Parking stories in the News/media

Half_way

To save adding to a post about something else it might be worth having a seperate thread for parking stories in the media

Kicking it off is this on the BBC news site

"Drivers fined as Durham car park camera 'misses them leaving'

 yep, its the good old double dip again, full story on the BBC here

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-61736566

A few choice quotes

Resident Linda Parkin said, since then, hundreds of drivers had been charged £60 because the camera thinks "the car was there and it definitely wasn't".

Smart Parking said the system it managed "strictly follows British Parking Association (BPA) guidelines".

"Hundreds of people use the car park every day without any issue," a spokesperson said.

and

Mrs Parkin said many older drivers had paid the penalty, which increases to £100 if not paid within 14 days, because they "don't want the hassle of arguing with the parking company" or were not able to fill in the appeal form online.

Parish councillor Kimberley Noble said she received a ticket after going in the morning to buy milk and returning in the afternoon for bread.

"It said we parked there for seven hours," she said.

"A lot of elderly people rely on their cars to get to the shops - some are that petrified of a ticket that they are now using the bigger shops rather than our local shops."

and

The owner of the business, who did not want to be named, said her takings had dropped by about 40% because "customers are frightened to come" and she was worried some shops might be forced to close.

"The local community are boycotting the car park," she said.

The landlord introduced restrictions to stop "people using it as a park and ride but they've got no evidence to say that was ever happening - it never happened", she added.

Some businesses are able to log exemptions if their customers have to stay longer than the permitted time period, but proof was required for appeals and collecting this was time consuming, she said.

One elderly shopper had paid five charges "because he doesn't know what else to do and he's so frightened" and another paid the charge after being threatened with court action, she said.

"She was so frightened and intimidated that she felt she had no choice but to pay," she said.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-61736566

Snakes_Belly

"Smart Parking said the system it managed "strictly follows British Parking Association (BPA) guidelines".

"Hundreds of people use the car park every day without any issue," a spokesperson said"

Lavrov's interview with the BBC reminded me very much of the comments made by the PPC's and their clingons.

"We did not invade Ukraine".

fisherjim

"Smart Parking said the system it managed "strictly follows British Parking Association (BPA) guidelines".

Someone needs to point out that these "guidelines" (made up by a subscription parking club) are outlawed by the government in authority run car parks.

Snakes_Belly

I hope that the issues with the Lichfield car parks makes the nationals. 

Umkomaas

One elderly shopper had paid five charges "because he doesn't know what else to do and he's so frightened" and another paid the charge after being threatened with court action, she said.

"She was so frightened and intimidated that she felt she had no choice but to pay," she said.

Particularly heart rending. Elderly lady rightened and intimidated into paying - that's at least £300, if not £500 - with no likely cause. 

I'm sure @Coupon-mad might find it useful as evidence for the DLUHC Steering Group, and one piece of the mounting evidence we can use when responding to the next Consultation.  

1505grandad

"Someone needs to point out that these "guidelines" (made up by a subscription parking club) are outlawed by the government in authority run car parks"

Not according to DVLA  -  (The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is an executive agency within the Department for Transport (DfT).)

Coupon-mad

Yep, we all need to gather the most clear evidence to show that people are ONLY paying the DRA and roboclaim lot because they are frightened and intimidated, NOT because those money-grabbing parasites offer 'a buffer against court'.

We need to disabuse the Govt of any doubt that maybe this is 'debt resolution' that is worth propping up with escalated money.

The sooner the added 'costs' are banned the less incentive for the DRA and roboclaim aggressive quasi-legals to sniff around.  More people will pay at PCN rate, like they do with ParkingEye.

Fewer court claims.  Fewer CCJs. 

I mean it is blinking obvious but this is stuff we must all evidence, not just state.

The DLUHC is all about evidence. 

Let's gather evidence here, as @Half_way suggests.  Keep the news articles coming, especially about people being driven away from shopping centres and/or being so scared they pay hundreds to make it go away.

...and if anyone can record DRA and roboclaim intimidation and lies on the phone, please post that too.

Umkomaas

Coupon-mad said:

Yep, we all need to gather the most clear evidence to show that people are ONLY paying the DRA and roboclaim scum because they are frightened and intimidated, NOT because those money-grabbing parasites offer 'a buffer against court'.

We need to disabuse the Govt of any doubt that maybe this is 'debt resolution' that is worth propping up with escalated money.

The sooner the added 'costs' are banned the less incentive for the DRA and roboclaim scum to sniff around.  More people will pay at PCN rate, like they do with ParkingEye.

Fewer court claims.  Fewer CCJs. 

I mean it is blinking obvious but this is stuff we must all evidence, not just state.

The DLUHC is all about evidence. 

Maybe this thread could be used as a quick access repository for such examples to be linked for referencing once the third Consultation gets underway. 

Fruitcake

Half_way, would you be agreeable to adding relevant info to the first post as they are added to the thread by other posters?

Mouse007

Newtown McDonald's customers given parking fines for BP garage in Potters Bar (hundreds of miles away)

https://www.countytimes.co.uk/news/20211502.newtown-mcdonalds-customers-given-parking-fines-bp-garage-potters-bar/


Parking refunds after fines incorrectly issued to shoppers (problems recording the exit and entry times on different days)

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/malling/news/scores-of-shoppers-refunded-in-retail-park-ticket-fiasco-268569/


‘Disillusioned’ trainee GP given parking fines after night shifts overran (by less than 10 minutes)

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/nhs-parking-fines-covid-pandemic-b2097197.html


Motorists warned of huge parking fines simply for charging their electric car

https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/cars/1621527/electric-car-parking-fine-warning-charging-stations-uk-warning

Mouse007

threatened by bailiffs over a parking fine he paid 18 MONTHS ago

https://www.thesun.co.uk/motors/18678358/bailiffs-parking-fine-already-paid/


tourist issued a £60 parking fine despite buying ticket in 'unfair' charge (had to  wait 14 minutes for a space)

https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/cars/1526587/parking-fine-cornwall-tourist-penalty-charge-ticket


Mum shocked by massive parking fines after going to the gym 5 days running (VCS have been "rude and demanding")

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/mum-shocked-massive-parking-fines-25971780


Parking fines at Century Retail Park look set to be cancelled

https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/19854270.parking-fines-century-retail-park-look-set-cancelled/