Parking stories in the News/media

Coupon-mad

The BPA must be proud of Euro Car Parks again, trying to rip off a lady with a disability and reportedly not replying to the newspaper:
https://www.lincolnshireworld.com/news/people/disabled-woman-given-parking-fine-despite-displaying-ticket-and-leaving-20-minutes-early-4214885

I mean we can all see from the photo of her ticket that the machine has only recorded 3 digits from her VRM but have ECP told her it's a keying error?  Are they honouring the new statutory CoP by cancelling all keying errors?

Of course not...

Coupon-mad

And more BPA pride here, as APCOA reportedly continued to churn out £70 PCNs to Tesco customers, despite the fact that their VRM exempting machines at Swansea were 'out of order':
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/swansea-tesco-marina-parking-fine-27278915.amp

"The letter Ms Williams received claimed she had not verified the tickets, which she said she was unable to do. She now fears she will receive further fines for her other visits.

She said: "I went in to do my shopping as usual, spent over £120 there, and got the ticket they give you to verify your parking. I'd been there a few times and I knew what to do.

went to the machine and it was out of order. I went back in, spoke to the security guard, and he said, 'don't worry, as long as you're under the two hours you won't get a fine.' And low and behold, I got a fine.

"I have been in a couple of times since then and done exactly the same thing. The machine was out of action for about two, two and a half weeks. If I pay it within 28 days it will be £40, but if I pay it afterwards it will be £70. Also, on top of this, because my car is leased, the original bill goes to my leasing company, and they charge a £10 fee to send it off to me as an admin fee.

I have contested it and I have had an e-mail back saying it was being looked into and I would hear back within 28 days."

A Tesco spokeswoman said: “We were sorry to hear about this error. We have contacted the company who manage parking enforcement at our Swansea Marina Superstore to have this rectified.”

Apcoa Parking has been approached for comment but has not, so far, responded.

Quelle surprise...

Coupon-mad

And a third one - well done the BPA, a hat-trick - with UKPC (as always) rejecting an appeal from a pregnant KFC customer:
https://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/news/amp/kfc-cancels-pregnant-woman-s-parking-fine-9320910/

The KFC manager had to step in and cancel it.

Clear off, UKPC. What do ex-clampers like you actually do for society?

Nothing.
No-one will miss you if and when you get DVLA-banned again.

Coupon-mad

And I suspect ParkingEye will love this:
https://www.lancs.live/news/lancashire-news/clayton-le-woods-asda-traffic-27315244.amp

What a moneymaking opportunity, eh?

Coupon-mad

Wonder if this hospital also uses ParkingEye?
https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/more-1200-nottingham-hospitals-staff-8598895.amp

Another PPC moneymaking opportunity to rip off hospital staff.  Only in the UK...

KeithP

Coupon-mad said:

Wonder if this hospital also uses ParkingEye?

According to the hospital website it is First Parking.

Coupon-mad

KeithP said:

Coupon-mad said:

Wonder if this hospital also uses ParkingEye?

According to the hospital website it is First Parking

.

Many thanks. First Parking.  I predict they're going to have a field day at the expense of those NHS Staff.

The BPA will be soooo proud.

Fruitcake

Fake bailiff scam as reported by several posters has been picked up by the Independent.

Fake bailiff firm with bogus London address using false parking fines to scam families (msn.com)

Le_Kirk

Whilst not strictly news in the media it is news that I thought regulars would want to read.  I became fed up with POPLA assessors' use of the word "rational" where it should be "rationale" so I complained to POPLA and after several "you cannot complain without a case in progress" and "our role is to investigate procedural errors" type responses, finally received the following: -

I do note your comments, however, as stated our role at POPLA complaints is to investigate whether a procedural error has occurred on a specific case.  
I do thank you for highlighting it to us that the word ‘rational’ is being used instead of ‘rationale’ and I do appreciate both words have different meanings, I have fed this back internally and it will be included in our program of continuous improvement.
Our complaints process is now closed, and we will not be entering into any further discussion about this matter.

Let's hope they do!

Le_Kirk

This is how to attract people to a town, OK it was in France on my recent trip there but the town was rammed with visitors, the car park was full, I was lucky to get a space, people were coming up to the PDT and walking away with a (sometimes bemused) happy expression on their faces.  Other car parks were available but you had to pay and they were almost empty!  For those who don't speak French, it states "Parking Free Today"