VCS parking ticket requiring log on at MyParkingCharge.co.uk

PrincipledPete

Hi

Requesting help please.

I've looked in the newbies thread - very useful info, thank you.

Context
On dd/July the driver was parked in a local train station in the Midlands area (free parking), running late for a train, no 'normal' spaces so parked in the furthest from station entrance space reserved for certain driver types. Right next to the spaces that had been reconverted to 'normal' spaces since the original total 'reserved' spaces were never utilised. The driver used this car park for years, always parking in a 'normal' space however on this occasion running late, no child friendly spaces left, and bearing in mind the driver has never seen all the 'reserved' spaces utilised the driver parked in a space reserved for certain driver types.

So, you guessed it, when the driver returned to the vehicle a couple of hours later a coloured piece of card - a "notice" - was under the windscreen wiper (I cannot seem to upload a picture at the moment - I will endeavour to work out how to do it without MSE stating the text is too long at 1.6million characters v a max of 25k). Upon reading the "notice" it invites the recipient to log on to "MyParkingCharge.co.uk"...

Front of notice:
! Attention !
Document enclosed [no document was enclosed!]
[handwritten] "xx-7-17 time"
Warning
Only the person in charge of this vehicle is authorised to remove this document.

Other side of notice:
MyParkingCharge.co.uk
Serial No: VCSxxxxxx
Date: xx-7-17
The Car Park operator has reason to believe this vehicle is parked in contravention of the advertised Terms & Conditions. As a result a Parking Charge Notice may be issued to the Registered Keeper through the post.
Log on using the Serial Number above and the Vehicle Registration Mark.
View the details at "myparkingcharge.co.uk..."


Investigation revealed that "MyParkingCharge.co.uk" informs us it is a service 'operated and provided by the "Central Processing Office" ' and both of these quoted names are a trading style of Excel Parking Services Group - not a member of IPC or BPA. However the signs in the car park relate to "Vehicle Control Services Ltd" which is a member of IPC since 29/9/14 with their website being vehiclecontrol.co.uk


I actually would be fine with paying a nominal fee for using the car park however being presented with a £100 penalty charge for parking in a space that is rarely used is just extortionate. And please believe me (perhaps difficult based on this evidence), I have never parked in a such a parking space prior to this.

Questions
1-Should I log on to find out about the details of the 'charge', or wait for the Notice to Keeper?
2-Any comment on whether I challenge or just pay up?

Thanks in advance of any help/comment.

Redx

edit the last post and remove any hint of who did what !!

never reveal who was driving on a public forum with a potential 7 billions viewers inclouding the sc@mmers at VCS or EXCEL etc

the correct terms are these

THE DRIVER

THE KEEPER

THE REGISTERED KEEPER

THE OWNER

THE HIRER (or LESSEE)

YOU CANNOT UPLOAD PICTURES HERE, IT IS NOT A HOSTING SITE

use a HOSTING SITE like TINYPIC for hosting pictures

never assume you can do something, always check

as its a train station, it is likely that bylaws apply and VCS cannot issue parking charge notices

do some research , wait for an NTK, then appeal it

this myparkingcharge sc@m has been opertaing for a few months now

and both EXCEL and VCS are IPC members, check their AOS page

ps:- thos "disabled" spaces are provided under the EA2010 for use by those who qualify under the EA2010 , BY LAW , so there is never an "excuse" to park in them , ever , not without a BB or qualifying as disabled under the EA2010

please dont do it again , this is why these parking companies get employed, because the TOC and the PPC have a LEGAL DUTY to keep those spaces clear and a judge or magistrate will always come down on you hard for parking in one

PrincipledPete

Thanks Redx.
How does it read now?

Redx

seems ok now

wait for the NTK from VCS and appeal it using the IPC template , adding a note that bylaws apply and so as keeper you are not liable under POFA2012

if the TOC "owns" the land then the TOC has 6 months to take the driver (or owner) to magistrates court under the rules for bylaws (this never happens to my knowledge)

VCS like to pretend that parking charge notices can be sent, like INDIGO and other sc@mmers who send out notices on non-relevant land

read about INDIGO and train stations to see why I am telling you this

see what the NTK says about "penalties" and who "owns" the land etc

VCS also try this sc@m at airports too

your problem was that the DRIVER easily fell into their baited trap and then has a possible 6 years of hassle, especially as the driver does not appear to qualify under the law , ie:- the equality act 2010 (which as it happens , I do)

the driver should learn from this and NEVER fall into these baited traps on private land ever again (hint)

PrincipledPete

thank you Redx.
Is it worth uploading the photo of the "ticket" and car park notice?

Coupon-mad

No because you will see them on other threads already.

Read any threads you find when you search the forum for 'MyParkingCharge.co.uk' where we have always clearly said over the months since this racket started, to wait for the NTK.

Any comment on whether I challenge or just pay up?

LOL!

PrincipledPete

Hi,


So, the first letter arrives: a NTK and PCN (same letter, 2 headings) was received 10 days after the alleged contravention.
Alleged contravention code 40. Pay up within 28 days of Issue Date of this Notice. Discounted if pay within 14 days. Failure to make payment within 28 days results in full charge plus additional costs through debt recovery and/or court action.
Creditor is VCS.
In the site name & location box is "Private Land, Centro [xxxx] station, [address and postcode]"


Question: do I ignore all except court papers & solicitor letters as per BMPA website or go through process of appealing as per this thread with standard template, and do a SAR to VCS?? I've already emailed a Vehicle Subject Request to the DVLA.


Next question is, the BMPA advises:
"The DVLA will hand out your personal details under their "reasonable cause" provisions but timings are very relevant. The Parking company must either send a parking charge by mail to the Keeper to arrive within 14 days. Or if it was a paper ticket on the car, they cannot ask for Keeper details earlier than the 29th day nor later than the 56th day. Often the Parking Contractor fails to do this.
So you should check the Parking company has held to these timings by getting the DVLA to tell you when the Parking company requested your details and when they were given them."
--> the 'card' attached to the car of the registered keeper (RK) only provided a reference for the RK to log on to for details of the PCN .... does this mean VCS should not have asked the DVLA for RK details prior to day 29? I suspect because the card attached to the windscreen contained the phrase "a PCN may be issued to the RK through the post" then the card is not the PCN and thus the former provision via mail within 14 days is relevant.


That's it for now: any more info needed please ask.


Thanks.

Redx

Nobody here can tell you why VCS use this convoluted method of trying to get around POFA2012 , SO NO POINT IN TRYING, they arent going to tell you or us their game plan

the choice is yours as to appealing or not

if you do, use the black text IPC template and appeal, then IGNORE everything except an LBC or an MCOL for 6 years

if you dont appeal it , the follow the latter points in my sentence above

so either do , or dont , but the only way to settle this once and for all is by a judge making a judgment , in small claims court

there is no magic bullet, they will use smoke and mirrors to try to deceive , it is what it is

Coupon-mad

Question: do I ignore all except court papers & solicitor letters as per BMPA website or go through process of appealing as per this thread with standard template, and do a SAR to VCS??

Your choice - both valid.

PrincipledPete

Thanks for your responses. I will have a think on next steps.


Basically the decision is appeal/not appeal but in any case ignore anything except LBC or MCOL for 6 years. This is directly related to 1) probability of VCS going to court and 2) whether they would win.


Point 1) Jan-June 2017: 61538 tickets issued, 282 court hearings, ie 0.46%. The year 2016 was 0.1% of 101215 tickets issued went to a hearing. Small probability.
Point 2) Unless they lose on a technicality...

pappa_golf

PrincipledPete wrote: »

Thanks for your responses. I will have a think on next steps.


Basically the decision is appeal/not appeal but in any case ignore anything except LBC or MCOL for 6 years. This is directly related to 1) probability of VCS going to court and 2) whether they would win.


Point 1) Jan-June 2017: 61538 tickets issued, 282 court hearings, ie 0.46%. The year 2016 was 0.1% of 101215 tickets issued went to a hearing. Small probability.
Point 2) Unless they lose on a technicality...

land operated under bylaws , where bylaws take president over PPCs ,and only the train co can bring charges , via a magistrates court within 6 mths