Need Advice, Ethical Parking Management.

Niicckk

Hi Everyone,

I'll try to make this as short as possible but here's whats happened.

I live in a block of flats in Shoreham. I my parents own the flat, an when we moved in we were given 2 parking permits. I always park outside of a garage that my neighbour owns, we pay them weekly to rent it off them and have done for years.

Now, I went away in September and came back to find 3 contractual breaches attached to my windscreen. My permit had fallen down and was balancing on the side pocket of the divers door. Which was visible if you looked hard enough.

After speaking to my mum (that works in Brighton and has her permit to park on the road outside her business) she advised me to send a copy of the permit to the company and to let them know I own a permit and that although it had fallen, i am a resident and parked in my spot. So i did just that.

After not receiving a response after a month i called them, they informed me they sent the response which was a decline for each of them. they then sent copies to me (I cant find any proof they sent the originals when they said they did) the email contained pictures of my car (which i no longer own) pictures of the notice board & a letter that apart from all the pointless paragraphs and words said that it doesn't matter i didn't have a permit showing.

After a few hours of research I wrote another very angry letter to them, explaining that they cant calculate loss of earnings so high as no one could park in that spot but me, it makes no sense. I also wrote about how the whole point of them having the contract there is to stop shoppers parking there so us residents can, and how they are a scam that tries to make money, its not reasonable or fair, I would usually be at work when they attended, i thought the contract board was only for visitors etc. I also asked them to provide me with a calculation and justification of their charges,

They wrote back simply saying they cant do anything, and right at the bottom the letter a small sentence saying i could appeal to their regulators as shown on the breach notice things. (VERY HIDDEN NOT EASY TO DO!)

So i wrote to poplar a massive letter smashing every point with legal evidence only for them to say its been over 28 days. so today i wrote the letter i found on this site about asking for another number to appeal and about how if they don't send me anything their hiding the fact their wrong etc. So hopefully they will send me another reference number so i can appeal to POPLA and get the charges revoked.

I'm a bit unsure what to do now, after i send this letter should i get legal advice? This isn't fair at all, i live at the property and i got GIVEN a permit, how can they justify a £400 group of fines?! I refuse to pay this as i am in the right. I kind of want this to go to court so i can issue a counterclaim for stress time spent etc.

Any suggestions, comments, questions will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

*Added* Term one - Visible parking permit
Term two - Parked inside the pays. - The car park is the work kind of gravel possible. its all loose. Second theres no marked bays.

Coupon-mad

1. Why phone a parking company? They aren't a normal firm, these are ex-clampers and that's now a criminal offence - so the calibre of these people is shown from that fact. They still have their old 'let's hide all the towed/clamped cars' site on the A27 at Worthing (I am local and glare at it when I drive past!).

2. Why send a useless appeal thinking they would cancel? Wow.

3. Why didn't you just Google How to win at POPLA before the code expired?

4. Ignore them. You wasted you POPLA code, you won't get another one and Ethical will just send some letters. Big deal!

5. They are not 'Ethical' at all.

6. Which block of flats in Shoreham - I may go and get a PCN myself, deliberately. I visit Shoreham at this time of year, have a relative there, friends who live at Shoreham Beach and a favourite pub or two!

Niicckk

Hi There,

Thanks for your reply, I apologies i didn't respond sooner been too busy!

I have written my responses if the same format as your questions, please see below;

1. Why phone a parking company? They aren't a normal firm, these are ex-clampers and that's now a criminal offence - so the calibre of these people is shown from that fact. They still have their old 'let's hide all the towed/clamped cars' site on the A27 at Worthing (I am local and glare at it when I drive past!).
A: I couldn't agree more! They're a joke. To charge me for parking outside the garage we rent, outside out flat (10 seconds away) I more than despise them as i want to have my day in court. However this is my first time dealing with them, how was i to know the extent of their money making cons?

2. Why send a useless appeal thinking they would cancel? Wow.
A: Again i didn't know this, but really appreciate your tone. Not much to say here.

3. Why didn't you just Google How to win at POPLA before the code expired?
A: Again i didn't even know about the 28 days, I then wrote to them and called to see why i didn't receive a response and get a copy of what they sent. Only to realise after appealing to poplar that they didn't send me anything until after 28 days and how i had been conned. Sorry i don't Think like a conman? Sorry i believed they may have common sense to know im in the right and like many other companies and people simply dismiss the ridiculous fines. I had been given advise by someone to has had fines from the council and managed to send a copy of their permit to get it removed.

4. Ignore them. You wasted you POPLA code, you won't get another one and Ethical will just send some letters. Big deal!
I see what you mean here, they've sent letter saying they cant prove im the owner.. to my address at the parking site?? (this is how dumb they are..) and they threaten legal action blah blah blah etc. I hope they do!

5. They are not 'Ethical' at all.
A: I know, satire right!


6. Which block of flats in Shoreham - I may go and get a PCN myself, deliberately. I visit Shoreham at this time of year, have a relative there, friends who live at Shoreham Beach and a favourite pub or two!
A: I'll privet message you this now, Don't want it on here in case they look. I would if i owned the company wouldn't you? I've worked with some bad companies in the past and they all check things like this.

Thanks:D

bod1467

FYI - I think C-m turns off PMs at this time of year.

hoohoo

Might also be worth checking the POPLA code at parkingcowboys to see if you were actually given 28 days from the date on their letter
http://www.parkingcowboys.co.uk/popla-code-checker/

Also, their letter should tell you you only have 28 days to go to POPLA. If it doesn't then how are you supposed to know?

If there are any shenanigans, write to the BPA to tell them about the sharp practices and ask BPA's Gemma for a fresh POPLA code
aos@britishparking.co.uk

Coupon-mad

Did they only send you one POPLA code? Should have sent one POPLA code per charge, so if they didn't (and as you say, you never received the rejection letters until you reminded Ethical) I think it's worth you complaining to the BPA. Even if they did you can still complain about the rejection letters going astray which seems questionable if there was more than one letter!

Email addy for the BPA as per hoohoo's post above.

My friend and her family live round the corner from you and I normally drive past you 3 or 4 times a year! Nice place.