General query about private carparks

Beenie

I know that if you've overstayed in a council owned carpark, or parked on yellow lines etc., that is a proper offence and will get a legit penalty ticket that needs to be paid. What I am unclear about is parking on private land.

There are umpteen threads about PCNs issued by private companies on private land and how they're unenforceable, but if the carpark is built and paid for by a commercial trading company (Aldi/Tesco whoever), then is that a bit different? They say that you have 2hrs and that by entering the carpark you are agreeing to this condition (so it's a sort of contract).

I'm asking this as reading this website has confused me a lot. Earlier the advice was to ignore, but now it is the opposite, so something must have changed. It's a bit worrying when some posters say they got court papers (or are they 'fake' also?).

I'm sorry if this is rambling but I've read and read and am still no wiser. It would be helpful if someone could post a simple (if possible) checklist with a list of what to do/what not to do, and the earlier stickies with out of date info could either be locked or clearly labelled 'Out of Date.'

Guys_Dad

The answer to your question is all over this forum.

Basically, since last October, the law changed giving PPCs the right to pursue the keeper of a vehicle if said keeper is unwilling to provide the driver's name. Before, a simple "I was not the driver and don't know who was" was sufficient.

Yes, a PPC can pursue you for a parking charge and can get court papers to get a judgement against you.

What stops them? Well, we try.

Stroma

On the above, in England and Wales only

pogofish

Beenie wrote: »

I'm asking this as reading this website has confused me a lot. Earlier the advice was to ignore, but now it is the opposite, so something must have changed. It's a bit worrying when some posters say they got court papers (or are they 'fake' also?).
'

There is no confusion here - Everything follows a straight linear progression as matters have evolved.

Beenie

With respect, if it was so easy and clearly defined, there would not be so many queries. I can't be the only one who has spent a few hours reading this site. It's really interesting and I shall continue to read, but I suppose all I was asking for is a 10-step style guide or flowchart.

Stroma

Every situation is different, you can't have a flow chart with what to do as there are to many variables, the only thing that's the same in each case is dont pay unlawful penalty charges by scamming parking companies, unless there is a court order to tell you.

The only way we can deal with your parking incident is to know about it, and by us asking questions and you giving enough detail so we can advise you accordingly

Guys_Dad

Beenie wrote: »

I suppose all I was asking for is a 10-step style guide or flowchart.

If you get one, please post it up here as we would like to see it.

pogofish

Beenie wrote: »

With respect, if it was so easy and clearly defined, there would not be so many queries. I can't be the only one who has spent a few hours reading this site. It's really interesting and I shall continue to read, but I suppose all I was asking for is a 10-step style guide or flowchart.

It most certainly was pre-POFA. The vast majority of threads then demonstrate an unwillingness on the part of many posters to believe they were in the same boat as everyone else, or a pressing need to be some kind of "special case".

Post POFA does throw-up a few more variables certainly but the amount of "I'm so confused" threads does make me suspicious as it is still a fairly straightforward process - Swamping forums is a tactic I've seen all too often before and it does seem to me that many posters of that ilk are trying too too hard to find it difficult.

Coupon-mad

Beenie wrote: »

With respect, if it was so easy and clearly defined, there would not be so many queries. I can't be the only one who has spent a few hours reading this site. It's really interesting and I shall continue to read, but I suppose all I was asking for is a 10-step style guide or flowchart.

We have tried and so have pepipoo forums. Too complicated. It was discussed again only the other day:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4714845

Does this CAB Advice help?