Stop private parking companies charging disproportionate penalties in car parks

ultimatefighter

Private parking companies get to set the amount they charge as a penalty if you overstay in a car park, park outside the markings of a bay or otherwise contravene the T&C's of the car park. The charges need to be capped to stop unscrupulous operators. No regulator exists to oversee the sector.

SIGN THE PETITION HERE!

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/111925

These are the companies that charge £90
Via invoice for staying in lidl or McDonald's for 1 minute too long

gilbert_and_sullivan

I have no problem with the owners of land exercising some control over their property.

There's a reason some of us don't fall foul of parking enforcement whomever is doing it, its because we understand their gaff their rules.
If there wasn't a sanction it would be a free for all with people paying balancing up whether the lower penalty being charged (if caught) might be cost effective as longer term parking.
The only way some people will act reasonably is if you hit them in the pocket, and as clamping has now been abolished for private parking companies, i see now other way for them to police their land effectively.
Read the sign with its warnings and make your choice, nothing could be simpler.

I won't be signing this petition.

MEM62

Why restrict their charges? Why not put them out of business altogether?

They have no right to levy these charges and, if properly challenged, they do not stand up and are unenforceable. So why not suggest that everyone challenges the charges. Once their income dries up these companies will soon disappear altogether.

I accept the point that Gilbert and Sullivan makes but the problem is the business model that these companies use. All their revenue comes from the tickets they issue and to say that the use sharp practice is an understatement. The tickets are intended to mislead by closely following the format used by local authorities. Private companies are cannot issue fines - this is the preserve of the police and local authorities.

Johno100

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

I have no problem with the owners of land exercising some control over their property.

There's a reason some of us don't fall foul of parking enforcement whomever is doing it, its because we understand their gaff their rules.
If there wasn't a sanction it would be a free for all with people paying balancing up whether the lower penalty being charged (if caught) might be cost effective as longer term parking.
The only way some people will act reasonably is if you hit them in the pocket, and as clamping has now been abolished for private parking companies, i see now other way for them to police their land effectively.
Read the sign with its warnings and make your choice, nothing could be simpler.

I won't be signing this petition.

Yes it would be anarchy and carmagedon, just look at Scotland where without keeper liability these tickets are un-enforcable.......oh wait.

onomatopoeia99

MEM62 wrote: »

They have no right to levy these charges and, if properly challenged, they do not stand up and are unenforceable.

Are you aware of recent changes to the law on penalty following the conclusions of the Beavis and Cavendish cases in the Supreme court?

Johno100

onomatopoeia99 wrote: »

Are you aware of recent changes to the law on penalty following the conclusions of the Beavis and Cavendish cases in the Supreme court?

There are plenty of other ways to 'skin a cat'.

dannyrst

If you enter private property and don't abide by the rules, you should be punished. Simple. If you don't like the size of the fine, you could happily not use the car park.

Nasqueron

dannyrst wrote: »

If you enter private property and don't abide by the rules, you should be punished. Simple. If you don't like the size of the fine, you could happily not use the car park.

Depends if those rules are legal and displayed as the law requires

dannyrst

Nasqueron wrote: »

Depends if those rules are legal and displayed as the law requires

But this is where our country gets stupid and the people who want everything for nothing come out of the woodwork.

I don't for one second pretend to know the law about signage, but surely if you put up a simple, clear sign that said "If you stay longer than X hours, you will be charged £X" would be clear enough. Anyone who then read said sign would make a choice to agree or disagree. Those who disagree can park somewhere else. Those that agree park and if they break the rule, they pay.

But no, we have those people that find a loophole and exploit the system as much as possible for their own gain. If a company did that to them? They'd moan and moan until the cows come home.

bod1467

You've fallen into the trap of assuming Private Parking Companies (PPCs) are reasonable and ethical.

http://parking-prankster.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/lord-neuberger-all-that-he-needed-was.html

That's a response to the Beavis supreme court result, but covers only a small part of the tricks used by PPCs.

dannyrst

bod1467 wrote: »

You've fallen into the trap of assuming Private Parking Companies (PPCs) are reasonable and ethical.

http://parking-prankster.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/lord-neuberger-all-that-he-needed-was.html

That's a response to the Beavis supreme court result, but covers only a small part of the tricks used by PPCs.

I'm not for one minute defending their actions.

I'm talking about the people who are in the wrong and then use legal loopholes to avoid paying the price.