Win against G24 by the little man!

EarlsdonUK

I apologise for starting a fresh post/thread, but I feel it’s worthy.

First, I wish to thank a couple of people for their support and advice ie Coupon-Mad, Fruitcake, Redx, D_P_Dance and Umkomaas.

I must also say that the advice on the NEWBIES Thread has been VERY helpful.

In summary, G24 issued me a PCN in relation to an allegation that my vehicle had been parked at one of five parking sites they manage, in close proximity, for the management committee of private apartments in Coventry.

In their Notice, I felt they had failed to properly specify the location they alleged my vehicle was parked, and the period of time it was apparently there ie they had ‘mashed up’ the addresses of two different sites in their Notice ie post code from one site, street address from another. They had also included two images which suggested the vehicle had only been on site for 13 seconds, but no formal statement to that effect.

Starting a couple of days of receiving the Notice, I emailed their Customer Services on three occasions, asking them for clarification on the issue of location and time, and asked them for copies of any other images they had. Their response to my first two requests resulted in responses telling me my only route was via their appeals procedure. I replied by telling them I did not want to appeal, I simply wanted clarification and information. I received no reply to this email (big surprise!).

In my later complaint to them, as a result of the advice and support from you guys and reading the IPC Code of Practice and GDPR Regs , I claimed that their failure to properly specify the location and period of time was contrary to the provisions of POF. I also claimed that my initial contacts with their Customer Services were ‘Representations’ (under the IPC Code of Practice) and requests for personal data (under GDPR); both of which must be responded to within 28 days - and, by the time I complained to them, that timescale had elapsed.

With the advice of you guys, I contacted my MP, who replied with a sympathetic email saying she would do all she could to help, but this didn’t go further; no complaint, she’s a busy person.

I also wrote to the landowners, not so much complaining, more appealing to their sense of fairness; asking them to arrange for the withdrawal of the Notice.

Along the way, I appealed via their on line portal, not expecting more than I got back, a standard rejection. However, I had included in my appeal that I had already requested images of my vehicle, and repeated that request again. In their rejection, they said they would only consider producing those images if I made a “proper request’ under the Data Protection Act.

In my later complaint, I said that this response ie asking me to make a proper request for data, was misleading - and not in keeping with the GDPR Regs, which allow for ANY request for such data, even via social media and, crucially, made to any person in the organisation. My assertion was that the email I sent to their Customer Service, a couple of days after receipt of their Notice, constituted a data access request and, given that my complaint was being made more than 28 days later, they had failed to comply with the Regs.

Overall, though I accept some of my tactics and arguments may have been weak, my strategy has been to give them some of their own medicine - to harass, irritate and demonstrate to them that I am not going to be a pushover.

Today, I received my reward, a letter saying they had ‘waived’ my Notice.

Umkomaas

Well done, good outcome. 

With the advice of you guys, I contacted my MP, who replied with a sympathetic email saying she would do all she could to help, but this didn’t go further; no complaint, she’s a busy person.

They are often not the 'silver bullet', but you will have at least raised her awareness as to how out of control private parking firms can be, and that awareness might just pay dividends when MPs come to vote on the final stages of the Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 (expected imminently). 

Would you be good enough to to mark off your original thread that you've been successful and provide future readers with the details by showing the link to this one?

EarlsdonUK

Umkomaas said:

Well done, good outcome. 

With the advice of you guys, I contacted my MP, who replied with a sympathetic email saying she would do all she could to help, but this didn’t go further; no complaint, she’s a busy person.

They are often not the 'silver bullet', but you will have at least raised her awareness as to how out of control private parking firms can be, and that awareness might just pay dividends when MPs come to vote on the final stages of the Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 (expected imminently). 

Would you be good enough to to mark off your original thread that you've been successful and provide future readers with the details by showing the link to this one?

Thanks, I’ll end original thread

Le_Kirk

Well done, great perseverance and a good outcome!

Coupon-mad

Yay, a nice determined fightback!

WAVES at G24...!

EarlsdonUK

Coupon-mad said:

Yay, a nice determined fightback!

WAVES at G24...!

Thanks, of all the people who’ve helped me, you stand out; I appreciate it!

Coupon-mad

Good stuff.  I try to make a difference and not just here.  

There are battles and there are wars.

Redx

Well done from me too. 😄😄👍👍. Perseverance pays !!