VCS Berkley Centre Sheffield - didn't overstay

The_Deep

Why not complain on the public media websites of all the retail outlets in the complex, including kiosks, threatening to shop elsewhere. They may not employ the scammer, but they can point out to the MA that their activities are affecting their bottom line.

Also complain to 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.

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.

Umkomaas

Anyone know much about grace periods, if it is one hour free then there is a 14 minute overstay according to the cameras

It's not as straightforward as that. PPCs have to follow their ATA's Code of Practice in regard to grace periods. Guess what - the Code of Practice is far from definitive. Codes of Practice are invariably weighted towards the parking companies, with an IPC company, even more so.

15. Grace Periods
15.1 Drivers should be allowed a sufficient amount of time to park and read any signs so they may make an informed decision as to whether or not to remain on the site.
15.2 Drivers should be allowed a sufficient amount of time to leave a site after a pre-paid or permitted period of parking has expired.

That's yer lot!

Katie-Kat-Kins

Ok, I will get some complaints sorted out and a letter to the MP drafted.


In the meantime I will get on and draft a first stage appeal on the basis that the NTK is out of time.

StaffsSW

RobinofLoxley wrote: »

I parked in here a few months ago and as the sign says it is a free 2 hour maximum stay, no pay and display.

If VCS's own photo evidence shows an in time and a out time of less than 120 mins as you say, that's very strange.

Perhaps you can put up a scan/photo of the NTK on here (via a image hosting website), with all personal identifying details (name, address, VRM etc.) redacted.


When I get chance I will pop in and get some photos of the internal signs.

I know this car park has changed recently - I live by Ranmoor, and the local Facebook groups have had a few people complaining about the changes, and conflicting information given by the shop staff seemingly doesn't help.

It used to be Euro Car Parks so at least the appeal had a fighting chance, but with VCS having infested it (a local company for local people, there's nothing for you here...) it is now the IAS/BWL hoop jumping exercise.

I'll have a look tonight on the way home and see what the signs show.

StaffsSW

Katie-Kat-Kins wrote: »

Ok, I will get some complaints sorted out and a letter to the MP drafted.


In the meantime I will get on and draft a first stage appeal on the basis that the NTK is out of time.

If your MP is the same as mine, Jared O'Mara - I wouldn't waste the ink....

He doesn't like dealing with proper issues only writing occasional letters on obscure subjects, and he hasn't even done much that in the last month - https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/25636/jared_o%27mara/sheffield%2C_hallam

And the Commons is too noisy for him, so he doesn't attend. Yet his prior career was a nightclub promoter and DJ....

Katie-Kat-Kins

Not the same MP, but mine is likely to be equally useless, she's too busy with Jacob Rees-Mogg and the extreme brexit stuff to bother with something like this. I'll save the ink and send an email lol!


Thanks for the offer to have a look at the signs, it isn't somewhere we go often but visit the area every couple of months and have parked there before so may have missed a change in the rules.

Umkomaas

Katie-Kat-Kins wrote: »

it isn't somewhere we go often but visit the area every couple of months and have parked there before so may have missed a change in the rules.

It's that complacency (and I don't mean it in any unkind way) that feeds the PPCs' gravy train. Elderly people are probably the most vulnerable to subtle changes to rules.

Often if a PPC's income starts to fall at a '2-hour free' site as people start to understand they'll get 'fined' if they stay longer, the PPC will suddenly reduce the free stay to 1.5 hours, then collect on a new windfall. It's a nasty business.

Katie-Kat-Kins

Umkomaas wrote: »

It's that complacency (and I don't mean it in any unkind way) that feeds the PPCs' gravy train. Elderly people are probably the most vulnerable to subtle changes to rules.

Often if a PPC's income starts to fall at a '2-hour free' site as people start to understand they'll get 'fined' if they stay longer, the PPC will suddenly reduce the free stay to 1.5 hours, then collect on a new windfall. It's a nasty business.

I know exactly what you mean, have seen it in one near home. You have to read the signs so carefully each time to avoid being caught out. Practically people just don't do that every single time, they might be in a rush, find reading slow and difficult or have poor eyesight, or just a bit complacent and £100 is a high price to pay when the losses caused are minimal. Especially when you are already spending money in the businesses on site.

Katie-Kat-Kins

Just to update this, I challenged the "fine" on the basis that the NTK was late and as anticipated this was rejected. I have now received court papers, I have acknowledged service and I am in the process of trying to draft a defence so any help/templates/etc appreciated.


In the meantime I have discovered that this car park advertises a maximum two hour stay, the first hour is free but if you want to stay longer then you need to pay at the beginning of your stay, there is no option to pay on exit or after the first hour.


In addition many of the signs refer to Excel Parking Services and not to VCS who have sent the ntk.

Quentin

Now you have a Court claim you need to make Post #2 in the newbies FAQ thread your Bible till this reaches its conclusion

You will find all aspects of a claim are covered together with near template defences for you to crib from

Post your draft defence here in time for comments before sending it