Is it me or are people wising up?

bargepole

There are, I believe, a number of factors affecting this:

The influence of sites like this one, PePiPoo and CAG cannot be underestimated, especially as postings are now disseminated to a wider audience on Facebook, Twitter, etc., and the number of people who are unaware that there is something dodgy about private tickets is diminishing daily.

Furthermore, if you look at almost any car manufacturer owners' forums, such as Toyota, VW, MG-Rover, etc., there will be postings saying don't pay private tickets. Even the brain-dead illiterate X-factor wannabes on Digital Spy are up to speed on it.

The PPCs themselves, with their warnings about "misguided information on internet blogs" are shooting themselves in the foot by encouraging people to Google for information, and then getting overwhelming advice to ignore all private tickets.

The media - particularly the BBC - now seem to have got their heads round the fact that these are not "fines" and will put the boot into the "industry" every time they cover this subject. And our old friend Honest John in the Torygraph tells it (almost) like it is.

Finally, there is the lack of opportunity for PPCs to crow about court wins. Members of the public may not be aware of VCS v HMRC, but since that ruling it is difficult to recall any case where a PPC has taken a driver to court and won - if they had, they'd be shouting from the rooftops about it, especially in Bilston.

SailorSam

As the door to one scam closes another will open. These people who try and charge for fake parking are exactly the same as the ones who phone or email you with bogus claims. They get away with it but as more and more people realise it's all a hoax to get money out of you they'll move on to another idea they've thought of.

surfboy1

bargepole wrote: »

There are, I believe, a number of factors affecting this:

The influence of sites like this one, PePiPoo and CAG cannot be underestimated, especially as postings are now disseminated to a wider audience on Facebook, Twitter, etc., and the number of people who are unaware that there is something dodgy about private tickets is diminishing daily.

Furthermore, if you look at almost any car manufacturer owners' forums, such as Toyota, VW, MG-Rover, etc., there will be postings saying don't pay private tickets. Even the brain-dead illiterate X-factor wannabes on Digital Spy are up to speed on it.

The PPCs themselves, with their warnings about "misguided information on internet blogs" are shooting themselves in the foot by encouraging people to Google for information, and then getting overwhelming advice to ignore all private tickets.

The media - particularly the BBC - now seem to have got their heads round the fact that these are not "fines" and will put the boot into the "industry" every time they cover this subject. And our old friend Honest John in the Torygraph tells it (almost) like it is.

Finally, there is the lack of opportunity for PPCs to crow about court wins. Members of the public may not be aware of VCS v HMRC, but since that ruling it is difficult to recall any case where a PPC has taken a driver to court and won - if they had, they'd be shouting from the rooftops about it, especially in Bilston.

Combined Parking Solutions seem to crow about recent court victories, post oct 1st, on their website.
They recon they have 100% succsess in court over drivers. mmmmmm.
I think someone is telling porkies! (CPS I mean!)

hoohoo

surfboy1 wrote: »

Combined Parking Solutions seem to crow about recent court victories, post oct 1st, on their website.
They recon they have 100% succsess in court over drivers. mmmmmm.
I think someone is telling porkies! (CPS I mean!)

According to the BPA code of practice, the minimum time to wait before starting court process is 42 days. This assumes the driver is foolish enough to email in an appeal on day 1, admitting they are the driver and giving their address.

The PPC then has to wait 14 days for payment at the discount rate, 14 days for payment at the full rate, and can then send a reminder letter. They can then send a final reminder letter 14 days later, and after that, start the court process.

If the event happened on 1 Oct, this takes them to Nov 12th.

Since CPS posted on Nov 18th (a Sunday) then we are being asked to believe that the entire Court process was over within a week. (Laughs Out Loud!)

Presumably they issued proceedings on the Monday, defendant replied with the full defence on a Tuesday, court date was agreed on Wednesday, everyone took Thursday off to drink beer and prepare the case, and the court sat on the Friday.

Riiiiight.

27col

The main thing is that the newbies should come on here before they pay the PPC. So keep on spreading the word folks.