British Parking Association (BPA)

4sibbs

The members list on the BPA website has a column headed 'debt recovery' most companies have NO next to their names, although a few say YES. I have emailed BPA to ask what it means but they seem reluctant to give me a straight answer.

I suspect NO means these companies don't actually have a legal right to chase debts through a debt agency, can anyone tell me if I'm right?

Stroma

No it means they debt collectors, some parking companies have their own in house house ones, others use people like roxburghe to help them in the scam. Which ever ones they are though they should be universally ignored!

Guys_Dad

BPA - a fine regulatory body set up by the Parking industry to set the highest standard for all parking companies.

To intervene on behalf of the public and punish those PPCs who have strayed from the path of righteousness.

To do so in a completely unbiased and impartial way.

Yes, they may be financed 100% by the PPCs, but, come on, who amongst you would believe that would in any way influence their judgements?

Are we, in the UK, not lucky to have such a philanthropic independent industry regulator?

So, MSE members, rest secure in your beds that the highest standards of fairness and legality prevail and are guarded by the BPA.

atilla

4sibbs wrote: »

The members list on the BPA website has a column headed 'debt recovery' most companies have NO next to their names, although a few say YES. I have emailed BPA to ask what it means but they seem reluctant to give me a straight answer.

I suspect NO means these companies don't actually have a legal right to chase debts through a debt agency, can anyone tell me if I'm right?

You'll be lucky if they give you ANY answer.

4sibbs

Thank you Stroma for clearing that up can't see any reason in that case why they avoided answering my question!

Their response simply confirmed the company in question was a member of the BPA but they had no power to get operators to cancel or withdraw tickets, but I had not asked them to get involved anyway!

I'm going to follow the advise on here and ignore the threatening letters from the private parking company, IF it goes to court I have a good case, I live in an apartment and was parked in my own numbered bay!!! The management company who service the blocks took it upon themselves to introduce permits, mine had fallen on the floor. Management companies and private parking companies are all the same they are just out to rip as many people off as they can.

peter_the_piper

Guys_Dad wrote: »

BPA - a fine regulatory body set up by the Parking industry to set the highest standard for all parking companies.

To intervene on behalf of the public and punish those PPCs who have strayed from the path of righteousness.

To do so in a completely unbiased and impartial way.

Yes, they may be financed 100% by the PPCs and Councils, but, come on, who amongst you would believe that would in any way influence their judgements?

Are we, in the UK, not lucky to have such a philanthropic independent industry regulator?

So, MSE members, rest secure in your beds that the highest standards of fairness and legality prevail and are guarded by the BPA.

Don't forget councils share some of the blame

4sibbs

Seems I might have been right after all!! I emailed BPA to ask if the NO in the debt recovery column on their approved members page www.britishparking.co.uk/AOS-Members meant the company were not authorised to collect debts, got this reply from them (I've blanked out the full name of the company I am in dispute with so as not to cause any legal problems for this forum)

I can confirm that xxxxxx xxxxxxx Enforcement xxxxxx Ltd are entitled to recover a debt which is owed. The information table you are referring to on our website is a guide only.

Kind regards,

AOS Investigations


This reply is a joke, why put the table on the website in the first place if it is meaningless!! BPA are definately not there to help the public I must agree with BASFORDLAD on this one

Stroma

The problem with the reply is of course a debt is not owed until it becomes one, the only way that comes true is if they take you to court, win the case and then you have 28 days to pay the debt.

The reality of the situation is that 845 claims were made in 2011 by the whole industry, out of 1.8m fake tickets issued. But just 49 went before a judge and 25 were won for the motorists, and the judges decided that just 24 cases were deemed a debt out of those 1.8m .

Yes the bpa are living in cloud cuckoo land like their scammy mates in the parking scamming industry.

pennyhatson

Today I received a parking charge from one or BPA members P4 parking who have 'no' in the debt recovery. I got it at 06.15 i know for a fact there was not sign up 2 days ago to state parking restrictions but have no proof. Should I just ignore the charge and pleed ignorance or send letter stating I will not pay and why and see if they take me to court. Does anyone else have any experience of this company, are they likely to contact DVLA to get my details ?

Any suggestions anyone??

atilla

Just ignore.

esmerobbo

Any company can recover debts on their own if its a PPC or Joe Smith Ltd, what they cant do is chase debts they don't own. For that purpose you need a CCL. However it is for a court to decide if a debt is owed or not.

I would assume that the entry in the debt collection column would verify that the said company holds such a licence.

However the question is why are they BPA AOS members at all unless they issue parking charges in their own right. Membership gives them access to the RK details through the DVLA but the company they are trying to recover any charges for must be BPA AOS members!

We all know a few have tried to collect for companies you are not AOS members, however we normally bring it to the attention of the DVLA if they do.;)

There is also of course others who have set up supposed debt recovery companies such as "Court Proceedings Ltd" who don't hold a CCL so must be acting illegally or are UKCPS!