TPS Parking Solutions

cromo6555

My wife parked at Dunelm Mill carpark in Stockport as she has done ever since it opened years ago. She only shopped in Dunelm and had lunch there with her friend.
7 days later she has received a letter from TPS asking for payment because she parked there for 161 mins, and the limit which she didnt know they had one was 150 mins. It shows photo graphic evidence of her car entering the car park( no time ), but no proof of her leaving or what time she left. We are worried sick because we do not have £100 to pay this firm, she was not aware of any restrictions on the day. I have been back and there are signs on the wall as you enter but you cant read these as they are too high up, and you are to busy looking for a parking space.
It doesnt seen right that all she did is spend £44 in Dunhelm and her friend spent £66. I have read a few emails re this firm, has anyone got any real advise on what she should do?

Thanks

AlexisV

• do not pay
• do not contact them
• all you have is an unenforceable invoice
• ignore their threatening junkmail
• they will give up and go away
• ignore their lies about CCJs and court

This seems more of a customer service issue than most. Write to Dunelm and point out you've spent £44 and had lunch there and will never return if this is what happens.

Coupon-mad

Fake PCNs are a scam so DO NOT even think about paying or contacting TPS! Do not be 'worried sick', simply ignore their bogus 'tickets' and the scary letters.

See the important top thread 'PPC letters' for preview pics of the letter-chains and go to the thread called 'welcome, please read before posting' for the must-see Watchdog paper aeroplane youtube link:


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


Most of us here have ignored these fake PCNs, basically any 'ticket' that calls itself a 'parking charge notice' is a fake; real PCNs are called 'penalty charge notices'. It's simple to tell the difference even though some of the fakes look legit and they may have a photo of your car on (big wow!) and are followed by scary letters, it doesn't make them any more enforceable than, say, a made-up £50 'charge' from me, for anyone reading this reply.

I ignored a fake PCN 3 years ago and would happily collect more just to cost the scammer PPCs some more money in postage with their pathetic threatogram letter-chain. I always use supermarket car parks and the driver of my car sometimes overstays (oh dear) but sadly the PPCs have never yet graced my windscreen with any more of their pointless bogroll 'tickets'.

OK, now you are hopefully better informed that this is just a scam, I would agree with AlexisV that you can and should complain to Dunelm Mill. Write a really strong LETTER OF COMPLAINT to the Head Office (not the Store) about Dunelm allowing a private parking company to carry out a practice akin to a protection racket, extorting money from customers. See this thread:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=3251430

Just do not write a letter that 'appeals' or tries to excuse your wife's behaviour. Stop thinking that your wife may have done something wrong. :mad: TPS did something wrong - just existing! - all private parking companies are money-grabbing scum and retailers need to know how their customers feel about the matter.

Let us know when Dunelm apologise.

notts_phil

Ignore them like u would ignore any.other con artists

cromo6555

Thanks your thread answer. This noitce is called a "traffic enforcement notice" Does this make any difference?

oldone_2

cromo6555 wrote: »

Thanks your thread answer. This noitce is called a "traffic enforcement notice" Does this make any difference?

The words they use are deliberately chosen to give the impression they are from the police/council. Although not quite fraud, it is sailing very close to the wind.

As others have said, ignore and do not correspond with them. Watch the u-tube BBC Watchdog clip for confirmation.

Do however write and complain to the retailers.

The only way to fight these parasites is to stop companies employing them. The more complaints the better.

RENEGADE_2

cromo6555 wrote: »

Thanks your thread answer. This noitce is called a "traffic enforcement notice" Does this make any difference?

The answer to your question is no. They can call it "Income Tax Notice" if they wish, it means absolutely nothing.

Arbitrary fines are wholly illegal, a private enforcement company is governed by provisions within Contract Law. This in turn allows the company in question to seek losses resulting from another's action. There is no clause that allows the company to invent de facto "penalties" for breach of contract, they are aware of this which is why they skirt the issue by using silly terms like "Traffic Enforcement Notice". Call it what they will, it doesn't change the fact that this is yet another apologetic attempt to impose a fine on a person because it is clear that £100 is far beyond actual losses.

There is no hope of them taking you to court, as if they did they would lose. Their only hope is to bully you with scare tactics and letters from "debt collectors" demanding greater charges. They are vile sсum, sick people who are in the racket for business and have no morals; do yourself a favour and wait until the next trash arrives, when you spot the familiar envelope by its presentation/return address, just mark the envelope "SCAM REJECTED - RETURN TO SENDER". This way, you have denied the debt, told them what you think AND they have paid for the letter's all-round trip.

patty65

Write or email Dunelms CEO.

Kite2010

Landowners damages are zero, therefore you don't owe a 3rd party any money whatsoever.

Complain to Dunelm Mill, telling how you are disgusted that a valid customer whom spent several hundred pounds in store can be harassed by a 3rd party for staying over a made-up time limit, and that from now on you shall be spending your monies elsewhere.

cromo6555

Thanks for everones help on this matter, we had an unexpected result after visiting the manager of Dunelm. While we were there we asked 15 couples/shoppers, have they noticed or read any signs to do with parking in Dunelms carpark. They all said no, and couldnt understand that Dunelm fines its customers if they spend more than 150 mins in their store.
We then went to see the manager who was sort of bothered but it wasnt until we told her that we had spent all the time in her store and spent over £100 inc lunch. We didnt shout, but we spoke loud enough for other shoppers to hear us. When she went into her office with our fine notice letter, shoppers were coming up to us saying what a disgrace it was. She then came back and advised that the noticed had been cancelled and that was the end of he matter?
So we got a great result, only because we didnt pay the fine, how many people do? My advise to Dunelms is to have large signs on their front doors saying that after shopping 150 mins in this store you will be fined £100!

Thanks again, great results with all your help, great web site.

trisontana

Can I correct you. This was not a FINE, it was an unenforceable invoice. When you say the manager "cancelled" it. How did she do that? Did she contact the parking company? If not then you might expect some more letters from TPS. Which, of course, should ignore.