Vehicle Control Services PCN in Scotland

Nehpets_2

Hi all,

I used a local shopping centre and put my £1 into the parking meter and typed in my reg no. It was chucking down with rain and in my haste to get out of the rain I didn’t realise that the machine should’ve issued me with a ticket.

Low and behold I got sent a PCN as it turns out my reg didn’t register. I appealed with the reasons but it got rejected(I gave my name as I thought they would be reasonable naively).

I appealed to the IAS stating that VCS should look at the CCTV footage which would show me paying £1 and entering my car no. It got rejected as VCS stated that I didn’t adhere to the clearly displayed Ts and Cs.

I’ve now received a letter from a solicitor in Glasgow requesting payment and stating that VCS regularly litigate and quoting “Dundee parking case” as an example. They took someone to court for £24k of unpaid parking tickets.

My question is should I ignore everything or bite the bullet and pay. As I foolishly gave them my name and address I’m thinking they might go legal. I can only find one case involving VCS in Scottish courts and its the Dundee case.

Is anyone aware of VCS going to court in Scotland for one ticket. Any advice would be appreciated

Hasbeen

Nehpets wrote: »

Hi all,

I used a local shopping centre and put my £1 into the parking meter and typed in my reg no. It was chucking down with rain and in my haste to get out of the rain I didn’t realise that the machine should’ve issued me with a ticket.

Low and behold I got sent a PCN as it turns out my reg didn’t register. I appealed with the reasons but it got rejected(I gave my name as I thought they would be reasonable naively).

I appealed to the IAS stating that VCS should look at the CCTV footage which would show me paying £1 and entering my car no. It got rejected as VCS stated that I didn’t adhere to the clearly displayed Ts and Cs.

I’ve now received a letter from a solicitor in Glasgow requesting payment and stating that VCS regularly litigate and quoting “Dundee parking case” as an example. They took someone to court for £24k of unpaid parking tickets.

My question is should I ignore everything or bite the bullet and pay. As I foolishly gave them my name and address I’m thinking they might go legal. I can only find one case involving VCS in Scottish courts and its the Dundee case.

Is anyone aware of VCS going to court in Scotland for one ticket. Any advice would be appreciated

You admitted driving?:( Read here for starters especially the part about Scotland

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4816822/newbies-private-parking-ticket-old-or-new-read-these-faqs-first-thankyou


There will be someone along shortly with expert advice.

The_Deep

Do not pay them a penny unless a judge orders you to. Nine times out of ten these tickets are scams so consider complaining to your MP.

Parliament is well aware of the MO of these private parking companies, and on 15th March 2019 a Bill was enacted to curb the excesses of these shysters. Codes of Practice are being drawn up, an independent appeals service will be set up, and access to the DVLA's date base more rigorously policed, persistent offenders denied access to the DVLA database and unable to operate.

Hopefully life will become impossible for the worst of these scammers, but until this is done you should still complain to your MP, citing the new legislation.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2019/8/contents/enacted

Just as the clampers were finally closed down, so hopefully will many of these Private Parking Companies.

Fruitcake

The keeper was not liable and could safely have ignored everything. What a bad idea for the driver to stick their hand up and admit liability.

Ah well, nothing can be done about that now except to learn to keep quiet if it ever happens again.

What happened when you complained to the landowner/retailer?

The Dundee case was for a serial parker who was identified as the driver, and was well worth the PPC going after. I believed she made herself insolvent/bankrupt so it was a pyrrhic victory for the PPC, although they now use it to scare other motorists.

Court cases for parking events are so rare in Scotland that we cannot answer your question about how likely you are to face a Scottish court. Whilst VCS do regularly litigate, they do not do so regularly in Scotland regards parking.
However, they may decide to use you as a loss leader in order to add another case to their stats north of the Border.
Alternatively they may decide it will cost them more than they will gain.

Costs in England or Wales would be in the order of £175 - £200 down here, but I have no idea if it would be more or less in Scotland.

Of course, you may win, or the judge may decide that the error causing the PCN was so minimal that court is unwarranted. Who knows?

I suggest you look up the Act of Sederunt (simple procedure) in case of court, and get pics of the site and signage asap, after of course having another try for cancellation by the landowner/retail manager.