ECP didn't leave carpark

kipzilla

I've read the newbie thread but can't find anything specific to my case

My wife has just received NTK. I was driving. Entered car park, took a while to park due to tight spaces, went to check price and balked at the price. Checked our change and didn't have enough, went back to the car, discussed options and then left the car park.

This all took 10 minutes according to the ANPR shots supplied.

What can I do?

twhitehousescat

13.2 If the parking location is one where parking is normally
permitted, you must allow the driver a reasonable
grace period in addition to the parking event before
enforcement action is taken. In such instances the grace
period must be a minimum of 10 minutes.

note the word MINIMUM

the quote is from the 2018 version of the BPA code of practice , the operator is obliged to adhere by this

perhaps the BPA should be informed of this failure?

kipzilla

Is it "convenient" that the time in between ANPR photos is 10mins 30 secs exactly?

twhitehousescat

ok , did you notice the word MINIMUM ?

look at the newbies thread , there is a link to a very simple >one size fits all< template , send this unaltered and at the correct time , and await a code number in order to appeal to POPLa

at this point , amongst other things , you will quite the BPA code of practice


you could in the meantime contact the BPA (someone will give you email contact info) and quote the code and state your case of 10 mins 30 secs and ask opinion

kipzilla

Yes I did notice which I why I raised the question as they have fulfilled that recommendation. Thanks for the nod in the right direction.

The_Deep

Absolute scam, they are likely to be put out of business shortly.

This is an entirely unregulated industry which is scamming the public with inflated claims for minor breaches of alleged contracts for alleged parking offences, aided and abetted by a handful of low-rent solicitors. Is has been suggested by an MP that some may have connections to organised crime.

Parking Eye, CPM, Smart, and others have already been named and shamed in the House of Commons as have Gladstones Solicitors, and BW Legal, (these two law firms take hundreds of these cases to court each week), hospital car parks and residential complex tickets have been especially mentioned. They lose most of them, and have been reported to the regulatory authority by an M.P. for unprofessional conduct

The problem has become so widespread that MPs have agreed to enact a Bill to regulate these scammers.

Sir Greg Knight's Private Members Bill to curb the excesses, and perhaps close down, some of these companies passed its Third Reading in late November, and, with a fair wind, will should become Law next year.

All three readings are available to watch on the internet, (some 6-7 hours), and published in Hansard. MPs have an extremely low opinion of the industry. Many are complaining that they are becoming overwhelmed by complaints from members of the public. Add to their burden, complain in the most robust terms about the scammers.

Fruitcake

The NEWBIES covers your situation exactly.

You should edit your post to remove information about who was driving. Only ever refer to The Driver and The Keeper. The NEWBIES explains this as well, so the first thing you should do after editing is to spend more time reading it.
There is a lot of information there and you can't digest it all in one sitting.

Have you complained to the landowner yet?

You should complain to the BPA (assuming ECP is Euro Car Parks,) and DVLA that the scammers have not followed the BPA CoP with regard to grace periods.

Also complain to your MP about this unregulated scam.

If you can't get a landowner cancellation then appeal using the blue template from the NEWBIES, but make sure The Keeper doesn't miss the appeal deadline.

KeithP

kipzilla wrote: »

What can I do?

One thing you can/should do now is edit your opening post to remove clues to the driver's identity.

Perhaps the first two sentences of your second paragraph could be better written as:

My wife has just received a NTK but was not driving.