority; this will include terms such as
‘fine’, ‘penalty’ or ‘penalty charge notice’.

or this

You must accept payments in any reasonable form
offered, including:
a credit/debit card
b cash or postal order
c cheque, if supported by a suitable cheque guarantee
card
The use and acceptance of cash is discouraged and
should be used as a method of ‘last resort’ and after all
other payment options have been considered.

or this

B11.2 All charges advertised on signs and literature must
include VAT if appropriate. They must also say what any
extra charges are for paying by credit or debit card.
Note 1: If a vehicle is first issued with a parking ticket, then
immobilised and then removed, you may charge:
• the parking charge, and either:
a the release fee following immobilisation, or
b the removal fee plus any storage charges.
Note 2: You must wait at least two hours before fixing an
immobilisation device to a vehicle that has already been
issued with a parking ticket. These vehicles may be removed
immediately, however, if they are causing an obstruction, are
a danger to the public or are recorded as ‘persistent
evader vehicles’.

Someone should tell good old honest john this

king100

Jeff_Bridges_hair wrote: »

Someone should tell good old honest john this

Whats his mail address web filter on at work

Jeff_Bridges_hair

letters at honest john .co .uk


check the other thread on his good honest 'advice'