Letter Before Claim - Gladstones

D_P_Dance

Nine times out of ten these tickets are scams, so consider complaining to your MP, it can cause the scammer extra costs and work, and has been known to get the charge cancelled.

Parliament is well aware of the MO of these private parking companies, many of whom are former clampers, 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, when life gets back to normal, it will become impossible for those scammers who are left to continue their vile trade, 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.

CJames7

Hi, thanks for your replies.
Yes, just checked my email and I sent a SAR request to dpo @ uk-carparkmanagement.co.uk start of February and no response.

Should I respond to gladstones email, informing them that i'm awaiting a SAR response and cannot proceed with any legal advice until it's been received?? Or do I just ignore that email??
The LBC came through all the way back in November and has never been followed up.

Pure conjecture here, but the parking company are no longer managing the retail site - so i'm wondering if everything's just 'gone in the bin' between them.

Coupon-mad

Reply to Gs and tell them their client's DPO has 'failed' to reply to your SAR sent in February and you wonder if they are all sacked or furloughed, or if not, can they please ask their client to respond to your SAR before you report UKCPM to the ICO?!

CJames7

Email sent...and not without laughing at your suggestion I might add 

Thanks again - will update with any response!

CJames7

Quick update - I received a response today from both the DPO of UKPC and Gladstones.

The DPO said they didn't receive a SAR (lies - as the email address i used was copy pasted from my original email sent in Feb) and they have nothing on record for the vehicle. As far as they are concerned, they have no parking tickets outstanding against the vehicle.

Gladstones followed up saying the case is now closed.

Thank you one and all for the time that you put in on these forums advising people like myself, it's very much appreciated.

Coupon-mad

UKCPM surely, not UKPC?

Gladstones followed up saying the case is now closed.

You won then?!  Well done!  

ANOTHER UKCPM ONE BITES THE DUST!

Thing is though...the thing is...HOW can there be no data held about this PCN because:

(1) you know there was one and had a PCN number?
(2) Gladstones sent a LBC

So, send BOTH Gladstones and UKCPM a SAR and tell them they are mistaken, there was a PCN and there was a LBC and they can't just erase data pretending it never existed just because they realise they have no case.  Tell them you are going to report them both to the ICO and you want a full SAR and if any data has been erased since the LBC date, you require it to be reinstated for the purpose of the SAR and an explanation as to why they think it is OK to hide data from you when they realised that the claim had no merit.

Le_Kirk

Well done, that counts as a WIN then.

CJames7

I guess that's a victory yes, and again; thank you both!!

I'm just going to assume here that as the sole 'evidence' was a handheld photo from an employee at the retail park - It must have got lost somewhere along the way when the landowner stopped  using UKCPM to manage their land. I'm going to assume the retail outlets got a lot of grief from customers as the parking area outside has been free for all for decades, in what is a relatively quiet suburban area - not a busy commercial zone. Not to mention the only signage (which i returned to take pictures of) was, I kid you not, about 14ft up in the air above the store entrance and about the size of an A4 sheet of paper - hence why I got 'caught' myself.

So as you say, they probably just held out on a wing and a prayer that I'd just cough up without calling their bluff. Honestly, it's no wonder these companies get a bad rep, they're crooks.

Coupon-mad

You do need to report them both to the ICO for this though - I hope you can see why it's important to reply to demand your SAR from both of them and then report them to the ICO?  They can't just delate data and pretend it never happened.

zhonguonuren

Report Gladstones 
Report@sra.org.uk

It will make a difference.
Oh and great news !