Highview suspension by DVLA

bazster

Thought this was worth its own thread rather than being tacked onto a zombie thread as someone else has done:

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/incoming/parking-firm-suspended-dvla-over-9660026

The report seems contradictory as to whether it's a total suspension or just for this one site.

Either way, one wonders what DVLA now thinks of the pointless BPA which, as usual, has done nothing to control its wayward member.

Doubtless Highview will be spurred into immediate action.

HO87

What sanction points are applicable for enforcing on the public highway? And will the invertebrate BPA act on the complaint?

I would be tempted to go with the DVLA's comment (for once) which seems fairly unequivocal:

The letter said it was suspending Highview’s access to the DVLA driver database ‘due to the serious nature of the complaint’.

I am not convinced that the hospital have got it right although they may well have got the wrong end of the stick for some reason

bazster

It seems the suspension is just for this site. Apparently 4,229 notices have been issued in three months, with nearly a thousand being subsequently cancelled.

Depending on the charge level and the proportion paid it seems that Highview may have been expecting to rake in about £300,000 p.a. from this site (not to mention nearby roads!).

ManxRed

Assuming Highview use the electronic link, can the DVLA actually filter the access by site?

I thought it was 'access' or 'no access' or am I wrong?

bazster

According to the article the DVLA has asked Highview to stop making requests for this site. The DVLA's idea of a "suspension"....

ManxRed

Ah, so they want them to police it themselves?

That makes more sense. [/sarcasm].

It never fails to surprise me how seriously the DVLA take their responsibility as data controllers of RK data that they farm the job of regulating the users accessing the data to the BPA, and now they actually want someone found red-handed applying for data where they shouldn't to police it themselves on 'trust'.

You genuinely couldn't make that up.

HO87

Ah so will we have a repeat of the things from 4 years ago? Observices Parking Consultancy were convicted of 26 offences in Wolverhampton and when - eventually - the DVLA caught up with what had happened they banned them temporarily. OPC simply saved up all of the checks they would have done during the period and, when the ban was lifted, they put all of those checks through.

Coincidentally - or not - Crapita were then running DVLA.

bazster

Evidently the scheme is based on ‘national industry standards’. Well I guess that's true: it's indiscriminate, exploitative, unfair and against government policy. That seems to tick all the boxes.

The biggest problem, it seems, is people making errors entering their registration. Presumably the Trust failed to ask any of its many medically-qualified employees whether sick, elderly and/or distressed people were error-prone.

What's more, we are told: "Parking time commences from when you enter the site, not from when you actually park your car, and finishes as you drive off the site." Really? Try asking a County Court judge about that!

They've taken their time over introducing this system. They said so. However, they didn't say why. Clearly they were not engaged in doing their research or due diligence.

But it's OK because "the appeals process is fair and takes in to account extenuating personal circumstances and any genuine human error.” ROTFLMAO! What was I saying about research and due diligence? These people aren't fit to run a whelk stall, let alone a hospital.

Oh, and the Trust spokesweasel liberally sprinkles his comments with the use of the "F" and "P" words.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/incoming/halton-hospital-defends-parking-charge-9623308
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/incoming/hospital-parking-fines-sick-tax-9572270

bazster

From Facebook, as reported by Pranky:

Do you reside in Halton and you have all three letters off Highview?
The PCN itself, the reminder and the third letter wanting £115 which threatens your credit rating if they need to refer to their solicitor. Deana at Halton Trading Standards / Consumer Protection wants to see these 3 letters. Please message if you have them.

A prosecution based on the letters could have spectacular results, given that all PPC's routinely send the same sort of letters.

Marktheshark

What I think. Here we go !

Now capita are neck deep in parking, we will see the "competition" clamped (pun) down on as Capita look to dominate this area of ripping off the public.

They have the contacts, they have the friends in high places.
Wait and see who jumps in their grave when they get the boot from the site for not furnishing the cut of the money.

bazster

Bullsh|t statement from the trust:

http://www.whh.nhs.uk/news_item.asp?fldID=375

This is a beauty:

Cars not paying for their time on the car parks are subject to receiving a fixed penalty notice from Highview Parking who manage the parking system.

As for this, I'll bet it forms no part of Highview's intentions:

We have also worked with the parking company to ensure that basic errors, such as entering a single incorrect digit from a number plate, are automatically picked up and are not issued with a fine, or that these are picked up and dismissed on appeal. We do not wish to issue a parking charge notice to any visitor or patient who has genuinely tried to pay for their parking.

The most striking thing about the statement though is what it doesn't say. Is says absolutely nothing about cameras being located on the public highway, nor anything about refunding thousands of fake fines paid by misled motorists even though there's not a shred of evidence that a single one of those vehicles was ever on the trust's property.