VP parking solutions suspended from accessing dvla

paul_cook

i posted some messages yesterday about a company called VP parking being suspended from dvla after i sent a couple of emails to the bpa and dvla,i see that i had a couple of replies on another site and also a message asking me to post here and on pepipo which i will am now doing.
in essence this company sent a letter to my parents in 70s saying they were able to issue a fine to the keeper for another family member who was driving a car so i did research and complained to dvla and the bpa and they are now suspended from getting details as it is wrong they can not fine the keeper but only fine the driver.
he original email i sent was not to steve hopkins but to mike bulter,hugh evans,david dunford and elizabeth symons all at dvla who never repled but i think the email was forwarded to steve hopkins who responded but he copied everyone in, here is my original message and the repy.

From: Steve Hopkins
Date: 17 September 2012 08:32:42 GMT+01:00
To: xxxxxxxxxx , Mike Butler
Cc: Hugh Evans , David Dunford , Elizabeth M Symons
Subject: RE: Sign stating keeper is liable @urgent@

Dear xxxxxxxxxx,

Thank you for your note. Unfortunately our system settings mean that we cannot open any links to flickr so I am not able to view the sign.

Is there any other way you could attach / forward the photo of the sign?

I would be most grateful if you could send it in a different format, so we can consider and action accordingly.

Many thanks,

Steve

Steve Hopkins
Data Sharing Team
Operational Support & Development Directorate | C1/East | DVLA | Swansea | SA6 7JL

GTN 1213 Ext. 8810
(01792) 78 8810


From: xxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: 15 September 2012 14:55
To: Mike Butler
Cc: Hugh Evans; David Dunford; Elizabeth M Symons
Subject: Sign stating keeper is liable @urgent@



All,

Please see below an example of a sign and letter in operation by VP Parking, this company has access to data from DVLA and as you can see its signs clearly state that "the registered keeper will be charged for trespass or breach of contract" and that the they are "authorised to charge the registered keeper"

had to remove link

This goes against your email sent to the BpA in June 2012 that stated any company who states the keeper is liable will be suspended from accessing DVLA data for a minimum of 3months and could be longer as they may have to make new signage.

I would also add that even after October 2012 this sign is still incorrect as the keeper is never the person who can be charged as this is still ever the driver and all that schedule 4 does is make the keeper liable if they refuse to name the driver it does not make them liable for the charge at the outset

I expect confirmation that this company has been suspended from accessing DVLA data by return as your own emails state they will be immediately suspended and also the length of the suspension



Thank you in advance



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Please visit had to remove link for government information on all aspects of motoring, ranging from log books and driving licences to driving tests and vehicle tax.
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i then had a couple of other messages asking for the exact location of the signs and then yesterday afternoon had the following reply.

From: Steve Hopkins
Date: 18 September 2012 18:07:59 GMT+01:00
To: xxxxxxxxxx
Cc: Mike Butler
Subject: RE: Sign stating keeper is liable @urgent@

xxxxxx,
I can confirm that VP Parking Solutions have been suspended from obtaining vehicle data from DVLA for three months, and until DVLA has received assurances to its satisfaction that the signage has been corrected. The suspension was put in place on 17th September.

Please note that the Data Sharing Team is not able to reply to every notification received from the public. Please be assured that we will consider each notification and take the appropriate action. If you require information about specific cases in future, we will need to consider whether they fall under the Freedom of Information Act.

Kind regards,

Steve

Steve Hopkins
Data Sharing Team
Operational Support & Development Directorate | C1/East | DVLA | Swansea | SA6 7JL

GTN 1213 Ext. 8810
(01792) 78 8810

i was also asked a question by nev met and the email i have posted is all of it telling me of the suspension.
i was also asked another question about asking for a refund from this company and i know my parents were stupid for paying but they were worried and we might not get a refund but it is still worth asking.

peter_the_piper

Thanks for the info, you can do photo links on here by removing the http bit, our browsers will sort it out. By the way, your parents were not stupid for paying, the signs and paperwork are designed to fool people into doing this.

taffy056

So that is two suspended

Bet rendhaw-smith is spitting feathers, wonder of excel uses the same signs, will check later in one of their car parks.

Thanks by the way OP what great news

SodG24

What with the PPCs own stupidity AND October the 1st looming I have a very positive feeling the tide is turning in our favour !

I'm off to check if G24 have been foolish enough to change their signs to hold the RK liable.

ManxRed

Well done paul.

BASFORDLAD

Result!
another one bites the dust for a while

Blueblade

hmm.. if a sign says; "Failure to comply will result in the motorist/owner being liable" does this count as a breach?

Would 'owner' refer to the registered keeper..?

ManxRed

Very possibly. Its 'driver' only as far as I can tell. Any implication that someone other than the driver is responsible sounds well iffy.

AlexisV

I understand this thread has been confirmed by Kevin Watts at the DVLA and the parking company has been given a 3 month ban, as have all other recent data access suspensions.

andy13

Great result. I sent a picture of signs in my local carpark to the DVLA. I hope it contributed to their decision.


VP by iluvgsds, on Flickr

Paperbird

Would it be worth people on here getting tickets from all the PPC's in the last few days before the 1st to see how many claim to be able to charge the RK so that the DVLA suspend them too.