Why is PCN mis-ticketing not treated like PPI mis-selling?

Pizzageezer

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]I'm truly grateful to the regulars in this Forum. I followed the guidelines, sent my appeal, and barely a week later received the cancellation letter! Thank you so much for helping me keep both my cash and my self-respect. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]I'd like to chuck in a couple of thoughts/questions though:- [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]1. Costs vs. Principles:[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]On the face of it, I saved £100 and only spent £1.72 on the recorded delivery letter. But if I counted the time I spent worrying, researching, and wordsmithing my work-of-art appeal letter, this definitely cost me more than the Fifty Quid if I'd simply paid up straight away and swallowed the hurt. Well, never mind because it also cost the PPC something to ticket me and the key thing is, I won, they backed-off and they got Zip from me. And I'd do the same again, every time.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]2. Customer Relations:[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]I simply don't comprehend the mindset of the companies that use these PPC's to operate their carparks. The burger chain in whose carpark I overstayed - for just a few minutes - has not only lost a regular customer. It has also gained a disgruntled, vocal critic, who does not believe in "forgive and forget".[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]3. What about all the other victims?[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]It's obvious there is no valid legal basis for these PCN's. Yet, for every successful appeal there must be tens, maybe hundreds, of PCN's that are simply paid off straight away without a challenge. You might take the view that if the victim is too meek/ rich/ stupid/ lazy or whatever to put up a fight, more fool them. But that doesn't make it right.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]It seems to me, the situation bears comparison with the scandal of PPI mis-selling by the banks and insurance companies. So look - should there not, surely, be some sort of retrospective legislation to force these operators, and/or the companies that use them, to pay back every last mis-ticketed penny?[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Me, I'm no campaigner. I'm pretty good with words but by inclination I'm one of the meek, and lazy too. But if someone could be persuaded to set up a petition, I tell you, I'd be first in the queue to sign it. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]regards[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]'geezer[/FONT]

Coupon-mad

Totally agree - it's why we are here every day!

Stroma

Yes its why a lot of us on here dedicate our time to this, there will come a point where the money they make will not be enough to run their scam, the tipping point may not be all that far off.

Its estimated that about 60%-70% of these tickets are not paid, so even when faced with court, faced with all the threats, more and more are not paying! And the message is getting out there, that's why companies like parking eye are trying their hand at court, they are so concerned that they are risking everything.

The other scammers are basically crapping themselves because of the actions of a few companies, they are just happy to get paid what they get, they don't want the business open to courts of appeal, or the high court or anything like that, because if it goes there and they lose, the whole house of cards will topple!

The_Deep

Like all consumer scams, it mainly succeeds because of the stupidity of the customers, there are many more such rip offs.

Brighthouse prices and interest rates are one, supermarkets selling multiple packs for more than a single pack another, through rail fares, (often split ticketing saves you a wad), High Street travel agents selling overpriced insurance, PC World warranties, all overpriced, and all optional.

With PPC invoices, there is a slight danger that if you elect to ignore them you could end up in court, but most times you can cause them severe inconvenience and money for their greed, and in my view, and I am sure many money savers will agree, it is worth the time and effort to poke them in the eye.

Coupon-mad

The_Deep wrote: »

Like all consumer scams, it mainly succeeds because of the stupidity of the customers, there are many more such rip offs.

Sadly that is true - and because they have a niche market that makes people think they have a 'parking ticket' with all the risks that entails (bailiffs etc).