City Permits Ltd

FairyVimto

Has anyone come across these people before??

I parked in what I believed was a council run car park last night (it has been council run for the 15 years I have lived here), and as I have a permit which I pay for (council run discount/free parking scheme ) I didn't even try to find the pay and display machine.

There was no obvious signage anywhere to say the management had changed, and the lighting in the area was so bad, coupled with the rain I couldn't see much anyway.

When I returned to my car I was faced with a cheap looking PCN.
There was a guy hanging round who told me it was now private parking and I had just missed the guy issuing the fines.
(thinking back now though, he had a jacket on with a parking company name embroidered on the chest, but it didn't say City Permits, so he was probably the warden)
As it was still raining and I didn't want a discussion with a stranger I left - on exiting I saw the only noticeable sign, which was a 'Have you paid and displayed' board - not much point in that as you're driving out!

I have checked online today and there are still places that refer to it as a council run car park, but the council site no longer lists it (it also doesn't say anywhere when it changed)

I have also visited citypermits.co.uk and frankly am worried by the website - it doesn't look that 'real' or secure.

I don't want to pay £60 (£85 if I don't pay now) but I also don't want to get into trouble.

Is this a real company? any advice on what I should do?

Thanks

EnigmaPart1

Do nothing

You can safely ignore this shower they are not a member of any ATA

FairyVimto

EnigmaPart1 wrote: »

Do nothing

You can safely ignore this shower they are not a member of any ATA

Thanks for your reply - that was one of the things that concerned me and made me think they weren't real..
I was up till 2am trying to check up on them etc.

if I ignore them what will happen though?

I have a lot of other complications going on right now, and am quite scared that if I ignore them I will end up in more trouble.
I mean, I didn't 'pay and display' as I believed I was already displaying a valid permit... so can they chase me down and take me to court, ending with me paying considerably more than the £60 if I cleared it now?

bazster

Nothing will happen. How could it? DVLA will only sell vehicle keeper details to members of an Accredited Trade Association. This lot are not members of any ATA so that's that, they have no way of finding out who you are or where you live.

They are simply relying on people like you paying up out of ignorance or fear. Don't fall for it.

You might also check with the council whether it really isn't their car park anymore. It's not unheard of for cowboy ticketers to simply pitch up on a bit of land without any permission or invitation and start dishing out their fake tickets in the hope that a few mugs will pay. This would of course constitute fraud.

Coupon-mad

If I ignore them what will happen though?

I have a lot of other complications going on right now, and am quite scared that if I ignore them I will end up in more trouble.

How exactly?! They can't even get a name and address to bother you with debt collector letters! Not unless a victim is daft enough to 'appeal'!

Umkomaas

And despite any urge to make contact with them, please resist that and make no attempt to do so.

This will disappear from your life as quickly as it entered it. Trust us!

FairyVimto

Thanks for all the advice..

I am a little more settled about this now, but....
you guys say they can't get my information as they are not a member of an ATA - I have seen on other threads and sites that they could use a third party to gain this information, is this true?

as an update, I have been back to the car park today to look at the signage etc...
there is NO lighting on site, the only lighting is provided by a public street light by a bus stop and a high security style lamp that lights the side of a building of interest nearby.
there is no lighting around the pay and display machines, so the board is unreadable after dark
and the signage is very poor, with no major signage visible when you enter the car park from the left, and only a small blue P sign if you approach from the right
the only other sign is a 'have you paid and displayed' as you LEAVE the car park! which in the dark is only visible with headlights
no where does it say it has changed hands or warn motorists that it is no longer a council run pay and display car park
the only indication that CP is anything to do with it is on the machines which have their name at the top...which you can't see in the dark!

if... if, by some twist of fate these thieve can obtain my details and write to me in a few weeks time, can they demand that I pay the higher charge for not paying in 14 days?

sorry if I sound thick, but I have never had to deal with stuff like this and am very wary of cons and scam, and these guys seem to be the biggest ones I've come across so far!

Coupon-mad

you guys say they can't get my information as they are not a member of an ATA - I have seen on other threads and sites that they could use a third party to gain this information, is this true?

No it's not. Third party debt collectors like TNC, or firms like Ranger Services, can only get DVLA data for AOS members of an ATA. They do that for some of the smaller firms who don't have the systems in place to do the admin. They CAN'T get data for non-members, not allowed for any parking company (unless your name is Proserve but that's another story), not even by a paper application.

if, by some twist of fate these thieve can obtain my details and write to me in a few weeks time, can they demand that I pay the higher charge for not paying in 14 days?

They can't write to anyone unless people are stupid enough to appeal giving their details on a plate!

But if ever you get a private ticket from a firm that are AOS members (NOT this lot!) yes, that's exactly the sort of letter they would write. And then we beat them at POPLA appeal and no-one ever pays so who cares about letters? You won't even get one but who cares anyway? NEVER PAY A PRIVATE PARKING TICKET.

Relax, this is a scam best reported to Trading Standards, from the lack of signage it's obviously a trap and you can point out to TS that the firm is unregulated.

FairyVimto

Thank you so much!

First thing Monday I shall be ringing my local TS office to report the site and company.

I shall sit tight and stop worrying

Coupon-mad

Good - you are perfectly safe form this scam and can park there whenever you want. Clamping and towing is now illegal so there is no danger and they are chancers who deserve one in the eye from Trading Standards.