Parking stories in the News/media

Coupon-mad

Yet another one where the victim is blamed for not knowing that ANPR and a keypad system had been set up at his gym at a hotel.

Despite the wrong headline, the motorist is NOT going to pay the scam £20 admin fee to Smart Parking and quite right too:

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/gym-goer-quashes-100-north-054524561.html

He hasn't 'quashed' it.

John has since ‘won’ his appeal - but car park operator Smart Parking Ltd insist he will still need to pay a £20 ‘admin fee’.

The unhappy customer says he will take the issue to small claims court.

A Smart Parking Ltd spokesperson said: 

“Smart Parking are proud members of the International Parking Community (IPC) and operate an Independent Appeals Service (IAS). We were brought in to manage the car park at Moorville Hotel to stop parking abuse.

“In the case of Mr Groves, he did appeal, and after an investigation we came to the conclusion that although he did park at the site, he did not add his registration number into the system which is a clear part of the terms of conditions of use at the car park. In line with the IPC Code of Practice guidelines we offered Mr Groves the opportunity to pay a reduced one-off admin fee of £20.”

Why should he? As a matter of principle. No.

It's up to the operator to make sure their new signs and systems ate 'bound to be seen' but they clearly didn't do that.

The IPC must be so proud.

Coupon-mad

And here we have Smart Parking again, and horrible Debt Recovery Plus chasing a cancer patient for £170: 

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/comments/25440979/

“The first call agent accused me of lying about the letters. I have contacted them several times.

I just had a radical hysterectomy as a preventative treatment for cervical cancer progressing.

I am off work on SSP, all this has been explained to both companies over and over again. Yet they still demand £170 from me or I will face legal action.”

The poor duped victim is actually offering them money.

The IPC must be so proud.

patient_dream

“Smart Parking are proud members of the International Parking Community"

I burst out laughing at such a stupid statement ......... Just shows how low Smart Parking standards really are ?


Government needs to wake up and get rid of the IPC because they are a danger to the public and are mot fit for purpose... and NOT NEEDED

Nellymoser

Another MP James Frith calls for urgent changes to the drop-off system at Manchester Airport after more residents complain. 

In his letter to Airport bosses he said: “I fully appreciate the airport’s efforts to reduce congestion and speed up drop-off and pick-up.

“But the current approach risks penalising honest motorists for genuine mistakes and the fines issued appear disproportionate when compared to the duration of the visit and the cost of the original parking fee.”

“People should be able to drop off and collect family members without the fear of receiving an unfair fine.

“I hope Manchester Airport will listen to these concerns and work to ensure a transparent and reasonable system for all users.”

https://www.burytimes.co.uk/news/25436666.bury-mp-challenges-new-manchester-airport-parking-charges/

Nellymoser

BRISTOL AIRPORT this time...

Portishead 84yr old dad confused by Bristol Airport's new pick-up and drop-off area hit with £100 charge for briefly stopping to ask for directions on top of paying £7 for the 10-minute pick up.

His son Gary who helped him appeal says: "He was just basically trying to find out where to go to collect us. And (to be fined £100 for) that seems just completely unreasonable. This is simply extortion and poor implementation of a scheme designed to stop people freely dropping and picking up and causing congestion and safety issues." 

Not completely unreasonable to Vehicle Control Services "We note your comment that you stopped to ask directions; however, as stated, the signs near to the location you stopped clearly stated "No Stopping" and warned that if you did so, you were liable for the Charge displayed."

Wonder if VCS thinks it's completely unreasonable the pensioner didn’t get the stated 14 days to pay the charge at reduced £60 rate as it took 12 days for VCS's charge notice to arrive at his home. 

A further appeal has been lodged with the Independent Appeals Services.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/confused-pensioner-at-bristol-airport-fined-100-because-he-asked-for-directions/ar-AA1LTxOj

Thorndorise

Will is out MSE bashing..just in time for the new consultation.
Interestingly he calls for the government to publish a site with official guidance on navigating a parking charge - hell no thank you!

ChirpyChicken

Thorndorise said:

Will is out MSE bashing..just in time for the new consultation.
Interestingly he calls for the government to publish a site with official guidance on navigating a parking charge - hell no thank you!

They dont like it up em'

Coupon-mad

Thorndorise said:

Will is out MSE bashing..just in time for the new consultation.
Interestingly he calls for the government to publish a site with official guidance on navigating a parking charge - hell no thank you!

I guessed he'd stab at the new MSE Guide!

I don't know but I suspect that MSE Towers has probably heard his wrath but the Guide was checked by Martin Lewis.

Wonder what Will's beef is with the MSE Guide?

The fact my name is on it?! 

Anyhoo, can't wait for the day when ML says something more sensible about private parking charges than he used to say.  ML Money Show is back soon:

I suggest now is the time for us to email the ML Money Show to say that they need to properly cover this topic this Autumn and that the Public Consultation monetary 'caps' are no caps at all and the Government must re-think and ban £170 'parking charges' including an outright ban on debt recovery fees that are nothing of the sort.

The added £70 per PCN is shared between the DRA and PPC which is gilding the already inflated lily, such that:

- the parking firm gets more than face value of already eye-watering £100 invoices, if they refuse appeals, use old DVLA addresses and either rush to escalate cases or sit on their hands for 5 years;

- 'no win no fee' DRAs only get paid if they extract money, which incentivises them to refuse to consider any disputes and refuse valid transfers of liability to drivers;

- in the case of the 44% of consumer victims whose case involves multiple unfair PCNs, the PPC and DRA is sharing £HUNDREDS (sometimes thousands) in extra money for sending ONE template letter before claim!

- no wonder so many people are better off letting a case go to court, given there is no impartial appeals service. Defending a claim is free and most people can win (even a rare case lost at a hearing usually sees the judge disallow what the last government called the 'extortion' of the £70 'fee'. If judges know it, why doesn't the government)?

Email:

martinlewis@itv.com

X handle (if allowed to post here):

@MartinSLewis

--------------------------------------

Another thought:

I feel we need a simple, new eye-catching campaign. How about this: 

Can someone please create a mock up yellow parking ticket we can send to Martin Lewis, the MHCLG, the DVLA, the FCA and the CMA?

Could also tweet it to:

The chair of the MHCLG Select Committee
The Money Advice Trust
Citizens Advice
StepChange
National Debtline
and national newspapers


I thought we could bombard the above - by post or email - with a yellow 'ticket' with these sort of words:


PARKING CHARGES

DON'T PARK THE PROBLEM

£170 IS NOT FINE


#ParkingCodeofPractice #MHCLG #excessiveparkingcharges