Parking Fine for parking in my own space!!

Fleurlur

I live in a rented flat where each apartment is given it's own car parking space and you are required to hold a parking permit. I have a permit, I have always had one since I moved here and it has never left my car. I went to go to work the other day and I had received a "parking charge" from UKPC because I wasn't displaying a valid permit. What had happened is that when I had shut my car door the night before it had blown my permit off the dashboard and onto the floor, it could still be seen if you looked closely though. I have appealed by using the form on the website explaining this and emailing a picture of my permit to them. But after reading a few posts on here it seems UKPC are a dodgy company? Has anybody got any advice for me please?

Fleurlur

Anyone? Any advice please?

The_Slithy_Tove

Ignore them. I bet the lease on the flat grants unfettered use of that specific parking space, with no mention of permits etc. It's much the same as someone attempting to penalise you for parking in your own driveway.

UKPC have no authority to charge you for this, it's all a complete scam. The management company is complicit in this scam. They also do not have the authority to impose conditions on the leaseholders (and thus leaseholders' tenants) for using their own parking spaces.

You need to get sight of the lease to check this (ask your landlord, or a neighbour who owns their flat).

If UKPC reject your appeal, you can cost them money by taking it to POPLA. Whatever the outcome, DO NOT PAY. You are right, they are con-merchants of the first order.

Fleurlur

Thanks for your advice!

Guys_Dad

In addition, you need to read the signs around your parking area. What do they say about displaying a permit? Does it specify where?

Then, if you want to do an appeal, you need to look here http://www.britishparking.co.uk/write/Documents/AOS/BPA_CodeofPractice_2013_v1.pdf

This is the BPA guidelines to PPCs. Start with Appendix B on page 28. Are their signs compliant? Then read through the rest at your leisure.

If you choose to appeal, and go down the POPLA route, excuses and mitigation doesn't count. You need to catch them out on process.

For example, look at paras 19.5 - 19.7. Do they comply there?

There's lots of pitfalls for the PPCs if they are careless. Obviously not having a valid contract is the big one, and it's what the contract says that counts. But they are a careless bunch who are in the early days of POPLA and are not the sharpest tools or adhere to detail.

Fleurlur

The signs say you must display a valid parking permit, but I don't think it says where, I'll have a look tomorrow.

I'll have a look at those guidelines, thankyou.

spacey2012

Do you have the lease for the flat and what does it say about the space.
If you dont, you have a much more serious problem than the fake parking ticket.

Stroma

spacey2012 wrote: »

If you dont, you have a much more serious problem than the fake parking ticket.

Why's that ?

Fleurlur

A lease as in my tenant lease? Of course I do!

Fleurlur

"If the parking charge that the driver is being asked to pay
is for a breach of contract or act of trespass, this charge
must be based on the genuine pre-estimate of loss that
you suffer. We would not expect this amount to be more
than £100. If the charge is more than this, operators must
be able to justify the amount in advance."

I don't pay any money for my parking permit, and only I can park there because I'm the only one with the permit so surely they haven't lost any money in this instance?

The_Slithy_Tove

Guys_Dad wrote: »

In addition, you need to read the signs around your parking area. What do they say about displaying a permit? Does it specify where?

...

There's lots of pitfalls for the PPCs if they are careless. Obviously not having a valid contract is the big one, and it's what the contract says that counts. But they are a careless bunch who are in the early days of POPLA and are not the sharpest tools or adhere to detail.

The signs are irrelevant. No third party is in a position to be sble to offer sny kind of contract for parking in youf own space.