Ludicrous Parking Charge Discussion

[Deleted User]

Fruitcake said:

It is good that you have an interest in the subject, but you need to understand the basics first. Fines and penalties can only be issued by courts, councils, and police. 
Unregulated private parking companies can only issue speculative invoices, otherwise referred to on here as invoices or scamvoices.

As advised above, the sticky thread for NEWBIES is the best place to start regarding scamvoices, or pepipoo.com for real fines and penalties.

I do know, just couldn’t think of a better title word, feel free to suggest one for me to replace it with .

[Deleted User]

MistyZ said:

I like your style GabiB.  

Looks like a bit more research is required but don't go away.  The Newbies' thread is very good if you want to find out more.  The wonderful experienced regulars here are very keen on accuracy & that's not just pedantry - it's vitally important in fighting parking charges.

 In my experience 13 year olds learn fast and you could be really useful here.   

Thanks, I’ve been into consumer stuff since I was 8 and MoneySaving is my passion and parking an interest, I started the board after a discussion with my parents about whether picking my mum up and dropping her off at a retail park while I was at the dentist would breach no return and found fascinating (in my eyes) parking stories, thinking other people may be interested and want to discuss.

[Deleted User]

DoaM said:

GabiB said:

For example near Stansted Airport there is a McDonald’s and a Starbucks with what appears to be one car park but is actually two car parks where if you walk from one outlet to another you will be fined. Madness!

No you won't 🙄

Based on this that I saw: https://www.theguardian.com/money/2018/nov/10/parking-fine-starbucks-mcdonalds-stansted-southgate-park, and a report on a consumer show

[Deleted User]

beamerguy said:

I think we see most things anyway.  You say you are 13, so were you at Stansted with your parents

I’ve never been to Stansted, saw it in the media and it interested (and surprised) me .

[Deleted User]

I’ve changed it to ‘charge’ as is written in the newbies thread, thanks for sending me to it.

MistyZ

GabiB said:
I’ve been into consumer stuff since I was 8 and MoneySaving is my passion and parking an interest, I started the board after a discussion with my parents about whether picking my mum up and dropping her off at a retail park while I was at the dentist would breach no return and found fascinating (in my eyes) parking stories, thinking other people may be interested and want to discuss.

Thing is, this forum is full of such stories so I guess a new thread about outrageous ones won't add anything.  The whole parking charge scam-fest is atrocious yet few people really understand what's going on unless they get a parking charge themselves and then look into it more deeply.  

I too was fascinated when I first came here looking for help.  I guess I'm saying you may not be adding anything new, though I think it would be great having such a young member who could learn more and perhaps help out(?)

Umkomaas

I think it would be great having such a young member who could learn more and perhaps help out(?)

At 13, just 4 more years before you potentially become PPC fodder. Keep reading to learn how to steer clear. Tick, tock!

Fruitcake

We were all NEWBIES once.

I got involved when I was a union representative and two of my colleagues got parking charges whilst on company business. One was a council charge and the other a private one. Thanks to the advice on this forum I got both of them cancelled.
Two years later I received a penalty for driving in a bus lane. Again, thanks to the knowledge I learned from here I successfully had it overturned.

I found the subject interesting and decided to stay. I made a lot of mistakes initially, and I still do occasionally. You have as well, and you will do in the future, but gradually you will learn from these mistakes. 

Whilst this forum is about private parking charges, it often ends with a court case. A single thread about a parking event can lead to other subjects such as contract law, acts of parliament, landownership, the rights of tenants, interpretation of wording, consumer rights, and a whole lot more.
We never know where a thread will take us, but there are normally a number of basic points.

The contract between a motorist and a parking scammer (I'm allowed to call them that because I'm simply quoting comments by our MPs in open parliamentary debate) is the signage at the site.
Therefore the position of the signs and their wording (the terms and conditions) is crucial. A breach of any one of these Ts and Cs will result in a parking charge.

That's where this forum comes in, because most people do not know in advance anything about the nationwide parking scam. A driver can nearly always be held liable. In certain circumstances, a keeper can also be held liable. This varies between nations within the UK because the four nations have different laws. 

Start by learning the basics, and pass this on to your parents and get them to understand the scam, and pass it on to any other drivers that they know.

The first "rule" is, do not park where you should not. You don't want random strangers parking on your driveway. Likewise, nobody should park on private property without permission. Just because a shop is shut and the car park is empty does not mean it is okay to park there.
Stopping on single and double yellow lines to check for directions, loading and unloading (both people and goods), checking a warning light or a "funny noise" are all allowed on a public highway, so never go into a private car park to do that. This should answer your query regarding your Mum being dropped off while you were at the dentist.

Whenever someone does park on private land, take pictures of the site and signage, especially if a pay and display ticket is needed. Make sure the ticket is held in place with something sticky, or in a windscreen wallet. Check it once all doors are closed, and take a picture from a distance and close up to show the time.

If someone gets a parking charge, do not pay it, do not ignore it, do not reveal the driver's identity. Come here for advice then appeal it accordingly.

If you want to research this further, learn how to navigate the site first. Do some basic and then more complicated searches. Look for things like "fluttering ticket", "forbidding signage", and most important of all, "PoFA 2012" (the Protection of Freedoms Act 20132) Schedule 4.

The NEWBIES is a really good place to start. It will take you in all the directions I mentioned above.

Good luck, and  I hope you stay with us, but don't neglect your other duties.

One last thing. There will be a new mandatory parking code of practice (CoP) released in a few weeks time for public consultation. It is vitally important that members of the motoring public have their say. We really want as many people as possible to have their say. It's the only way this unregulated scam will ever improve, so try to get the adults in your family interested.





 

Umkomaas

Top post @Fruitcake - extremely informative not only for the OP, but for any newbie who comes here. Nine times out of ten this would be much better for copying and pasting to any future stalked newbie!

I've bookmarked it.

[Deleted User]

Brilliant post @Fruitcake, really helpful, and I’ll look into the CoP, I’m into rules and regulations!