Warning: Don't call these firms 'scams' or 'cowboys'.

peter_the_piper

They do not stop the use of the words Vistaprint and scam being used together.

esmerobbo

The only difference I can see posters are disagreeing and saying its not a scam, maybe that is seen as a balance? Cant see many except trolls defending PPCs!

I have been looking around since CAG stopped the word being used and cant find any information about why it suddenly became sensitive.

Except for Parking Eye getting a blog taken down!

Spartacus_Mills

Coupon-mad wrote: »

The email some of us got from MSE officials says this (hope it's OK to quote!):

Quote: Originally Posted by MSE xxxx
Hi Coupon-mad,

We just wanted to drop you a quick message. We really appreciate all the hard work you put in to letting people know about private parking tickets and understand that it can be difficult to get the message across to users. We've noticed that often words such as 'scam' or 'cowboys' are being used and unfortunately it puts the site at risk of legal threats from these companies, especially any allegation that they act unlawfully. The last thing we want to happen is that helpful threads or posts are removed because they are deemed as being defamatory or libelous.

We would really appreciate it if you could help us tackle this issue, so that less experienced users don’t end up using these words and stick only to the facts, this way it reduces the risk to the site and it'll mean we can all continue to help those looking for answers.

Please let us know if you have any questions.

QUOTE




I can understand that threats from one of the companies we know and hate has caused MSE to go the same way as pepipoo and CAG regarding the sc*m word, but the cowboy word? When Martin started it?!

I replied thus, not wishing to argue or cause offence but just saying, like:


QUOTE
Hmmmm...Martin Lewis uses the word Cowboys on MSE and in the national and local press very, very frequently about private parking tickets, here are some examples:

'These supposed 'fines' are the new Wild West, and whether the cowboys do it at supermarkets, retail parks, hospitals or housing estates, they're often unenforceable.'

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/rec...arking-tickets

'It’s time to stick on your hat and grab a lasso, because you’re entering the land of the cowboys.'

Bournemouth Echo

Northern Echo

Has Pinky or Perky sent a legal threat? Why does the site still carry Martin's use of 'cowboys' then?

kind regards,

Coupon-mad

QUOTE

This is not the first time MSE has displayed a form of Stockholm Syndrome. Several threads about the sharp practises of holiday timeshare firms were deleted in spite of the overwhelming evidence cited as to their practises.

Sadly if this trend continues MSE will become less and less helpful to people who come here to try to save money.

Avoiding paying so-called Parking fines from Private Parking Companies or paying tens of thousands for worthless timeshares is exactly the sort of thing we should be promoting.

As for terms like cowboy being defamatory. That would be for a court of law to decide. Would a PPC really want to chance their arm on that when they won't even chance their arm on their tickets most of the time ?

Oopsadaisy

"MSE -The Brand" has to protect its valuable image and its money.

So it will kowtow to legal threats from firms with a vested interest, rather than defend itself and its members....just like lots of publishers. Even scientific magazines are now worried about getting sued by pharmacos if they publish papers from scientists which show a drug doesn't work

bromsgrovebarry

We must all enjoy the simple fact that we are hitting the Fireman Sammers hard and they are beginning to really hurt. So we cannot use cowboy or scammer when talking about a particular PPC, we can advise people to ignore their joke invoices and legal pseudo-babble. Just keep up the good work and keep spreading the word.

HO87

I suspect that the issue is less to do with direct legal action against MSE and more to do with the possibility of a take-down demand being sent to MSE's service provider. Most SP's will fold in an instant on receipt of such demands.

bromsgrovebarry

That reminds me of one poster that had his website affected by a take down demand from Parking Eye. A bit rich after Parking Eye's two spoof websites that broke the law and Nominet rules. Anyway, we can all get the message over to PPC potential victims without using the naughty words.

molerat

This newspaper article seems to think the S word is required http://www.highland-news.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/8504/Parking_purge_branded_a_scam.html

bromsgrovebarry

I think the reason why MSE has been targeted by the PPCs is because of its high profile. The number of visitors on this site is pretty impressive and so the site has probably done more damage to PPC income than press articles. The press article is great and a refreshing change from ill researched ones that go on about 'fines'.

Spartacus_Mills

bromsgrovebarry wrote: »

We must all enjoy the simple fact that we are hitting the Fireman Sammers hard and they are beginning to really hurt. So we cannot use cowboy or scammer when talking about a particular PPC, we can advise people to ignore their joke invoices and legal pseudo-babble. Just keep up the good work and keep spreading the word.

I haven't received a notification myself.

Just to get these clear.

We cannot call PPC's or clamping companies scammers or cowboys.

Okay.

Can we call some of them scumbags ?

After all what else would you call someone who clamped a Nurse on call.

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/evening-chronicle-news/2010/09/07/nurse-on-call-car-clamped-in-south-gosforth-72703-27217919/

http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/primary-care/district-nurse-clamped-while-on-visit/5018349.article

I think, in both cases, it is a perfectly fair term to use to describe the people who clamped Nurses looking after the sick.

Or should we not want to offend the sort of person who is happy to extort money from people doing something worthwhile ?

Perhaps we should just pack up and go home and forget about it.

To me the people on this thread who advise on this are those who do something worthwhile. I am not surprised CAG has taken this line. They are rather Draconian in their censorship.

If we use a term like Cowboy with respect to the activity of PPC's it is far more likely to act as a deterrent to the people who come here for advice as terms like "cowboy clamper" are commonly used.

Again if we use the term scam or scammer it is far more likely to deter people from paying what are totally unenforceable invoices. After all we have seen car parking companies admit as such by stating they will not go to court.

We have had a solicitor describe it as such on Watchdog.

The BPA and PPC's are unlikely to sue, partly because you cannot defame a group, partly because how do you injure the reputation of a wheel clamper or private ticketing outfit and partly because of the adverse publicity.

Martin talks a good fight on his various gigs on the likes of Radio 5 Live. Robust, enganging and telling people what is what, but his forum is become rather timid, craven and even supine to these sort of people.