We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.

This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

IMPORTANT: Please make sure your posts do not contain any personally identifiable information (both your own and that of others). When uploading images, please take care that you have redacted all personal information including number plates, reference numbers and QR codes (which may reveal vehicle information when scanned).
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Claim against VCS

TheMisterMan
TheMisterMan Posts: 10 Forumite
Fifth Anniversary Combo Breaker
edited 28 October 2017 at 10:44AM in Parking tickets, fines & parking
Hi all,

I was wondering if you could provide me with some assistance.

The current standing is:

- They allege that my car was parked on land they manage without a permit
- They are pursuing me as the keeper on the assumption I was driving (no PoFA)
- I have told them they don't have landowner authority and gave them the Land Title for the relevant land so they could check
- They responded that they do indeed have authority (shocker!)
- No admission as to the identity of the driver has been given
- They have refused a request under the DPA to stop processing my data
- The have sent a LBC dated 10/10/2017 which didn't adhere to any protocol (past or present)
- I have replied stating this asking for a compliant LBC
- It has all fallen silent

Some facts:

- They don't own the land
- They have no contract with the landowner
- The land the car was parked on is near land they probably have a contract for
- I am employed by the landowner (so I know they have no contract ;))
- My employment contract grants me the right to park

I don't want to hang around for 6 years to see if they file a claim - it'd drive me mad. I think I have a case against them for breach of DPA. If I do I would like to see this through. My goal is to simply get them to admit they are wrong in writing, or at the very least have it cancelled in writing. If that doesn't happen I would like to take them to court in order to get this all resolved one way or the other.

Thanks in advance

EDIT: the landowner, sadly, doesn't want to get involved.
«1

Comments

  • beamerguy
    beamerguy Posts: 17,587 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Hi all,

    I was wondering if you could provide me with some assistance.

    The current standing is:

    - They allege that my car was parked on land they manage without a permit
    - They are pursuing me as the keeper on the assumption I was driving (no PoFA)
    - I have told them they don't have landowner authority and gave them the Land Title for the relevant land so they could check
    - They responded that they do indeed have authority (shocker!)
    - No admission as to the identity of the driver has been given
    - They have refused a request under the DPA to stop processing my data
    - The have sent a LBC dated 10/10/2017 which didn't adhere to any protocol (past or present)
    - I have replied stating this asking for a compliant LBC
    - It has all fallen silent

    Some facts:

    - They don't own the land
    - They have no contract with the landowner
    - The land the car was parked on is near land they probably have a contract for
    - I am employed by the landowner (so I know they have no contract ;))
    - My employment contract grants me the right to park

    I don't want to hang around for 6 years to see if they file a claim - it'd drive me mad. I think I have a case against them for breach of DPA. If I do I would like to see this through. My goal is to simply get them to admit they are wrong in writing, or at the very least have it cancelled in writing. If that doesn't happen I would like to take them to court in order to get this all resolved one way or the other.

    Thanks in advance

    EDIT: the landowner, sadly, doesn't want to get involved.

    No surprise that VCS are not compliant

    If you are certain that they have no rights, get a letter
    from the landowner stating that.

    Tell them with copy of landowners letter and warn them
    that you will claim up to £750 for a data breach.
    Even invoice them for £750 so they know you mean business

    They ignore at their peril and the peril of their dodgy solicitors
  • beamerguy wrote: »
    No surprise that VCS are not compliant

    If you are certain that they have no rights, get a letter
    from the landowner stating that.

    Tell them with copy of landowners letter and warn them
    that you will claim up to £750 for a data breach.
    Even invoice them for £750 so they know you mean business

    They ignore at their peril and the peril of their dodgy solicitors

    The landowner is unwilling to get involved. I have the Registers of Title and the Title Plans (official copies) that show who the owner is and the boundaries of the land. The photographs provided by VCS (on my parking charge website, not the LBC... their LBC contained nothing useful) clearly show my car is on this land.
  • beamerguy
    beamerguy Posts: 17,587 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    The landowner is unwilling to get involved. I have the Registers of Title and the Title Plans (official copies) that show who the owner is and the boundaries of the land. The photographs provided by VCS (on my parking charge website, not the LBC... their LBC contained nothing useful) clearly show my car is on this land.

    Why will the landowner not get involved if VCS are trying
    to make money on his land without permission
    OR, does the landowner know something that you don't ?
  • The situation is far from ideal.

    VCS was brought in by one of the landowners (as far as I can gather). The other landowners on the site play along without actually having their own contracts. VCS gave permits to these companies for their employees to display. I have an email from our legal department that says they have no contract with VCS but agreed to allowing the other company contracting with them essentially on behalf of all the landowners.
  • beamerguy
    beamerguy Posts: 17,587 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    The situation is far from ideal.

    VCS was brought in by one of the landowners (as far as I can gather). The other landowners on the site play along without actually having their own contracts. VCS gave permits to these companies for their employees to display. I have an email from our legal department that says they have no contract with VCS but agreed to allowing the other company contracting with them essentially on behalf of all the landowners.

    The whole concept of the parking scammers is based
    on a contract, if they have no contract that covers
    your parking space, there is no contract.
  • beamerguy wrote: »
    The whole concept of the parking scammers is based
    on a contract, if they have no contract that covers
    your parking space, there is no contract.

    Thanks for confirming.

    Should I wait for a time to see if they file a case and then counter-claim?

    Or should send them a letter now stating that since they are continuing to use my data they are in breach and they must pay me £x?

    Would I have to write my own (compliant!) LBC for this or would it just be an ordinary letter?
  • beamerguy
    beamerguy Posts: 17,587 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    edited 28 October 2017 at 11:34AM
    Thanks for confirming.

    Should I wait for a time to see if they file a case and then counter-claim?

    Or should send them a letter now stating that since they are continuing to use my data they are in breach and they must pay me £x?

    Would I have to write my own (compliant!) LBC for this or would it just be an ordinary letter?

    Best to pinch this in the bud, if it goes to court, and they use
    legals who appear not to understand, it's just hassle.
    A judge would not be impressed and no doubt you will win
    and that's when you can claim a data breach

    They need to prove they have permission (not verbal)
    ie .. a contract that allows them to issue tickets for
    your parking space which is allowed by the landowner

    If they issued parking permite to others on ajoining land
    why did they not give you a permit if they have a contract
  • beamerguy wrote: »
    Best to pinch this in the bud, if it goes to court, and they use
    legals who appear not to understand, it's just hassle.
    A judge would not be impressed and no doubt you will win
    and that's when you can claim a data breach

    They need to prove they have permission (not verbal)
    ie .. a contract that allows them to issue tickets for
    your parking space which is allowed by the landowner

    If they issued parking permite to others on ajoining land
    why did they not give you a permit if they have a contract

    The driver at the time of the incident did not display a permit, regardless of whether they were in possession of one. :o

    I'll draft a letter to VCS later today.
  • System
    System Posts: 178,365 Community Admin
    10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Before you go off on this adventure, be aware that though there is no written contract there could be an implied one if the site has VCS signs and permits.

    Not all contracts are written or have express terms.
    This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
  • beamerguy
    beamerguy Posts: 17,587 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    The driver at the time of the incident did not display a permit, regardless of whether they were in possession of one. :o

    I'll draft a letter to VCS later today.

    So, you have a permit ?
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 351.7K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.4K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 454K Spending & Discounts
  • 244.7K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 600.1K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 177.3K Life & Family
  • 258.4K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.