Parking stories in the News/media

1505grandad

Parkmaven at it again:-

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/maidstone/news/even-though-i-could-prove-i-paid-they-still-threatened-to-319819/

"In 2021 KentOnline reported how a former IT specialist had warned shopping centre bosses about flaws in their new parking system after other drivers were hit with £100 fines.

But it had proved to be a continuing issue last year as shoppers were still being unfairly sent bills in the post, despite following rules at the ANPR car park.

A You Parking Space spokesman had said it was a result of a recent software update and that its team was actively investigating the matter."

Including the usual less than useless CAB "advice":-

"After speaking with the Citizens’ Advice Bureau on Tuesday (February 4), Robert was advised it was in his best interest to cough up the money as the receipt does not include his car registration or time stayed, and so it would not hold up in court.

He said: “They advised me to pay and get them to try and claim back but looking on the web hardly anyone gets paid back."

Umkomaas

Hopeless advice from the hapless CAB!

Coupon-mad

Smart Parking & DR Plus hounding a woman whose car was cloned, then reportedly closing the case then (months later, having kept her data) reopening it with more threatograms:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14362771/parking-fine-debt-recovery-firm-car-fault.html

Poor woman clearly forgot how to Google and actually thought bailiffs were coming...

Coupon-mad

Also posted this in the 'News on the 5 minute rule' thread:

New Joint BPA/IPC Code version dated today, has added an extra 'Exempt vehicles clause' to F1:

https://www.britishparking.co.uk/write/Documents/AOS/Sector Code Templates/sectorsingleCodeofPracticeVersion1.1130225.pdf

"The Panel has created a new category of Exempt Vehicle in Annex F.1. The category relates to vehicles parked on land managed by fixed camera technology. This change puts in place protection to ensure that where a genuine user is unable to make prompt payment when entering a pay on entry car park they do not receive a parking charge."

F.1. j) a vehicle parked in a car park managed by fixed camera technology (ANPR and/or CCTV) for which payment has been made for the full period of parking prior to the vehicle leaving the car park. NOTE: This exempt circumstance only relates to the timing of making payment. It does not exempt a motorist from parking charges which have been issued for other contraventions such as; · Partial or under payment for the time parked, · Where the driver has paid the tariff but made a major keying error when registering their vehicle, · Parking in a bay where the vehicle was not permitted to park (this list is not exhaustive)

MSE article today is quite good and balanced IMHO ... must admit I had a chat with the MSE journalist first!

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2025/02/private-parking-charges-five-minute-rule/#:~:text=If you park in a,new voluntary code of practice.

Jenni_D

From the article:

Earlier this month, the Government confirmed in a House of Lords debate that it would be launching a new consultation on plans to regulate the industry later this year.

How many blooming consultations do we need?!? Just get the code implemented FGS! 🙄

(Edited to sort the quote)

Nellymoser

In the House of Lords debate Lord Watts said:

My Lords, is it the case that many government departments use consultations as a reason not to do something? Is it not about time that we put timescales on these things and make sure that departments act on behalf of the public?

Answer to both has to be YES YES YES.

I assume they've made changes to how they intend to regulate the industry hence the need for a further consultation. Hope so would like to see the BPA IPC DVLA with no role whatsoever in it.

Coupon-mad

Sadly it is necessary because THIS government hasn't yet consulted. At all.

As the Baroness points out in that debate, if they don't consult first, the same thing (Judicial Review bomb) will happen to any new Code.

inthedepthsofthesea

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3d5dm748reo

Rob Downham, cafe owner in Sheffield, gets it...

"I think it's ludicrous they allowed the industry to self-regulate for as long as they did," Mr Downham said.

"How someone can own a car parking company and also sit on the appeals panel is just quite frankly ridiculous.

"It would never happen in any other. These people are quite defenceless in many ways and are scared of going to court and they use fear to make money which I think is the last thing the world needs."

daveyjp

Excel getting more heat from BBC Look North (Yorkshire) edition this evening.

Coupon-mad

daveyjp said:

Excel getting more heat from BBC Look North (Yorkshire) edition this evening.

Good. They deserve it, IMHO.

By their conduct, Excel & VCS be judged.

And some press have picked up that the MSE article (that I had some direct input in) has exposed that people who can't pay due to complete failure of payment systems - or do pay, but don't realise that their parking time started from a completely different time than appears on apps or printed tickets - will get rinsed for PCNs: 

https://www.express.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/2016536/mse-exposes-gaps-new-five-minute/amp