PPC- sheeple revolution

bt42

Apologies for the dramatic title. I work for an extremely large public sector institution. Our outpost of this Nationally Huge Scheme has a few issues with parking, prioritising visitors over staff, charging staff large amounts merely for the privilege of turning up to work and attempting to foist 'green' issues on us despite the practicalities of staff who may rotate across a geographical region every 6-12 months.

So what? staff parking here is usually full by 0730. Staff who miss the magic window by five minutes are therefore often left with no choice but to park in patient/ visitor spaces or acceptable (but non-marked) spaces. This means a shitload of unenforceable invoices for the chosen parasite (in this case APCOA)

This also means a shitload of unfair 'tickets' issued to staff. I've had a couple which I'm taking the belligerent response and appealing to try and get POPLA to squeeze some money off the parasites. Unfortunately many of my colleagues don't take this view, and I'm sure APCOA are absolutely raking it in.

For some of my colleagues, they initially ignore but then get the usual Graham White/ Roxburghe letter then say 'sod this, I'm too busy for all this nonsense, I'll just pay up'. For some others who are very ill-informed on these matters they dutifully pay up before moaning that 'all the cars next to them didn't get tickets and I have, but they don't recognise my appeal grounds based on that'

My evangelism has to some extent fallen on deaf ears. I've tried pointing to these fora but I see the same person a week later as they've not been able to find these links and asked the union who have advised them to pay up, as somebody they know who ignored it got a letter from a 'Graham White solicitors who asked for £500'

Any advice on how to spread the message? I'm running out of ideas

taffy056

Can you tell if people are getting Roxburghe/Graham White letters from tickets in the last few weeks? Its not likely as its to quick, but they are banned from the dvla database link, per my signature below.

As for advice, maybe show them these watchdog videos, perhaps they would believe the BBC?
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3164256

bt42

It's a long term problem which pre-dates the POFA. YouTube (and hence the watchdog link) is banned by our trust Internet policy, as are these fora- so I can't log them on at work. There's also no mobile signal inside our work buildings so I can't even use my smartphone

NotanIdiot

Looks like you need to print a few windscreen information leafllets then

and post a few on the notice boards.

bt42

Have APCOA lost their DVLA access rights? Smashing if they have, but I suppose they already have our details from the permit application forms

taffy056

Well there's a degree of self help with this, if they can't be bothered to look at the Internet or the advice of people who know this scam for what it is, then there is little hope them, just tell them to google apcoa and they will get hits for here , Pepipoo and CAG , we all say to ignore these scammers.

bt42

I'm considering notices but there are literally thousands of people working here over 3 sites, and I could potentially get a massive bollocking from people who really do have power over me if I am too vocal about it

taffy056

bt42 wrote: »

Have APCOA lost their DVLA access rights? Smashing if they have, but I suppose they already have our details from the permit application forms

No but there is something ongoing with the dvla and a user on here right now

Coupon-mad

bt42 wrote: »

Have APCOA lost their DVLA access rights? Smashing if they have, but I suppose they already have our details from the permit application forms

Not yet...but they have been reported to the DVLA for breaches.

I would go with the staff noticeboard and windscreen flyers on a couple of days in a row if you can, get people talking about it. Flyers here:

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showtopic=73598

And what about an anonymous or open complaint to the Union, explaining all about the scam and that they absolutely should NOT be advising their members to pay these invoices!

bt42

I think the basic problem is that the majority of our staff are nice and law abiding, CRB checked etc, and the prospect of 'breaking laws' is abhorrent to them.

Even if, they are not breaking any laws! The biggest problem I have to breach is that they assume that these invoices have a legal basis and many as too naïve to believe that a large company, working in partnership with a large public sector institute could merely be spineless scammers

atilla

bt42 wrote: »

I'm considering notices but there are literally thousands of people working here over 3 sites, and I could potentially get a massive bollocking from people who really do have power over me if I am too vocal about it

Just do what you can. If people won't listen and try help themselves, well.
Screen stickers where you can. Slowly but surely word will get round.