UKCPS: Different price for Vans - Poor signage?

John_Street

Hi all,

I have a postal NTK from UKCPS. I have read the newbies thread and I'm just about ready to send the online appeal template. I have also read the bit that says "My case is different, blah blah - NOT IT IS NOT!" ...but I can't help thinking I could sensibly add a couple of specifics to my appeal, if our experts agree...

I still have a ticket from the car park that covers the time in question if the vehicle was a car! However, they're claiming 'without valid ticket'. What the driver hadn't seen was this little sign, which they have kindly uploaded a photo of to their appeals portal:

https : // i .imgur .com/ GJ4JmRul.png
(Sorry folks, it wont let me post links (including inside an [img]tag, apparently). You can reconstruct the above by removing the spaces, or take my word: The sign reads "Vans - minibuses - commercials, £6 Fixed Fee")[/img]

The vehicle was a self-built camper van, converted from a panel van.

In terms of specifics to my appeal, I was thinking of two things:
1) Going to town a bit more on how the 'supplementary' signage is inadequate because it is not part of the main sign, which of course the driver is in the habit of reading.
2) Pointing out that the vehicle is registered as a Motor Caravan and, as such, it's unclear that it is included within the category "Vans - Minibuses - Commercial"

Should I also offer to pay the difference between my ticket and the £6?

Many thanks for your wisdom!

"John"

Umkomaas

but I can't help thinking I could sensibly add a couple of specifics to my appeal

They'll have no effect.

if our experts agree

They do not!

In terms of specifics to my appeal, I was thinking of two things:
1) Going to town a bit more on how the 'supplementary' signage is inadequate because it is not part of the main sign, which of course the driver is in the habit of reading.

Save it for a Judge - if it gets that far.

2) Pointing out that the vehicle is registered as a Motor Caravan and, as such, it's unclear that it is included within the category "Vans - Minibuses - Commercial"

Do you mean the type that takes up two spaces, or as a minimum well overlapping the next bay, causing other vehicles to do similarly - and receiving parking charges too?

Again, one for the Judge.

Should I also offer to pay the difference between my ticket and the £6?

Nope. They won't accept it and a Judge might very well interpret your offer as a tacit acceptance of culpability.

John_Street

Understood! Thanks again.

Van fits in one bay.. but will save for judge!

"John"

Fruitcake

It is our belief, well mine certainly that the only thing the scammers look for in an appeal is to see if the driver has been identified. If not it just gets put on the robo-reject pile.

Nothing you add to the initial template will have any effect. There a few companies that cancel when they see the forum template, but your scammer isn't one of them.

https://i.imgur.com/GJ4JmRul.png

Was the vehicle parked in one of these wider bays?
Are there any signs on site that do not have the additional small sign adjacent? Get pics if that is the case. Get pics of the main signs, entrance and entrance signs anyway.

The_Deep

The whole industry is a scam, relying on threats of court, and the public's ignorance of the Law, A bill is currently before parliament which will regulate the scammers, many of whom are ex-clampers.

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 Second Reading in the Lords this month, and, with a fair wind, will l become Law later this 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.

John_Street

Oh - I hadn't realised that this charge was for specific bays. I'm really not sure if I was or not.. I'm not local to the car park so a bit tricky to check out now. It's a Transit Custom.. not huge but prob wider than most cars.

Edit:
Pretty sure it was around here... doesn't look too dissimilar to the other bays.
https : // i . imgur .com/m7mopPo.jpg (remove spaces)

This is best streetview can do on the signage:
https : // i. imgur. com/EV7IEjC.jpg

"John"

Coupon-mad

https://i.imgur.com/EV7IEjC.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/m7mopPo.jpg

Even though those are blurry images, I bet the signs were unclear gobbledegook:

http://parking-prankster.blogspot.com/2014/07/ukcps-claim-dismissed-judge-rules.html

http://parking-prankster.blogspot.com/2014/07/ukcps-claim-dismissed-judge-rules_14.html

Sit tight after the inevitable rejection of appeal, except you could email/write to the Data Protection Officer of UKCPS (see their privacy page) and ask for all photos taken, under a SAR, which they must provide.