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Change the name of the sticky thread?

da_rule
Posts: 3,618 Forumite

This is just an idea, so don't shoot me down too quickly.
What do people think of changing the name of the sticky newbies thread? It is an amazing piece of work, which Coupon and other members of this forum have worked hard on, yet it seems to get ignored by a lot of new members. I think that as the virus that is PPC's spreads there are going to be increased numbers of people using this forum who have never used a forum before (let alone this one), who will not know the correct etiquette (reading stickies, searching for similar threads etc). As a newbie, given the current title; OLD OR NEW?, I think I would be inclined to believe that this forum was about deciding if my PCN was old or new (and yes I'm ready for the comments about my intelligence), most newbies wouldn't understand why this makes a difference.
Most of the new threads in here have one question; "I've had a PCN, what do I do?"
I think changing the name to something like "NEWBIES!! PRIVATE PARKING TICKET? DO NOT IGNORE" might pull people into the thread as it answers their question. I'm aware that there are situations where ignoring is still the correct course of action (outside England/Wales, most cases where a notice to driver has been issued and if the PCN was issued before POFA etc), but these exceptions are set out clearly in the thread.
Also, as POFA is nearly 2 years old, most PCN's that are now being discussed have been issued since POFA came into force. As such the question on whether the PCN is Old or New is also becoming less relevant.
Just an idea for comment/discussion really.
What do people think of changing the name of the sticky newbies thread? It is an amazing piece of work, which Coupon and other members of this forum have worked hard on, yet it seems to get ignored by a lot of new members. I think that as the virus that is PPC's spreads there are going to be increased numbers of people using this forum who have never used a forum before (let alone this one), who will not know the correct etiquette (reading stickies, searching for similar threads etc). As a newbie, given the current title; OLD OR NEW?, I think I would be inclined to believe that this forum was about deciding if my PCN was old or new (and yes I'm ready for the comments about my intelligence), most newbies wouldn't understand why this makes a difference.
Most of the new threads in here have one question; "I've had a PCN, what do I do?"
I think changing the name to something like "NEWBIES!! PRIVATE PARKING TICKET? DO NOT IGNORE" might pull people into the thread as it answers their question. I'm aware that there are situations where ignoring is still the correct course of action (outside England/Wales, most cases where a notice to driver has been issued and if the PCN was issued before POFA etc), but these exceptions are set out clearly in the thread.
Also, as POFA is nearly 2 years old, most PCN's that are now being discussed have been issued since POFA came into force. As such the question on whether the PCN is Old or New is also becoming less relevant.
Just an idea for comment/discussion really.
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Comments
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Personally i think we should get some dogs body to delete all topics pre october 2012Proud to be a member of the Anti Enforcement Hobbyist Gang.:D:T0
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kirkbyinfurnesslad wrote: »Personally i think we should get some dogs body to delete all topics pre october 2012
Very much agree with both this and previous suggestions.
I would avoid jargon, and simply have a title like:
***READ THIS FIRST: WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE A PARKING TICKET***
Perhaps we could get MSE to turn it into an article now Coupon has got the information pretty much refined into a stable, reliable process, or get them to do a headline article that links to that thread.
IT is really important for people here to realise that there are many many people who don't use forums on a day to day basis, and don't understand how they work. Also, annoying though it is, people really struggle to see that these parking charges are a scam, it all looks so official, so it is quite understandable that it takes them time to realise that they are not special, so please everyone, don't bite the newbies.
I would suggest that regulars write up a standard reply in notepad or similar and cut and paste that. It should consist of a sympathetic acknowledgement, an optimistic statement of how this really isn't going to be paid with a small amount of effort and once the poster has read the sticky thread (which name is in itself confusing jargon so put a link in) there are lots of people keen to help.0 -
Oui, d'accord with all posted so far.
Someone here wrote to MSN news - yesterday?, was it you kifl? - about them highlighting incorrect IGNORE advice within their top10 motoring tips, or somesuch.CAP[UK]for FREE EXPERT DEBT &BUDGET HELP:
01274 760721, freephone0800 328 0006'People don't want much. They want: "Someone to love, somewhere to live, somewhere to work and something to hope for."
Norman Kirk, NZLP- Prime Minister, 1972
***JE SUIS CHARLIE***
'It is difficult to free fools from the chains they revere' François-Marie AROUET
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You missed a key word :
***READ THIS FIRST: WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE A PRIVATE PARKING TICKET***"The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis." - Dante Alighieri0 -
As someone who has recently used this part of the forum, I would say maybe try and make it a little more simple.
Many like me, come here with their heads all over the place. I read the sticky many times but it just didn't make sense. There is a lot of legal words used and the template letter (which is excellent) uses lots of phrases that the average person doesn't understand.
I think this may be why people then just post what do I do, because they are stumped.
Perhaps renaming the sticky *START HERE* and explaining the letter in plainer English will help.
Just a suggestion :cool:0 -
Start here, actually sounds like a very good idea
or Start here before postingProud to be a member of the Anti Enforcement Hobbyist Gang.:D:T0 -
outofmoney wrote: »As someone who has recently used this part of the forum, I would say maybe try and make it a little more simple.
Many like me, come here with their heads all over the place. I read the sticky many times but it just didn't make sense. There is a lot of legal words used and the template letter (which is excellent) uses lots of phrases that the average person doesn't understand.
I think this may be why people then just post what do I do, because they are stumped.
Perhaps renaming the sticky *START HERE* and explaining the letter in plainer English will help.
Just a suggestion :cool:
It's a fair point ( sorry C-M ! ). Maybe a suggestion at the beginning to use a notepad and pen to take down key points around your own circumstances ?"The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis." - Dante Alighieri0 -
I go along with the suggestion.
Whether the recent flurry of cases of people who have picked up on old advice is as directly attributable to them actively selecting old threads as opposed to following old links from other sites I don't know. However, given the crap that is currently on MSN's 10-best-money-saving ideas (or whatever its actually called) I'm beginning to suspect the latter may be the explanation.My very sincere apologies for those hoping to request off-board assistance but I am now so inundated with requests that in order to do justice to those "already in the system" I am no longer accepting PM's and am unlikely to do so for the foreseeable future (August 2016).
For those seeking more detailed advice and guidance regarding small claims cases arising from private parking issues I recommend that you visit the Private Parking forum on PePiPoo.com0 -
I go along with the suggestion.
Whether the recent flurry of cases of people who have picked up on old advice is as directly attributable to them actively selecting old threads as opposed to following old links from other sites I don't know. However, given the crap that is currently on MSN's 10-best-money-saving ideas (or whatever its actually called) I'm beginning to suspect the latter may be the explanation.
I am sure its possible for all old topics pre oct 2012 to be deleted....Proud to be a member of the Anti Enforcement Hobbyist Gang.:D:T0 -
Deletion won't happen, its to much of a process to happen in vBulletin, and will mess up a lot of things. What should happen is that a thread should be closed once bumped, with a polite note on the last post to go to the forum sub page with a link to there.
As for the sticky threads, they should be highlighted so they stand out more, generally what happens is people don't see them until pointed out to people, its a simple job to do that, takes all of 2 minutes for the site admins to do.When posting a parking issue on MSE do not reveal any information that may enable PPCs to identify you. They DO monitor the forum.
We don't need the following to help you.
Name, Address, PCN Number, Exact Date Of Incident, Date On Invoice, Reg Number, Vehicle Picture, The Time You Entered & Left Car Park, Or The Amount of Time You Overstayed.
:beer: Anti Enforcement Hobbyist Member :beer:0
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