APCOA and local Council car Park

1505grandad

12th March - 17 y.o. grandsons car had APCOA ntd on windscreen - quoting no valid ticket or permit was
displayed on vehicle

This was in our local Council owned car park and the ntd stated sums of £40, £80 and £100 due depending on
timeline

The driver had paid the required parking fee and ticket retained

17th March - viewed evidence on APCOA website - flipped ticket

17th March - I sent email appeal to Council leader copied in MP and local Councillor with back and front of paid ticket - mentioned if excess charge is due who has stolen £1.70 paid for parking

19th March - received reply from MP offering to contact APCOA on our behalf

20th March - received email from leader of the coucil saying nothing they can do

20th March @ 20.04 - sent email to MP thanking her for offering assistance and enclosed a copy of council
leaders "cannot help" reply. Pointed out in email that bad enough council employ private parking company and
mentioned the scam industry (Hansard) quoted the MPs remarks in newbies (hat tip Fruitcake) while Private
Bill going through HoC and that the the Bill is now law. Requested MPs help in overturning parking charge.
Copied in leader of council.


21st March @ 12.53 - sent the following email to MP:-



Dear xxxxxxxx
I know you are Wonder Woman but surely you have surpassed even her super hero qualities!!!.

I have just checked the APCOA website to prepare an appeal and THE CHARGE IS SHOWING AS CLOSED
(see attached).

I only sent the email requesting your help at 20.04 last night!!!.

Do you think your super powers can sort Brexit?.

I am not sure what has happened but my grandson and I thank you sincerely for the help you have given us.

Very pleased voter (and future voter)
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx



Although not sure if direct contact with APCOA was made by MP during the less than 24 hr period - as she has
been mentioned on forum recently for helping another OP I am going to name her for willingness to help
constituents - unlike some - VICTORIA PRENTIS.

1505grandad

Oh - it also seems OTT that the ntd threatens up to £1000 FINE for displaying a parking device, otherwise than in the manner prescribed, shall be guilty of an offence, i.e. flipped ticket.


APCOA quote "Sub-section (1) of section 35A of the RTRA 1984 for this contravention punishable by a fine of up to £1000".


Presumably because the land is council owned

Fruitcake

Well done to you and your MP.

Council car parks are not allowed to be run as if they are private car parks, and I'm quite sure a private scumpany like CRAPCOA cannot actually charge £1000.

They are effectively saying give us £100 so we don't dob you in to the council who might take you to court or issue a 1 grand penalty.
This seems to be similar to the Railway byelaws scam where they say give us £100 so we don't dob you in to the train company.

Utter, utter scammers.

Umkomaas

This may be an issue to take up with the DVLA. Why are they providing keeper data to a private parking company operating on council land?

There is a well discussed case of a council being banned from receiving DVLA data (so well discussed, I can't recall which one :doh:) and still remains banned because of some irregularities involving a PPC. Someone will recall which council.

ccrt@dvla.gov.uk

1505grandad

Thanks Umkomaas - are you thinking of Wycombe D C in 2014?


Per Parking Prankster:-


http://parking-prankster.blogspot.com/2014/08/wycombe-district-council-banned-for.html


Certainly up for complaining to DVLA

Umkomaas

1505grandad wrote: »

Thanks Umkomaas - are you thinking of Wycombe D C in 2014?


Per Parking Prankster:-


http://parking-prankster.blogspot.com/2014/08/wycombe-district-council-banned-for.html


Certainly up for complaining to DVLA

That's the one!

Before a complaint to the DVLA, why not give the council a little bit of extra rope and get them to completely incriminate themselves by asking them some pertinent (but rather innocent-sounding) questions based on the issues that caused the Wycombe fail, as highlighted in Parking Prankster's blog?

Coupon-mad

Hang on.

APCOA issue Council PCNs in a few areas, and this sounds like a Penalty Charge not a Parking Charge.