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Fine received whilst parking in a visitors space

Hi.
Last week I received a parking charge notice issued by link parking LTD.
I was parked in a visitor space.
According to the notice, it was issued because of "no displayed permit".
There are signs up in the area (which I have never noticed before) which state that "Vehicles parked in this area must clearly display a valid link parking authorised permit in the windscreen"

Should I:
1) Pay
2) Challenge
3) Ignore

?
«1

Comments

  • Coupon-mad
    Coupon-mad Posts: 149,402 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 4 January 2013 at 5:52PM
    Can't see Link Parking on the AOS list, can you?:

    http://www.britishparking.co.uk/AOS-Members

    So that means 100% ignore as they cannot send letters, cannot get your DVLA data. Unless you are usually the type who sends email scammers your details on a plate to spam forever more! :rotfl:

    What I am saying is, this will be the last you'll hear of it. Fake PCN with no follow-up!





    P.S. Not sure why '1) Pay' was even an option you were considering - never pay any fake PCN from any private parking company, issued for whatever reason, AOS members included. They are not real fines and should be treated with the same contempt as phishing emails. And despite your heading this is NOT A FINE!
    PRIVATE 'PCN'? DON'T PAY BUT DON'T IGNORE IT (except N.Ireland).
    CLICK at the top or bottom of any page where it says:
    Home»Motoring»Parking Tickets Fines & Parking - read the NEWBIES THREAD
  • trisontana
    trisontana Posts: 9,472 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    There is an interesting thread over on CAG about "Link Parking". It seems as though there is some confusion about their true identity. The supposed owner of a "new" company even logged on and spouted some nonsense, but was never heard of again when some home-truths were pointed out to him regarding their website:-

    http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?375094-Link-Parking-Management
    What part of "A whop bop-a-lu a whop bam boo" don't you understand?
  • Half_way
    Half_way Posts: 7,427 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    link parking are a Joke, just look at their website https://www.linkparking.co.uk another unch of scammers dont even think about paying. penalty.charges my !!!!.
    From the Plain Language Commission:

    "The BPA has surely become one of the most socially dangerous organisations in the UK"
  • rdwarr
    rdwarr Posts: 6,159 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker Photogenic
    Yes, the site does use the term PENALTY CHARGE NOTICE quite prominantly.
    Can I help?
  • Half_way
    Half_way Posts: 7,427 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    bunch of scamming scum preying on innocent members of the public, ignore them,.or take action against those who allowed them to opperate on their land.
    From the Plain Language Commission:

    "The BPA has surely become one of the most socially dangerous organisations in the UK"
  • prowla
    prowla Posts: 13,868 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    jamesrees wrote: »
    Fine received whilst parking in a visitors space
    It's not a fine - it's an invitation to pay.
  • Half_way
    Half_way Posts: 7,427 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Fine received whilst parking in a visitors space
    Hi.
    Last week I received a parking charge notice issued by link parking LTD.
    I was parked in a visitor space.
    According to the notice, it was issued because of "no displayed permit".
    There are signs up in the area (which I have never noticed before) which state that "Vehicles parked in this area must clearly display a valid link parking authorised permit in the windscreen"

    Should I:
    1) Pay
    2) Challenge
    3) Ignore

    ?

    Now im at a real compter you shioud ignore it, and then complain like hell to who ever/whatever thought it would be a good idea to allow this pathetic company to opperate on their land, it will be interesting if you get a letter in the post - ie if theyve accessed the DVLA database, regardless of which you should ignore it, and then raise bloody hell with the land owner/car park owner.

    lets take a closer look at that website....

    First link at the bottom of the list is download a contract, after having a quick read through it, at first glance the person who drew it up was/is either stupid, ignorant or both, here goes:

    http://www.linkparking.co.uk/Link%20Parking%20Ltd%20Contract.pdf
    Link Parking Ltd
    Unit 47 William Sparrow Works, Bower Hinton, Martock, Somerset. TA12 6LG.
    Tel: 08712215919 – Email: info@linkparking.co.uk
    PARTIES
    (The company)
    THE CLIENT Name ………..……………………………………………………………………………………..
    Address ……………………..………………..…………………….………………………………..
    ……………………………………………………………………………………………….
    Postcode …………….……..………………………………………………………………………….
    Phone ……………………..………………………………………………………………………..
    _____________________________________________________________________________________________________
    SCHEDULE 1 (the area) ………………..……………………………………………………………………………..
    ……………………..………………………………………………………………………..
    Post Code ……………………………………………………………………………………………….
    SCHEDULE 2 (fees)
    MAINTENANCE FEE ……………………………………………………………………………………………….
    NUMBER OF SIGNS ……………………………………………………………………………………………….
    TOTAL FEES PAID ……………………………………………………………………………………………….
    SCHEDULE 3 (Authorisation)
    START DATE ……………………………………………………………………………………………….
    Signed for & on behalf of the Client Print Name....................................... Signature.......................................
    Signed for & on behalf of the Company Print Name....................................... Signature.......................................
    I hereby agree to abide by the Terms and Conditions Overleaf
    _____________________________________________________________________________________________________
    TERMS AND CONDITIONS
    2
    1. Recitals
    1.1 THE COMPANY operates a service to control unauthorised
    or illegal parking in areas required by the client.
    1.2 THE CLIENT has agreed to give the Company the sole and
    exclusive rights to control unauthorised or illegal parking in
    the areas set out in this agreement subject to the terms and
    conditions herein after appearing.
    1.3 THE COMPANY holds the right to sub contract or sell this
    agreement to a third party at any time.
    1.4 THE CLIENT will still be liable for the terms of this contract
    from the start date under any circumstances that the contract
    holder sees fit.
    2. COMPANY OBLIGATIONS.
    2.1 To control the occurrence of unauthorised or illegally parked
    vehicles in the Area set out in Schedule 1.
    2.2 Method of control. Unauthorised or illegally parked vehicles
    not displaying a valid parking permit will be issued with a
    Fixed Penalty Notice by an employee or agent of the
    company.
    2.3 THE COMPANY reserves the right to issue a PCN to illegally
    parked vehicles at their sole discretion.
    2.4 TO OBSERVE THE LAW. The Company will operate in
    accordance with the laws applicable.
    2.5 Warnings. The company will provide and affix warning
    notices at the entrance to any private parking area comprised
    and encompassed in “THE AREA”, which will state in
    unambiguous terms the consequences of parking without
    authority. The company will also provide signs or stickers
    warning the driver of any offending vehicle that their vehicle
    has been issued a PCN and the forms of payment accepted.
    Where parking id restricted to certain areas and conditions,
    warning notices will be affixed to state that the area is
    restricted and conditions apply.
    2.6 Complaints. All complaints or claims arising out of any
    vehicle being issued a PCN will be dealt with by the Company
    and the name of the Client will be deemed confidential and
    not passed to the complainant.
    2.7 Indemnity. The Company shall indemnify you the client
    against claims for damage to vehicles only. The Company
    accepts responsibility for damage to vehicles that they have
    caused while carrying out operations.
    2.8 INSURANCE. The Company carries public and employee
    liability insurance.
    2.9 ADMINISTRATION AND COLLECTION OF MONIES. The
    Company will administer control of unauthorised parking in
    the area and will collect all the monies, fines and charges for
    unauthorised and illegally parking from the owners or agents
    of offending vehicles.
    3. OBLIGATIONS OF THE CLIENT.
    3.1 Sole rights. From the commencement date of this contract
    until terminated as provided in Clause 5 the company shall
    have the sole and exclusive right to issue PCN’s to
    unauthorised or illegally parked vehicles in the area.
    3.2
    All advisory signs are the property of the Company. No signs
    may be removed from unless such a removal is by the
    Company or its agent. The client has no authority to remove or
    instruct removal of any sign that is applied correctly and in
    accordance with the terms and conditions contained herein.
    However, the Company may remove a sign at its own
    discretion
    3.4 PARKING PERMITS
    The client must display a valid parking permit at all times. If a
    permit is not visible in the front windscreen, the vehicle will be
    issued a PCN and full fees must be paid.
    4 FINES & CHARGES
    4.1 The client will be required to pay an annual maintenance fee
    plus VAT in accordance with the fee currently set out in
    schedule 2, for the supply, erection, maintenance and
    replacement of each sign that is affixed to the area set out in
    schedule 1 of this agreement.
    4.2 The Client will not collect any monies from the owners,
    agents or otherwise of any vehicles issued with a PCN.
    4.3 The company will collect a fine from the owners, agents or
    otherwise of offending vehicles and such fine will not exceed
    £75.00 or such fines as displayed on notice boards.
    4.4 The company exercises the rights to issue a PCN on a
    vehicle. Charges to the offender will then be increased to a
    sum as identified on the current display signs within the area
    if not paid within the specified time frame.
    4.5 ANY INCREASE in fines contained in this agreement will be
    at the Companies discretion.
    4.6 If the Client has not paid any contract fee, and the contract is
    withdrawn by no fault or malpractice by the Company, the
    Client will pay the full fees for the period of the contract term
    as set in schedule 2 overleaf.
    5. TERMINATION OF THE CONTRACT
    5.1 By the client. This agreement shall remain in force for the
    minimum period of 12 months from the date from the date
    hereof and shall continue thereafter for the same period if the
    client had not given the company 30 days’ notice of
    cancellation, within the first 30 days of the expiry date of this
    agreement, by recorded delivery post.
    5.2 By the Company. The company reserves the right to
    terminate this agreement by giving 60 days’ notice in writing
    to the Client.
    6. HEADINGS. The headings in this agreement are for
    reference only and must not be deemed to be any
    indication of the meanings of the clause to which they
    relate.
    7. NOTICE IN WRITING. Any notice to be served on
    either party by the other shall be sent by pre-paid
    recorded delivery or registered post and shall be
    deemed to have been received by the addressee
    within seventy two hours of posting. The contract will
    carry on under the same terms and conditions for the
    same period and fees.

    http://www.linkparking.co.uk/Link%20Parking%20Ltd%20Contract.pdf

    Im sure someone can poke a few holes in the above, actualy its so full of holes im not sure than any more can be found?

    Appeals process - all offenders can appeal against....

    im sorry, but this whole opperation is offensive.

    if it wasnt real it would be some sort of spoof.
    From the Plain Language Commission:

    "The BPA has surely become one of the most socially dangerous organisations in the UK"
  • peter_the_piper
    peter_the_piper Posts: 30,269 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    "Contact us, if your in a hurry use our inquiry form and we will get back to you at you convenience"

    Very professional.
    I'd rather be an Optimist and be proved wrong than a Pessimist and be proved right.
  • trisontana
    trisontana Posts: 9,472 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    It's worth repeating this from a CAG site team member from the above CAG thread:-

    I'm pleased to see you acknowledge that clamping is illegal. However, I note that your website prominently features an illustration of a Fixed Penalty Notice, something which can only be issued by statutory authorities - not private parking companies. It's misleading at best, and might amount to a breach of CPUTR.

    Also, I note that your website is not compliant with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

    I'm sure people will take your big-timing threats much more seriously if a) your own setup was compliant and b) you gave an impression that you knew what you were talking about.
    What part of "A whop bop-a-lu a whop bam boo" don't you understand?
  • ManxRed
    ManxRed Posts: 3,530 Forumite
    edited 4 January 2013 at 8:31PM
    I'd be sacked on the spot if I signed a contract like that!

    unauthorised or illegal parking - limits them to Trespass only for unauthorised, and 'illegal' is of course invalid as they do not have the statutory power to enforce under traffic legislation.

    Penalties, Fines, etc..

    They can assign the contract to anyone they like at any time with no comeback from the other party - astonishing!

    They will hold the data relating to the victim from the other party, but as the contract only covers Trespass then they cannot bring a legal claim as agent of the landowner under the Legal Services Act, so they are stuffed.

    In section 3.4 all fees for a PCN MUST be paid, but by who? If the driver refuses then there is a possibility that the landowner must pay the PPC. There's no way anyone should sign up to that!

    One clause states that PCN fines cannot exceed £75 and a couple of clauses later states that the PPC can put the fines up to whatever they like, whenever they like! (at the 'companies' (sic) discretion!!)

    In 4.6 there's a penalty for early termination! Assume they have fixed costs with which to back that up? Otherwise the contract is no different than their PCNs!!

    The PPC can terminate for convenience at any time by serving 60 days notice. The landowner can only terminate at 12 monthly intervals by serving notice in month 13, otherwise it automatically rolls over for another 12 months.

    There's no indemnity provision, which leaves the other party open to being sued by anyone in relation to the actions of the PPC, without any comeback on the PPC (i.e. they could wash their hands and walk away).

    Seriously, you'd need to be clinically insane to sign this contract!
    Je Suis Cecil.
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