Draft Advisory Code of Practice - Sir Greg Knight Bill

Umkomaas

Just picked this up scrolling through some FOI requests. I'm not sure how much more 'protection' motorist are going to get than they do now.

Some random points I've highlighted below:

Still 2 ATAs (now Accredited Parking Assiciations - APAs) and a vague suggestion that 2 might not necessarily be the maximum number.

Still 2 second tier appeals services.

An overarching Scrutiny and Standards body - ISPA reborn?

Charges capped at £100 in London, elsewhere to reflect LA levels.

There's some seeming confusion that Debt Collectors are 'Enforcement Agents' and 'Bailiffs'.

Many references to 'penalties'.

A minimum of 21 days to make appeals (watch that now become the standard - a la IPC).

I'm not sure what para 7a means?

Any other thoughts - add to the thread.

Link to document

Coupon-mad

Where did that piece of weak rubbish emanate from?

It says 'advisory' so it looks like maybe the BPA or IPC drew it up to try to head Greg Knight off to accept a weak tangent?

luverlyjubbly

What they need is things like minimum standards on signs, paperwork, ANPR software and specific contract wording - not the usual BPA/IPC flim flam,

And, perhaps most importantly, a mechanism to dissuade litigation - a fixed penalty for the PPC if they go to CC claim and lose. Something like £1000 a pop to discourage them from anything but litigating against the real parking offenders. It's madness that they can get away with a maximum cost of £25 + whatever a rep costs when they're asking £250+ for minor infractions.

A properly independent appeals service, not some in-bred waste of time like the IAS, could filter out the real cases quite effectively for them.
Plus maybe a £10 charge for every DVLA record accessed that gets thrown out at appeal stage.

in short, stop the frivolous access to data and the court system.

Most PPCs would go to the wall but then we would see real "parking management companies" rather than the credit-clamping scammers we see now.

trisontana

And a large penalty for not bothering to contest a POPLA appeal, as APCOA and other companies regularly do. It's a waste of time and effort for the poor motorist and for POPLA.

fb1969

Not posted for some time but think I am still fairly up to date with things.


While it states a standard for signage, it should be more detailed. In my opinion the signage should be standard across the entire private parking system. Local authorities have to have standard signs and it is just common sense that the same should apply privately.


A standard size, a standard layout, a standard font, a standard size depending on the local, standard membership badge location, standard location for contact/appeal details, standard height/position on walls/posts. Anything else can only lead to confusion.


There should only be one ATA/APA but if there are more they should all have the same "rules" of membership and be forced to have regulatory powers over their members - anything else and it will just be another member's club.


Agree with trisontana about a charge for failure to follow procedures through.

Coupon-mad

Have a look at this proper, legal adjudication of a TFL penalty notice:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5891747/cornhill-bank-contravention-code-52m-successful-appeal

PPCs would be torn apart by proper adjudicators, and that's what's needed, funded by the dirty money sloshing around in PPC World.

Get rid of POPLA and the IAS and make them report to that sort of Adjudication Service, with repercussions/ a ban, for being exposed as scammers/using dodgy practices.

The majority of PPCs would be banned within the first 6 months.

beamerguy

This thread should be kept alive.

Comments must be added by the motorists and not
just those of representatives of the parking industry

Sir Greg Knight must be made aware of this thread

=================================

Only one ATA is required and if that ATA misbehaves,
then all it's members will pay the penalty

The IPC/IAS should not continue as an ATA due to
their current and past activities of a scam

Debt collectors like DRP must be restricted to only
chasing any debt without using language that fabricates
lies and intimidates the motorist
(Debt collectors will still remain a useless part of the industry)

An avenue of complaint about debt collectors in the
private parking industry, with the Financial Conduct Authority

The new bill is still open to amendments

QUOTE
Stephen Doughty MP

I am glad to hear that the Minister supports the Bill. Will he also look closely at the links between one of the so-called trade associations, the International Parking Community, and Gladstones Solicitors, and the listing of all these accredited operators? It is clear from Companies House information that there are clear links between the individual directors of Gladstones and the IPC, which goes under United Trade and Industry Ltd, and that there has been a repeated changing of names and addresses in an attempt to cover up these links.

luverlyjubbly

One problem I have with debt collectors and this sordid industry is the way they immediately make you feel like there's a debt to pay and they can enforce it, "you didn't read our poxy little signs therfore you're a cheap debtor and owe us money"

Boll0x to that, there is no debt until a court says there is. Unfortunately a lot of people are taken in and a lot don't have the appetite or ability to fight anyway.

Guys_Dad

Just what real benefits would this legislation bring?

Snakes_Belly

I would like to something in place whereby if the equipment is not working the driver has say 24 hours to pay or up until 12 midnight on the day after.

There should also be parity between council car parks and PPC's. Maximum £50.00 reduced to £25.00 for prompt payment. Ombudsman system in place. Percentage of PPC income from tickets paid to charity/NHS.

Actually the supermarkets would be better to self ticket. Employ a pensioner for a few hours a day at peak times. Small fine which could be paid to their chosen charity.

Humdinger1

Other than stopping the systematic abuse of the legal system by scammers and the unjustifiable, illegal harassment of the general public, there's no benefit at all.... might be worth reading some of the dedicated thread to see the antics practised.