Zipcar PCN - 75 days after alleged offence

bobbybobbo

Today, 16 January, received email from Zipcar stating that they received a PCN which has been attributed to me. The date of the alleged contravention is November 2nd 2018, so 75 days ago.

The letter Zipcar received is from TNC (seemingly a debt collector?) who have taken on the PCN from P4Parking (UK) Ltd. The letter from TNC is dated 14 December so I guess they are within their 56 days for issuing NTK. However Zipcar have only notified me 30+ days later. I have checked Zipcar's T&C and couldn't find any timelines for this, but any grounds here to nip it in the bud with Zipcar directly?

If not, I will make Zipcar name me as hirer and hook P4Parking/TNC in my direction. Then I will appeal to P4Parking as usual and ignore TNC letters?

The_Deep

While you are waiting for a reply please consider complaining to your MP.


It is the will of Parliament that these scammers, (very often former clampers), 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.

KeithP

bobbybobbo, is this related to your other Zipcar thread?

If so, then once again the suggestion has to be made that you ask a Board Guide to merge your threads.

bobbybobbo

No it is not. This is a new unrelated PCN with completely different details.

Coupon-mad

any grounds here to nip it in the bud with Zipcar directly?

No, it's best to insist on the below and remind them this is the correct action as confirmed by the BPA and BVRLA, after the POFA was enacted.

If not, I will make Zipcar name me as hirer and hook P4Parking/TNC in my direction. Then I will appeal to P4Parking as usual and ignore TNC letters?

You might have to appeal to TNC so do check the NTH when you get one.

bobbybobbo

Thanks for the reply Coupon-mad. I just noticed something else. Bearing in mind TNC's letter is dated 33 days ago, their letter to Zipcar states:

"You are advised that if, after 29 days from the date of this letter the parking charge has not been paid in full and we do not know both the name and current address of the driver, we have the right to recover any unpaid part of the parking charge from you"

So is it not worth just telling Zipcar that it's no longer my liability as per TNC's own terms? I know you guys don't like it if these are paid by anyone, but for me personally wouldn't this be the quickest way out?

Coupon-mad

No, because they will then take the money from your card.

Umkomaas

Coupon-mad wrote: »

No, because they will then take the money from your card.

And whack on another (£30-£40?) tasty admin fee for their efforts!

bobbybobbo

They charge £15 admin fee regardless if they pay the PCN and charge my card or reply to the PPC with my details.

Coupon-mad

But they will very likely pay the PCN and then charge you for the PCN as well, if you do nothing, and they almost certainly will pay up as and when they get another letter.

You need Zipcar out of the loop and the PCN directed at you to appeal.

twhitehousescat

as stated previously TNC are a nasty company , very rarely following the law

I would not put it past them to continue threatening zipcar until they simply pay up