Is it me or are people wising up?

edward123

Have been on this forum only for a little while. But lately I seem to be seeing a greater incidence of 'newbies' coming here with their questions etc. Does anyone feel the same? Is the word spreading that these ammoral(or is it immoral) private parking companies 'parking charge notices' are scam fake tickets which should be ignored??

Coupon-mad

Yes, I think so.

For the first few years on here we got a lot less queries each day and people who did ask, didn't know the score at all.

Now, I think the difference is actually the POF Act! I reckon they read the fake PCNs, see the 'POF Act bit' and Google it...and hey presto they find forum posts abound about the scam!

Half_way

It could be a result of Google, and ( as in my case) letters from PPCs warning of anecdotal evidence online ( or something like that)

Fergie76

One thing I find frustrating about the newbie threads is that despite them having said they have read lot's of other PPC threads, they still seem to think their situation is different / special from everyone eles.

taffy056

Or maybe it's the sheer cost of it, £100 discounted to £60 for most scammers now, think people are becoming more careful with their cash and investigating

hoohoo

Fergie76 wrote: »

One thing I find frustrating about the newbie threads is that despite them having said they have read lot's of other PPC threads, they still seem to think their situation is different / special from everyone eles.

View it as a success story rather than frustrating. For every one that posts there must be 10 that read the forum and have enough confidence to go it alone, so each time you answer smile smugly with the knowledge that £1k is diverted from the PPCs pockets.

trets77

Not all people are confident enough to go it alone and need a little reassurance.

For the price of few words you cost the PPC at least a £100.

Fergie76

hoohoo wrote: »

View it as a success story rather than frustrating. For every one that posts there must be 10 that read the forum and have enough confidence to go it alone, so each time you answer smile smugly with the knowledge that £1k is diverted from the PPCs pockets.

It's not the fact that they have posted, more the better. It's just the fact that they seem to think their situation is special / different despite claiming to have read lots of different posts.

edward123

Half_way wrote: »

It could be a result of Google, and ( as in my case) letters from PPCs warning of anecdotal evidence online ( or something like that)

That second suggestion would mean that the PPC's themselves, when their potential victims visit their web site, are really pointing to somewhere online when a victim of their scam would, from our perspective, finding such "anecdotal" evidence(here) then become wise to their scam! Well done those PPC's!

edward123

Coupon-mad wrote: »

Yes, I think so.

For the first few years on here we got a lot less queries each day and people who did ask, didn't know the score at all.

Now, I think the difference is actually the POF Act! I reckon they read the fake PCNs, see the 'POF Act bit' and Google it...and hey presto they find forum posts abound about the scam!

I'm spreading the word in my locale. Aldi and a PH have one area for parking but each have their own half. PE for Aldi and Norfolk Parking Enforcement for the PH. The signage is there for both but its becoming chaotic because its only recently the PH(changed hands) has chosen not to allow Aldi customers to use their parking facilities. The number of tickets shoppers got the first two weeks! So when passing, which I do every day, I pop in, park in the PH parking(but do so when it is virtually empty so I do NOT lose the potential PH customers)and pop one of peppipo flyers in the plastic ticket holder from NPE! I have done this to 40 cars so far. And no, I'm not sad, I retired very early(50), got lots of time on my hands and for the 5 minutes it takes me to do this it seems 5 minutes well spent. After all, some of you spend lots of time and effort here so thats my way of repaying you for helping me.
However, I often park in the PH parking area, again, not being inconsiderate to its owner, to visit my bank over the road whose very small car park is always busy full and downright dangerous. But can I get the NPE goon to give me a ticket! Nope. But then I'm only in the bank 2 - 3 minutes and my size might be a bit off putting at 6ft 4 and big with it(no not fat!)
Anyway, for all those veteran educators on here...thanks.

esmerobbo

I think the adverse TV programs have helped too! Also austerity must be having an effect, given the way most people are struggling getting a whopping invoice of these maggots may be making more and more look into whether they need paying or not!

Whatever it is its good to see! :T