Crawley Leisure Park UKPC

Whiskas12

Hi. Not sure if posting in correct place here. 

My elderly parents went to Cineworld yesterday. They parked in a disabled bay at Crawley Leisure Park. My dad is registered disabled. 

When they returned to their car there was what appeared to be a ticket on the windscreen, however, there was no ticket in the plastic wrapping. So, it was just the plastic wrapping stuck on the windscreen. 

They are now very anxious that they are going to receive a fine. However, they cannot even contact UKPC as when they ring them or go on their website there it will only let you contact them with a reference number, which they don't have as they didn't get one, as no actual ticket attached to the wrapping. 

Is there anything they can do about this? They don't really want to suddenly find out in a month or so's time that they are in trouble for non payment. And its worrying them. 

They went to the cinema to see Belfast and then to McDonalds, so all within the rules of the car park. 

Thanks.

Coupon-mad

Sounds like 'ghost ticketing' where a rogue PPC puts a (sometimes empty, or a PCN that's temporarily there but removed entirely) packet on the windscreen.  They do this for the photo opportunity of making it look like a PCN was served.

If this is what they've done, UKPC will get DVLA data in a month and will send a NTK, at which point the keeper can appeal.  Rogue PPCs do this to charge an extortionate £100 and avoid offering a discount.

To be really proactive, try a Formal Complaint about UKPC to the BPA and DVLA, in his name, recounting what he found and requiring the DVLA to flag the case and his vulnerability as a disabled elderly keeper, and block UKPC from accessing this RK's data whilst the BPA investigate the allegation of 'ghost ticketing' with an empty packet.

What would be bloody brilliant if you are up to fight this like I would: go to the cinema and explain the issue and ask for the Cctv footage they might have of their site parking agent involved in rogue practice by photographing a 'PCN' packet but never printing any ticket.  Depends on the position of any CCTV.

Whilst there, read and photo the signs and ask the Cinema whether drivers are meant to exempt their.VRM in a hidden keypad at the till/entrance (to claim free parking) and if so, why the heck it's not conspicuous!

Take a photo or two of that keypad too, in context of where it is placed, if I am right.

TELL DAD NOT TO PAY IT WHEN THE NTK PCN ARRIVES BY POST, AS YOU HAVE FOUND OUT HOW A KEEPER APPEALS AND WINS, AND HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DVLA AND BPA.

DVLA complaint email is in post #5 of the NEWBIES thread and as for the BPA, email Head of AOS, Sara Roberts:

sara.r@britishparking.co.uk

D_P_Dance

 that they are going to receive a fine.

That will never happen.  Private companies ccannot fine peopel . Al they can do is pester people for compensation for the alleged harm they suffered from  an alleged breach of an alleged contract.

If they take you to courtand you defend properly they are very likle to lose.

Have you read the newbies and complained to your MP?

Trainerman

There also appear to be "practical joke" fake PCN tickets/bags on a well known auction site. It could just be a prank, and therefore nothing will happen. To be safe, follow the suggestions from Coupon-Mad and the regulars but try to let your parents know that there is little to worry about. Even if a follow up does land, we and you can help them.

Umkomaas

When they returned to their car there was what appeared to be a ticket on the windscreen, however, there was no ticket in the plastic wrapping. So, it was just the plastic wrapping stuck on the windscreen. 

They are now very anxious that they are going to receive a fine. However, they cannot even contact UKPC

If there was nothing in the plastic envelope, how do you link it to UKPC?  Plastic envelopes don't ordinarily carry any PPC identifier on them. 

D_P_Dance

Probably on the car park sign  

Fruitcake

It is not a fine.

In addition to the above advice, never, ever 'phone a parking company or any of their agents.

Complaints should also be in writing. A conversation whether face to face or over the 'phone is not worth the paper upon which it is writ.

D_P_Dance

They are now very anxious that they are going to receive a fine. 

They are not, private companies have no powers to fine people.   What they might receive is a Parking Charge Notice, usually a scam from an ex-clamper.  .

This is fully explained in the newbies thread, please read it.