MPs debate Hospital Car Parking Charges, Monday 1 September c.5.00pm

bazster

Half_way wrote: »

Q: When is a fine not a fine?
A: When its a PPC charge dressed up as a fine
A vast majority of people will be unable to understand that.
Calling them Fines/Penalties although incorrect is much more emotive that referring to them as speculative invoices, calling them unlawful penalties and/or illegitimate ( or illegal) fines is closer to the truth, and its also better understood

I have no problem with the meeja using the "f" word, it's punchy, emotive and gets the point across. I have a big problem, however, with our lawmakers failing to grasp the legal basis of theses charges. If they don't understand the fundamentals what chance of them truly getting to grips with the problem?

I have no problem with anyone using the "p" word, because penalties are exactly what these charges are. What I have a big problem with is our lawmakers calling them penalties whilst apparently ignorant of the elementary legal principle that contractual penalties are unenforceable.

So it's not the use of the words per se that is irritating, it's the ignorance it betrays.

UKParliament

To all those who watched the debate yesterday or didn't get a chance, we can now link to the Hansard record of the debate on hospital car parking charges:

House of Commons Hansard: 1 September 2014

The debate is also still available to view on Parliament TV Player

Many thanks
DOT

Coupon-mad

Thanks - I missed it as I was busy at work this week so I have bumped this thread so others like me can catch up over the weekend. Thanks for posting about it here on the busiest private parking forum in the UK, it gets a lot of views here.