PPC's a growing business!

fisherjim

From the DVLA's figures published today following a FOI request, the scammers are certainly conning more and more people each year:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-many-firms-like-g24-have-access-to-dvla-data

Guys_Dad

fisherjim wrote: »

From the DVLA's figures published today following a FOI request, the scammers are certainly conning more and more people each year:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-many-firms-like-g24-have-access-to-dvla-data

The reply contains the following
Please note that while DVLA is permitted to charge a fee for the release of information under the reasonable cause provisions, it is not permitted to profit from it.
The fees are set to recover the related administrative costs and this means that it is the applicant and not the taxpayer who funds this activity.

Then why does the DVLA report that the actual cost is in excess of the £2.50 charged? A follow up FOI request perhaps?

Castle

Well it looks like ParkingEye will become the first company to exceed the magic 1 million requests in a year mark, sometime in March 2015.

Umkomaas

What the DVLA say:

"Landowners would have great difficulty in enforcing their rights if motorists were able to park with impunity on private property"

The definition of the word 'impunity':

Impunity - "exemption from punishment or loss or escape from fines."

From the horse's mouth, the guardians of our personal data. Says it all!

Umkomaas

Some 'notable' missing PPCs from the FOI reply:

BPA AOS:

ANPR Ltd
Armtrac
Athena
Ethical
Liberty
MET
Meteor
Napier
NCP
Norfolk Parking Enforcement
Premier
Smart Parking (no data requests since 2012/13??)
Luckins
Topher
Vinci

IPC AOS:

Combined Parking Solutions
Devere
PCN (NW)
SIP

These are the 'obvious' that jump out at me. A pretty unimpressive and far from comprehensive list from the DVLA. Do they have any idea to whom they are releasing data?

HO87

Apart from the fact that the DVLA may just have missed some off there are always those PPC's that make use of a third party bureaux service such as that provided by Ranger Services and others.

Smart Parking (T&CP as they then were) were taken over in 2012 and may well have placed their business with a bureaux. I see that ICES's (a purely back-office operation) DVLA costs increased from £94K to £429K in the same period so that may account for Smart's enquiries - and others perhaps?

A follow-up FOI could be directed at identifying the companies that offer the third party bureaux services, how many enquiries they have done and on behalf of who (as I understand it they may only release DVLA data to other ATA members who must be notified to DVLA).

SevenTowers

Looks like the DVLA outsourced parts of this response to BPA Limited to write:

"The release of information to private car parking companies is considered to be a reasonable cause. Landowners would have great difficulty in enforcing their rights if motorists were able to park with impunity on private property. If it is alleged that the terms of the contract are breached, it is considered reasonable that vehicle keeper details may be released in order to enable the landowner or his agent the opportunity to pursue their legal rights. If this were not the case, motorists would be able to park with disregard for the law or the rights of landowners, with no prospect of being held to account for their actions. This does not infringe the Data Protection Act and the Information Commissioner (ICO) is aware that personal data held on the vehicle register can be used in this way."

DVLA and BPA are certainly singing from the same hymn sheet.

HO87

SevenTowers wrote: »

DVLA and BPA are certainly singing from the same hymn sheet.

I "understand" that DVLA's data sharing team are being canvassed to see if any of them would like to move to a new satellite office in Haywards Heath...

...in other news Patrick Troy was today seen parking his Toyota Pius outside a private residence in Long View Road, Morriston. Pausing only to remove a DVLA Staff parking permit from the windscreen he let himself in the house carrying several Co-op ready meals for one and a bottle of Brains SA. Peeking out of a WH Smith carrier bag slung over his shoulder was a copy of Cymraeg i Dymis and a hardback version of History of Coppertown.

But he's only visiting. He claims.

Fergie76

PPC's should not be allowed to use companies such as Ranger Services etc. They should have to apply direct to DVLA, to ensure they are complying with the Law.

I cannot understand why PPC would use such a service as they will not be doing it for free, so will be charging more than the £2.50 that the DVLA charge.