UKPC parking charge - disabled space violation

Coupon-mad

DP that was a bit harsh as a reply to someone offering to help with your BB application!

Disabled_Rights_For_Me wrote: »

This is the law and I was part of campaigning for it to be so.

It's not the law on private land though, not the case at all (despite the signage) that 'only Blue Badge holders' can use the provision of a 'disabled bay'. Basically, the law (Equality Act 2010) says disabled people can use such provisions as they need, by virtue of their debilitating condition (nothing about Blue badges). So the Deep can lawfully and legitimately park in a disabled bay on private land - he'd get a fake PCN but he knows how to handle them and the PPC is in the wrong for making assumptions about cars with no Blue Badge.

However this OP of the thread, had no reason why his DD should have parked there but it is best NOT to line the pockets of a third party scum PPC firm. Instead we say: appeal, win, and send a donation to a deserving disabled charity.

I am tired of people thinking they can use them to just "pop into a shop" or "pop to the cashpoint".

I agree (but in reality it doesn't happen often, it really DOESN'T, despite the lies spread by the PPCs and DMUK with their fatally flawed 'Baywatch scheme'!).

But motorists should not be paying money to a PPC, which is simply there to scam shoppers and make money for themselves, a greedy parasite firm. It would be great if such people had to donate a decent amount of money to charity - that would make them think twice next time. But it is NOT a solution, to line the pockets of a rich fat cat firm of chancers who have stationery that looks a bit like a parking ticket.

The_Deep

DP that was a bit harsh as a reply to someone offering to help with your BB application!

Perhaps CM, but anyone offering to help and at the same time misquoting the law has to be treated with a modicum of suspicion.

Anyway, I am not just appealing against the refusal, I am alleging in a formal complaint to the MD that the system is flawed. That, in Reading at least, due process is not being followed, that DfT guidelines are not only being ignored, they are being flouted, it is based on a points based system which lacks transparency and which, as far as I am aware, does not have DfT approval.

As a result, RBC are discriminating not only against me, but any others whom have been similarly assessed as undeserving. Even if the refusal is reversed, the complaint will still go forward. Until either the MD has agreed to a review of the system, or the Local Government Ombudsman rules against me, I shall continue to fight.

Yesterday I could not park within 400 yards of where I wanted to be, despite over a dozen empty BB spaces within 100 yards. I therefore parked at one of my flats half a mile away and took the bus. I am not prepared to park in a reserved space without a BB because, although I am happy to fight City Hall, there is little one can do about BB militant vandalism.

I would say that having DRFM in my corner would be more of a hindrance than a help, anyone who comes out with the tosh he/she spouts cannot be the full shilling.

Disabled_Rights_For_Me

Whilst I am being accused of misquoting the law, I have not actually quoted any law so cannot misquote it.


The "law" I was referring to was the requirement of supermarkets and such to have available a set amount of disabled bays.


No, I don't think that hospital beds should be kept clear incase I need to use them, but disabled bays are different.


I often pop into local supermarkets as I like their coffees. I use their coffee shops and most often I sit where I can see my car. I have seen very frequently people who have no badge, nor a visible disability using these bays. I have complained as well to the supermarket about the misuse of these bays and they really don't seem to care.


What is DD?


I have been classed as militant before but I am not, and I would not dream of vandalising anyones car even if they were abusing a disabled bay.

As for being suspicious? I don't get this. I withdraw my offer of help too, should new members not offer help? I am sorry if that broke any rules or caused any offence.

The_Deep

I withdraw my offer of help too, should new members not offer help? I am sorry if that broke any rules or caused any offence.

I apologize, perhaps that you were unaware that I spent most of my career helping others get out of scrapes. I was British Consul in the USA, Burma, and Tanzania.

zaax

conopid wrote: »

Hello,
I've read the newbies thread and I am waiting for a vehicle keeper's notice to arrive, before taking further action. Meanwhile can I check the scenario described below is worth appealing - once things reach that stage.

My daughter could not find a space in a car park on a retail park (20 December the place was heaving with Christmas shoppers). Unwisely, she chose to use a disabled space as many of those were empty and she was making a quick purchase from Boots. She parked, ran into Boots, bought an item, all within "5 minutes" and returned to a UKPC windscreen "parking charge".

I know that inappropriate use of disabled spaces is much frowned upon (including by me), but in the circumstances, does anyone think there would be any point in starting by complaining to Boots about this hastily issued and stupidly priced (£100) invoice.

I wonder how UKPC knew you weren't disabled. No sticker on the window screen does not mean you're not disabled.
Insisting that disabled people putu a disabled sticker on their cars so they can user a disabled places is discrimination against disabled people.
Anyway everyone is 10% disabled one way or another

Disabled_Rights_For_Me

Why would your job matter and have any relevance to my offering to help? It really makes no difference and how on earth would I know your previous job?


My neighbour is a pensioner, and is getting on and not well. She has over 40 years in nursing and knows exactly what she is doing but I do not assume that just because she knows what she is doing and has many certificates and qualifications, that she will never need help.


I offer it to anyone who I think I could be of use to should I be in a position to.

The_Deep

Why would your job matter and have any relevance to my offering to help? It really makes no difference and how on earth would I know your previous job?

With respect, my profile page gives you a clue.

conopid

Hello everyone,
Just wanted to say that I completely agree that using disabled bays is wrong and really not acceptable. I'm very happy indeed to make a £20 contribution to a charity working to help people of all abilities to get about and be able to do every day tasks. One thing for sure though, I am not going to let my daughter give good money to a bunch of robbers like UKPC, whom I am sure would pocket every penny they receive (which they won't from us) and not pass anything on to a worthwhile cause.

Thanks for everyone's interest in this issue.

The_Deep

Just wanted to say that I completely agree that using disabled bays is wrong

But it is not always so. If you are disabled under the Equality Act 2010, who have an absolute right to park in a disabled bay in a private car park, whether you have a Blue Badge or not.

As soon as you inform the PPC of your disability they must cancel the invoice. Failure so to do amounts to disability discrimination under the aforementioned Act.

However, for some reason, PoPLA do not see it this way, and may disallow an appeal based solely on these reasons. I plan in the near future, once I have cleared more pressing tasks, to put this to the test.

conopid

Should have said that I completely agree that if you are not disabled, then using disabled bays is completely wrong. My daughter is not disabled and really should have kept driving around until she found an appropriate parking space (she says she could not find one, but that is still no excuse I suppose).

The main issue here is UKPC attempting to extort money by way of a pretend "fine" - yes I know it's a charge, but they want everyone to think it's a fine.

Keep up the good work everyone.