Another UKPC Parking Charge Thread

digeeboy

Hi all

Got one of the dreaded UKPC parking charges stuck on my windscreen on a local trading estate. No signage at the entrance to the estate but a notice stuck on a building which I wrongle assumed related to the parking slots associated with the business and not to the road outside.

I have no intention of paying this but I need to write to them to inform them I am the registered keeper ... I drive a lease car registered in my name but the address is the lease company and they will just pay the invoice and invoice me if they receive anything.

Will a simple 'I am unwilling to identify the driver of the vehicle at the time of the alleged parking infringement' be suitable wording to these cowboys??

Thanks for any advice!

The_Slithy_Tove

Best thing is to contact the lease company and make it absolutely clear that they are not to pay any speculative invoices from PPCs, but simply to forward to you, whereupon you can ignore them. Check your lease Ts&Cs to see what it says about charges. It's most likely it says that they'll pay parking and other "fines" (and pass the cost on to you, plus admin fees). However, Parking Charge Notices from the likes of UKPC are NOT fines or similar charges, and so do not fall under any such clause. Trouble is, many lease companies fail to understand this.

If you have trouble with them, point them at the guidance provided by FleetNews: http://www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/2009/5/28/question-private-parking-fines-fleets-urged/30698/

digeeboy

Good advice, thanks!

I work for a major international company ... I am very wary they will just pay, and even if they don't its not going to look to good on me if they get bombarded with demand letters.

Is there anything wrong in the short letter I was planning to send??

pogofish

digeeboy wrote: »

Is there anything wrong in the short letter I was planning to send??

Apart from it being a complete and utter waste of time, nothing.

digeeboy

hmmmm ... I was thinking this would at least divert the stream of demanding letters to my address.

Letters don't intimidate me

Coupon-mad

digeeboy wrote: »

Good advice, thanks!

I work for a major international company ... I am very wary they will just pay, and even if they don't its not going to look to good on me if they get bombarded with demand letters.

Is there anything wrong in the short letter I was planning to send??

I think the company WILL just pay it unless you are very very clear with the right people at the lease company and at your own company that this is a scam invoice.

You could try writing quickly to the PPC and saying that you were driving - it's the driver they need to know, not the registered keeper. Don't mention to them that it's a lease car, don't let them realise the easy money opportunity that awaits if they ignore your letter and write to the lease company. They would hope for an immediate payment, no questions asked, and would get it from many stupid Fleet Managers.

But this thread below explains why the lease company should not do this:

http://www.pepipoo.com/forums/lofiversion/index.php/t65302.html

I am SchoolRunMum on pepipoo, look at my reply and links dated 4th October on that thread, the emails used on the linked 'sixt' car hire thread I mention there are the way forward for you to copy/amend, without delay.

Also look at this thread which shows what a lease company should do, i.e. forward any letters to the company or the driver's attention (as neither the lease co nor your employer is liable):

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showtopic=66692

And you'll see on that thread there's a link to the BVRLA website which gives template letters for Lease companies to use. The British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association is the trade body for companies engaged in the leasing and rental of cars and commercial vehicles, and they DO know the score.

There is plenty of info to give the Lease co and your own Fleet Manager up front. Do this straight away, as well as writing a brief 'I was the driver' letter to UKPC in the hope that they send the threatograms to you.