CST letters' forum group thread

Le_Kirk

Umkomaas said:

You'll only get information about personal data they hold about you and the VRM of your vehicle. Grace period details would not be a legitimate request in a SAR, so no requirement on a PPC to respond on that point. 

bluetoffee1878 said:

Umkomaas said:

You'll only get information about personal data they hold about you and the VRM of your vehicle. Grace period details would not be a legitimate request in a SAR, so no requirement on a PPC to respond on that point. 

Ah OK thanks for that, I'll save myself an email

But if/when (haven't trawled back through thread) becomes a live claim and you submit a defence and witness statement, one of your points is about grace periods, you put the claimant to strict proof of the grace periods in use at the time, then they will be forced to answer.

bluetoffee1878

They have clearly failed the IPC code of practice (for what it's worth) 13.3 is not applicable in this case

13 Consideration and Grace Periods on Private Land
13.1 Motorists must be allowed a sufficient Consideration Period so they may make an informed decision as to whether or not to enter or remain on the Private Land. If a Motorist chooses to reject the opportunity by entering or remaining on the Private Land without reading terms and conditions, they may be deemed to have accepted them immediately.
13.2 Before a Parking Charge is issued Motorists must be allowed a Grace Period save and except when 13.3 is applicable. A Grace Period is a 10 minute period at the end of a Permitted Period of Parking.
13.3 A Grace Period is not required when the Permitted Period of Parking does not exceed 1 hour providing that the signage on the site makes it clear to the Motorist, in a prominent font, that no Grace Period applies on that land. 

JohnMac77

Afternoon all
Been following this thread for some time - big thanks to all regular contributors as huge help. Brief recap - Scotland case, parking fine alleged from UK Parking 2017, CST Letter Before Claim and DCBL follow up last month. Sent SAR and some to and fro with UK Parking, also sent email to CST (no response) and complaint to SRA. Contacted MP and MSP - latter's response as below:

Unfortunately, in my role as MSP I am unable to intervene in legal matters. You may wish to contact Fife Law Centre to raise your concerns as they can provide free legal advice.

I can however raise the parking charge issue with UK Parking Control Ltd. Please let me know if you would like me to do so.

Not worried about legal advice (qualified in Law) but have asked him to raise with UK Parking to explain competence issues, English Law basis, dubious tactics etc. Will post if anything comes of that (or any of rest of it).
Cheers

Coupon-mad

Very good.  MPs should get involved.

JohnMac77

Further to above, MSP has confirmed he has written to the MD of Parking Control UK Ltd to ask that he urgently investigate and suspend all recovery until investigation complete. He'll be back in touch once  response received...

 

beamerguy

JohnMac77 said:

Further to above, MSP has confirmed he has written to the MD of Parking Control UK Ltd to ask that he urgently investigate and suspend all recovery until investigation complete. He'll be back in touch once  response received...

 

That will be Rupert Williams.  
Will Rupert ignore the Scottish government ?  

The question must be asked ..... how many Scots have paid CST THIS FAKERY ?

craiggf

I have read hundreds of posts on this but I haven't seen anything to help me in the event that the person has stupidly admitted that it was them in the car.  I got a Letter Before Claim from CST on behalf of Smart Parking with the response pack giving me 30 days to reply, which expires on Tuesday 2nd March.  The problem I have is that back in November I got an Unpaid Debt Reminder Letter from CST saying the had been instructed by DRP to recover a debt from Smart Parking, so without first checking the internet for advice I called CST to find out what it was all about as I don't think I ever got any letter from Smart Park telling me I had a PCN.  On that call they told me the date and time of the contravention and I told them there an then that I had a Ringo receipt for parking on that day and pretty much admitted that I did park there.  On checking all the details it seem that I parked for 3hrs and my ticket ran out at 1.04pm and I left the parking garage at 1.14pm so exactly 10mins over the time (or 9 mins depending on the seconds involved).
I had drafted a letter back with the reply pack asking them for the original PCN details and pictures of my car in the parking spot after 1.04pm noting that I recall another driver holding me up from getting out the facility as they were stuck getting in/out of a space and that I was actually not in a parking space after 1.04pm.   I am also thinking there would be a reasonable grace period for getting out the garage after the time is up, just as there must be a grace period when entering, finding a space, then getting to the ticket machine.  On reading for hours on these threads I haven't seen any advice on what to do if they do know the driver so can anyone advise as I am loathe to pay the £170 they are asking for.  The reason I believe they will know is that the call I made to them was no doubt recorded and will act as evidence against me if I then decide to deny knowing whi was driving.

craiggf

Just to be clear I haven't yet replied to the LBC with my draft letter - was hoping to get advice on whether to or not.

Umkomaas

I haven't seen any advice on what to do if they do know the driver so can anyone advise as I am loathe to pay the £170 they are asking for. 

It's hardly anything to lose sleep over. Just wait to see what Smart Parking's next move is, not start jumping around to the mischief making of DRP. They have no entitlement to any of your money. They certainly can't sue you, so just forget anything emanating from them.

But before we go any further, are you based in Scotland?

KeithP

craiggf said:

I got a Letter Before Claim from CST on behalf of Smart Parking with the response pack giving me 30 days to reply, which expires on Tuesday 2nd March.

Having received a Letter of Claim, you now need to be reading the first few paragraphs of the second post of the NEWBIES thread where you will find good guidance on how to deal with it.