Parking stories in the News/media

Nellymoser

Manchester Airport seems unaware the IPC's accreditation is a sham. After IPC initial assessment/audit the DVLA doesn't bother to monitor the parking trade associations performance or effectiveness as a ATA.

If there was evidence IPC were elevating standards Govt intervention would not have been required. Mr Hurley just doesn't seem to grasp this.

See also @ezerscrooge new thread 

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6564425/ipc-launching-accredited-airport-parking-provider#latest

Nellymoser

Annoyed Caernarfon visitor who received a £100 PCN can't understand why Initial Parking's paying machine at Slate Quay car park was "quite happy to take his payment without the need to enter his registration number."

https://www.gbnews.com/lifestyle/cars/driver-left-furious-over-huge-parking-penalty-despite-paying-for-ticket-highway-robbery

MothballsWallet

Thorndorise said:

ooh and the 'Should I appeal' now takes you to the Barbour led chatbot - in a different window and website...
https://parkingmax.co.uk/Parking/IPC 



Blimey and on that page - the Barbour logic privacy and the T&Cs send you to these pages - what a farce!

Sorry for the necromancy - the Home Office is doing a better job of their eVisas information site than Barbour.

And that's saying something.

Nellymoser

More evidence and admission that private parking companies issue ANPR pcns in error and have 'technical issues'.

https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/m25-dartford-crossing-drivers-slapped-9702120

(Lots of articles online today re this)

One victim noted the company are "very unforgiving if you make a mistake, but they don’t care if they make a mistake."  

Nellymoser

A Colchester Hospital visitor has slammed Parkingeye's parking system raising concerns about transparency and fairness after he was fined £70 despite paying for parking.

https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/24716639.mans-anger-getting-colchester-hospital-parking-fine/

A Parkingeye spokesman said: "..the signs give motorists clear guidance on how to use the car park responsibly."

But the man who works in data protection said:

"Parkingeye's signage does not clearly state that the parking session begins upon entry, and not at the time of payment" 

"The app used for purchasing parking displays a countdown starting from the time of purchase, conflicting with the ANPR-monitored entry time.

“I have reported this issue to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), which oversees data protection laws, including requirements for transparency.

Hmmm....not convinced the ICO will see the issue.

Nellymoser

A woman wants people to be aware a cheque book may be needed to pay a Group Nexus pcn and she warns even when pcn is paid another letter saying a higher payment is due will come your way.

https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/24716413.woman-warns-motorists-castlepoint-car-park-fines/

In the article Nexus refuse to acknowledge or say why both their phone and online pcn payment systems were not working for 4hrs when the woman tried to pay.

Strange how Nexus pcn payment systems are often not working yet their system for escalating pcn cost to £100 - £170 never seems to fail.

Nellymoser

Oh dear....UKPC 'hound' Scottish shoppers in MP Pete Wishart's constituency. 

Fed up residents contacted the MP and local councillor saying they are being hit with invalid PCNs after parking at a local convenience store. Some have spent months fighting the charges.

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/shoppers-hounded-unfair-parking-fines-34112030?utm_source=linkCopy&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar

Kinross-shire councillor said: “UKPC needs to deal with this as a matter of urgency. It is unacceptable that local residents are being hounded with notices, while producing their valid ticket.”

MP Pete Wishart recalls “A few years ago he was involved in a similar situation with another parking company." (I'm sure it was Smart Parking, he described them as the John Wayne of all the cowboys). 

“I helped bring forward the UK Government’s Private Parking Code of Practice, which aimed to tackle this very issue. It is therefore very disappointing to see it is still cropping up.

“I know what a misery these parking firms can cause to residents. I will now be writing to UKPC to remind them of the code of practice and the need to prioritise good customer relations.”

Hope he writes to Angela Rayner too.

UKPC claim for a few days there was a miscommunication between the ANPR camera and paid parking system that caused PCNs to be issued in error. With one resident receiving 5 notices since July....UKPC are clearly lying.

Umkomaas

“I know what a misery these parking firms can cause to residents. I will now be writing to UKPC to remind them of the code of practice and the need to prioritise good customer relations.”

Hope he writes to Angela Rayner too.

I'm surprised he's unaware of its stalling thanks to the JR.  Given his passion at the time, I would have thought he'd be incandescent right now if he knew nothing positive has happened in the last 5 years!  Seems like he is blissfully unaware. 

Coupon-mad

I reckon he's been taken in by the joint Code. Some MPs thought that was it.

Nellymoser

Think you could be right Coupon-mad. Best the MP is advised of the facts. Can't leave him to think the Govt CoP he enthusiastically championed for is the one that has failed to address the issues. The more the issues continue to crop up the more it will show up the ATAs joint code as being ineffective.