Vehicle Control Services - help needed!

give_them_FA

Don't worry, you weren't the first, and you won't be the last, person to take their bullsh*t seriously. At least all is well that ends well. Now pass the message to everyone you know, so as to reduce still further the number of people who get caught by this scam.

ega05th

A lady at the council just worried me a bit, as she said that as it's private parking down my street that this company would be able to enforce the fine...

give_them_FA

Since when did people from a Council know anything? They have it confused with their own systems. A Council charge is enforced through a set system regulated by law, because it is valid and enforceable. A private ticket is neither valid nor enforceable. She really doesn't have a clue what she is talking about.

I have over the years collected over 80 of these FAKE tickets. I have never paid a single one and none of the scamming companies have ever even tried to enforce.

Now, ask yourself: have I been lucky over 80 times; or is the Council lady talking through her hat?

By the way, don't even bother to go to Citizens' Advice; they made the mistake of taking the British Parking Association's word for what happens. The BPA is NOT an official regulator- though it likes to masquerade as one- it is purely an organisation the parking companies formed themselves to give a veneer of respectability to their little scam. I would rank it as the equal of the British Burglars' Association- fighting for the rights of burglars everywhere!

Any more worries?

ega05th

I think you've trumped me with your 80 tickets!

But in all seriousness, thanks for putting my mind at rest. Just having a look at the Sticky topics now and have seen the VCS ticket there!

fil_cad

IGNORE VCS years ago i appealed to them over a fake ticket and got turned down at that time i had NO idiea there scammy tickets were fake, i ignored all after the rejection i got a few more crappy bits of bog paper of them then eventually it STOPPED :money:

ega05th

Thanks for all your help, been really useful.

My girlfriend got me thinking last night, if it is private land then does the landowner not have the right to enforce the ticket?

Also, in the case of people parking in car parks too long (over the time they have paid for) then surely the ticket would be enforced?

Just a couple of thoughts I had last night, sorry if I'm digressing a bit.

give_them_FA

It IS "private" land, but not in the sense of being your driveway, for example! It is an area which is dedicated for the use of the public to park their cars, generally so they can become customers in shops...

And, yes, there are rights to enforce conditions, such as, if someone pays for an hour's parking but then stays two....the driver would then owe for an hours parking, which a court would undoubtedly uphold.

The problem we deal with, is the third party parasites (the PPCs) who try to wheedle some totally disproportionate and random "fine" out of the situation. This ISN'T lawful. No private person or company can impose a fine or penalty. And the Court won't uphold it as a result.

That, of course, doesn't stop the scammers trying it on.

If you think about it, the easiest way to make sure all dues are paid is to put barriers at the entrance and exit, so you would need valid tickets to get in and out. This, of course, doesn't interest the scammers, who just want to try collecting the £50- £80 -£100 by which they make their profit.

ega05th

Ok I think I understand more clearly now.

So if the parasites (picking up the lingo now ) see a car that has parked for two hours rather than the one they paid for, then they are within their rights to issue a ticket? But the driver would be liable to pay the money owed (for instance, £2) rather than the excessive £80 that the likes of VCS 'invoice' for.

In my case, the private road I parked on is specifically for residents of the flats. And I am a resident in one of those flats. So I am guessing that further strengthens my case?

Final question, will the landowner employ the likes of VCS to cover that area? And would they get a split from the money collected? Or would the landowner be unawares? Just wondering if it's worth bringing it to their attention. I 've already informed my landlord of the problems.

give_them_FA

Yes, you have got it. The driver would be liable to pay what he should have paid to park, but failed to pay. NOT some arbitrary fine!

I think it is worth bringing the activities of the parking cowboys to the attention of your landlord or management agent. You could mention that as it is a standard principal/agent situation, you are going to hold them liable for any impropriety on the part of their agent the parking company.

Often the landlords don't realise just what toe-rags these companies are unless someone tells them.

ega05th

Think I just received my first phone call from the 'debt collectors'. Any advice on what to say when they call? My plan of action was just to say it's the wrong number and I have no idea who they are talking about.