Shoal Enforcement PPC

trisontana

It might also be worth you while to post this problem over on the PePiPoo forum. The more people who can give you advice the better. Here is a link to that forum:-

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showforum=60

Trebor16

Very_worried_mum wrote: »

Hi

Thanks ever so much for your reply. I am really stressing over this and to boot Michael Eames, the company director, is avoiding my phone calls, but claiming he will clamp my car by 13 January.

Yes, they have threatened to clamp cars to whom notices have been issued.

If he is threatening to clamp your car in relation to their claimed penalty charge then he will be acting illegally. No-one can clamp a vehicle in relation to a debt. If they were to clamp it you would have every right to remove the clamp.

very_worried_mum wrote:

No, there are no expiry dates on the resident permits. The letters issued by Shoal state:

The conditions for parking at (property address) remain the same i.e. all vehicles must display a valid parking permit and Road Tax (my vehicle abides by this). Any vehicle not complying with these conditions will be clamped and removed from the land after two hours.

It does nowhere state that they are bringing into force brand new permits and therefore residents MUST apply for new permits which will NOW include expiration dates and the first line of your home address.

It seems very clear they have messed up on tnhis as the quote from the letter makes no mention of applying for new permits.

very_worried_mum wrote:

I am going to answer your other questions bit by bit, here as follows:

What warning signs do they have up around the estate to warn they will issue tickets and/or clamp vehicles?
Yes, there are warning signs that people parking their cars should have valid parking permits and I have that permit clearly displayed in my windscreen for all the world to see.

Do the signs mention anything about clamping?

very_worried_mum wrote:

You say it is a council property. Have you contacted the council to ask them about the way Shoal are going about their business?
The lands belongs to a housing association and I have brought this to their attention. They state it is nothing to do with them and I should speak directly to Shoal enforcement.

It is the housing associations land and they must have brought Shoal in. Don't accept their answer because the housing association are very culpable in all this. I would take it higher up the food chain.

very_worried_mum wrote:

What does it say in your lease/rental agreement for your home about parking?
There was no parking enforcement when I moved into this property. Parking enforcement is a recent introduction to the property.

Has there been any consultation with the residents about the parking regime by the housing association?

Very_worried_mum

Has there been any consultation with the residents about the parking regime by the housing association?

No, not a recent one anyway. Shoal Enforcement were brought in a while ago, but their role was to "police" the car parks with permits issued by the housing association.

Incidentally, while "scavenging" for information I came across the following information:

How do you know if your ticket is a PPC ticket or not? Well, legitimate council tickets will be called a "Penalty Charge Notice" or "Excess Charge Notice" and will have the council's address on them. A police ticket will be called a "Fixed Penalty Notice" and have either a police or HM Courts Service address on it. If it's not called one of the above and it's got a private address on it then the chances are that it's a PPC "ticket", and ought to be ignored.

My ticket shows this:

Shoal Enforcement
Civil Parking Charge Notice
PCN No.: 000000

There is a PO Box address, no council address.

Again, you guys, are giving me so much hope. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

bromsgrovebarry

Relax, these nasty little letters are designed to scare the pants of you and that is the only way the scammers can collect their unlawful Mickey Mouse 'fines'. Be assured that the people who advise on this forum tell you to ignore these scammers not because we think it is the right thing to do, we know so because we have all done it ourselves. Several times in my case!

esmerobbo

Have I read this right they have issued a £120 charge, and have said if you don't pay by the 13th Jan they will come and clamp your car for none payment?
Plus are they refusing to issue a new permit because of this outstanding charge?

Very_worried_mum

Thank you, thank you, thank you - I can't stop blubbering like an idiot. I was feeling so lost and you guys have given me hope.

Trebor16

esmerobbo wrote: »

Have I read this right they have issued a £120 charge, and have said if you don't pay by the 13th Jan they will come and clamp your car for none payment?
Plus are they refusing to issue a new permit because of this outstanding charge?

It looks that way in relation to the previous "penalty". I don't know about the refusal to issue a new penalty though.

I think VWM should be taking this through to the higher echelons of the housing association to demonstrate how these sharks are acting on their behalf.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

its upto the HA to issue notices of change in parking permits not shoal.

the HA have let this company into their realms to enforce parking rules that the HA has imposed on residents and limited land space.

you need to contact the HA again and tell them you are being threatened by this company to clamp you because of a outstanding debt, that infact to the leter you recieved were within terms and condition "valid parking permit", if the HA issue the permits, then why havent they issued you one and why havent the sent you a letter of what you need to do. does your rent include parking fee's for the permit to remain valid? if so shoal have no buisiness contacting you about your permit at all it would be the HA responsability to remind you of any changes.

robredz

esmerobbo wrote: »

Have I read this right they have issued a £120 charge, and have said if you don't pay by the 13th Jan they will come and clamp your car for none payment?
Plus are they refusing to issue a new permit because of this outstanding charge?

Scan and copy the letter from Shoal to the Housing Manager, and the CEO of the Housing Association, point out that they are jointly and severally liable for any consequential losses springing from clamping or vehicle removal by Shoal for their unlawful penalty invoice. Also it would be a good thing if you could canvass other affected residents, and show a group residents displeasure at Shoal and their muppetry, which is compounded by the HA and it's failure to grasp the fact Shoal are cowboy scammers.

Very_worried_mum

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

its upto the HA to issue notices of change in parking permits not shoal.

the HA have let this company into their realms to enforce parking rules that the HA has imposed on residents and limited land space.

you need to contact the HA again and tell them you are being threatened by this company to clamp you because of a outstanding debt, that infact to the leter you recieved were within terms and condition "valid parking permit", if the HA issue the permits, then why havent they issued you one and why havent the sent you a letter of what you need to do. does your rent include parking fee's for the permit to remain valid? if so shoal have no buisiness contacting you about your permit at all it would be the HA responsability to remind you of any changes.

Both the HA and Shoal sent letters, but in neither letter did they state that residents would need new permits as the rules around the permits would now be changing. Instead the letters, as I quoted previously, made it appear that nothing had changed and the rules were the same as always.

I have tonight emailed the chief executive of our HA with copies of both Shoals and the HA's letters, drawing to his attention the fact that neither organisation made it clear what new changes were coming into place and to ask for his intervention in the matter.

I just hope he is back from the Christmas break as it will soon be January

I have also brought to his attention that Shoal enforcement's membership of the BPA has expired - as they make a strong statement of Shoal being accredited by the BPA in the HA's letter regarding the car parking.