Parking notice in my new apartment complex

qwidj

I recently moved into a new apartment complex that has its own parking, managed by PCM UK (ltd), I’ve only got a temporary permit, which on Saturday I admittedly forgot to put back on the dash (it’s the code they gave me I’ve written on a bit of folded A4, nothing to identify it to my car). I was parked in my space.

I’m not going to pay the fine or appeal yet. I checked my tenancy agreement and it said only that the landlord will provide a parking space. I guess my next play is to go to the managements office and talk to them about it? Honestly I’m not entirely sure what to do.

Do I just wait for the POPLA letter and go from there?

Not sure if it will help, but there was a mix up when they sent me my proper permit, but it was a little delayed and I had to extend my temporary permit but still received a permanent one which should have my car details on it?

Umkomaas

Do I just wait for the POPLA letter and go from there?

You won't be getting access to POPLA. PCM UK are not BPA AOS operators, they are IPC operators.

Please read the NEWBIES FAQ sticky, post #1, particularly in the context of them being IPC operators.

The_Deep

read some of these.

https://www.bing.com/search?q=prankster+residential+parking&form=EDNTHT&mkt=en-gb&httpsmsn=1&refig=2d9cdb858bb846679f32be1b4309559d&PC=ACTS&sp=1&ghc=1&qs=AS&pq=prankster+res&sc=2-13&cvid=2d9cdb858bb846679f32be1b4309559d&cc=GB&setlang=en-GB

CPM are well known scammers who infest residential car parks. In most cases the T&C of your lease/AST will shoot them down in flames.

qwidj

I read the sticky and the bit about IPC but the one size fits reply all just doesn't seem to apply in this circumstance.

Basically they'll argue I didn't have a valid permit on display - I didn't, even though I am a permit holder in the correctly allocated bay.

The_Deep

Why do you think that you need a permit, what does your lease/AST say about permits, paying damages for breach of contract to third parties, etc. Read some of the links at post 3, and involve your MP, PPCs have np place in residential car parks, their very presence can badly affect sale prices and retail values. Involve your MP

It is the will of Parliament that these scammers be put out of business. Hopefully that will take place in the near future. The Bill has passed through the HOC without hitch, and goes to the Lords soon. In the meantime involve your MP, the poor dears are buckling under the weight of complaints about these scammers. Read this one which I wrote earlier

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 of these companies may have connections to organised crime.

Parking Eye, CPM, Smart, (especially 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 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.

Grimble

They could argue the moon is made of cheese, if your lease and the head lease makes no mention of permits that trumps any third party signs. You have done nothing wrong.

qwidj

Aside from the signs (one of which is by my allocated spot) which says I need a permit - the only reference is in my tenancy agreement 'It is hereby agreed that one car parking space shall be provided by the Landlord for the duration of the Tenancy and any renewal period thereafter agreed. The Tenant will only park in the space allocated to the Property.'

I'm not sure what the relationship between the management company and the parking company is.

I've noted from the sticky that PCM UK Ltd (IPC) are worth trying to appeal to, so I'm going to try that.

Half_way

If the landord is on side, it may be worth getting hold of the lease from Him/Her.
Heres how it should fit together:


Residents/owners contract a management company to look after the estate on their behalf, management company then wither looks after some of the features, such as plants/trees etc, or appoints a gardening/landscaping company to do so, management company decided that they should do something about the parking problem or not, and unilateraly decides to appoint a private so called parking compmay to enforce some rules that neither the management company, or parking company has any rights to enforce

qwidj

"that space is my parking space and with rental of the flat you are entitled to park in the space, as long as you are able to display the parking permit provided by the Estate Office."

From my landlord

The_Deep

Can the landlord show you a legal document to that effect? If not then, ATAICS, the permit is superfluous.