Parking stories in the News/media

Coupon-mad

Another article from our 'parking scam knowledgeable' and friendly journalist, David Walsh at the Sheffield Star, featuring VCS:

https://www.thestar.co.uk/business/consumer/excel-parking-sheffield-mum-slams-car-park-set-up-to-fail-drivers-after-demand-for-ps170-5406056

A Sheffield mum has vowed to fight a £170 bill from a Sheffield car park that is ‘set up to fail’ drivers.

Sophie Culf received the demand after a visit to the Carla Hackett hair salon. Customers park free if business owners input their registration number into a website, run by Vehicle Control Services, and obtain an ‘e-permit’.

Hairdresser Carla Hackett said on the day Sophie visited she was locked out of the system so she emailed the firm but was told they could not deal with her because she wasn’t the landowner.

Carla said: “We have paid loads of fines for clients, but the system was set up to fail. I’m now advising clients not to park there at all.”

Her salon is above Fellas hairdressers.

Paul Hood, owner of Fellas, said the website was a “shambles” and he had paid PCNs worth more than £1,000 on behalf of customers to maintain good relations with them.

The business had a ‘permanent list’ of staff and regular clients whose registration numbers were supplied to VCS, allowing them to park without repeatedly inputting details, he added. But six months ago (reportedly) it was removed without warning.

One worker received five £100 PCNs in a week.

ANPR and faulty systems setting consumers up to fail: repeated articles show this is all in a day's work for private parking firms.

#UK's Private Parking industry: Ruining high streets and businesses near you.

The IPC must be so proud.

Nellymoser

Dreadful but what you expect from Excel/VCS. You would hope these businesses are repeatedly raising these ongoing problems with the landowner since the PPC claim they can't discuss it with the business owner !!!

patient_dream

                      THE PROBLEM IS ...
The BPA and IPC are the TERRIBLE TWINS both have ROGUE TRADERS and MONEY SCAMMERS in their little subscription clubs

Coupon-mad

From FleetWorld:

'penalties' have surged again this year, with private parking charges and speeding tickets leading the rise.

One firm which processes fines for major vehicle fleets, says the numbers point to a financial hit for drivers and a mounting headache for businesses.

Comparing figures from August to October 2025 with the same period in 2024, Hudson Kapel found that private parking fines remain the largest single category, accounting for 35.5%.

Simon Withey, managing director at Hudson Kapel, said:

“The volume of fines keeps rising, and it’s not just hitting drivers’ wallets. For companies running big fleets, it’s an operational grind. Every penalty needs to be identified, checked and assigned to the right driver. The sheer volume makes compliance and efficiency a daily challenge.”

https://fleetworld.co.uk/britains-fleet-drivers-hit-by-wave-of-fines/

The article concludes;

"One ray of hope is the Government’s plans for a new Private Parking Code of Practice to raise standards across the private parking industry. A consultation ran this summer on proposals to crack down on poor practices among the private parking sector and seek to increase transparency, scrutiny and oversight. The Government has said the new code will be “delivered at pace”.

That last phrase worries me immensely, given the appalling fact that MHCLG's (case/statute law and consumer protection deaf) 'Options Assessment' gave absolutely no option for zero added money on top of a PCN.

Sigh... allowing the egregious practice of letting this rogue industry charge twice for the minor (ordinary, not extraordinary) costs of a cheap letter chain is going to be catastrophic,
unless someone stops the Government.

I'm trying.

patient_dream

SADLY, this government does not have a clue about anything. 

I was watching the nodding heads brigade at PMQ's today, what a farce on the front bench, I think they were all waiting for a Movie to start, looking around for the ice cream lady to appear.   VERY SAD 

Coupon-mad

Another day, another article:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c20e0n93x1zo.amp

Another unreadable UKPC sign:

"Shoppers have criticised new tariffs at a car park because they can only be paid by using a phone, rather than cash. The car park off Welton Road, in Brough, East Yorkshire, used to be free and open 24 hours a day, but fees have now been introduced for stays of more than an hour and signs say it will be closed between 22:00 and 06:00 GMT."

Carole Gedge, 79, who lives in the town, said: "There should be a meter, I wouldn't be able to do it on my phone and because of that I could get a fine." She raised concerns about the small print on the signs, calling it "absolutely unreadable...You'd need a pair of binoculars or a magnifying glass to see what it says."

Brian Pinion, 73, said: "I've got cash, I have a credit card, I'm quite happy to pay either method, but I don't have the ability to pay."

UKPC are completely ignoring the calls not to marginalise older drivers who could only pay by cash or card. Not everyone can use apps.

#ANPR in the hands of private parking firms: ruining a high street near you.

The BPA must be so proud.

patient_dream

Coupon-mad said:

Another day, another article:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c20e0n93x1zo.amp

Another unreadable UKPC sign:

"Shoppers have criticised new tariffs at a car park because they can only be paid by using a phone, rather than cash. The car park off Welton Road, in Brough, East Yorkshire, used to be free and open 24 hours a day, but fees have now been introduced for stays of more than an hour and signs say it will be closed between 22:00 and 06:00 GMT."

Carole Gedge, 79, who lives in the town, said: "There should be a meter, I wouldn't be able to do it on my phone and because of that I could get a fine." She raised concerns about the small print on the signs, calling it "absolutely unreadable...You'd need a pair of binoculars or a magnifying glass to see what it says."

Brian Pinion, 73, said: "I've got cash, I have a credit card, I'm quite happy to pay either method, but I don't have the ability to pay."

UKPC are completely ignoring the calls not to marginalise older drivers who could only pay by cash or card. Not everyone can use apps.

#ANPR in the hands of private parking firms: ruining a high street near you.

The BPA must be so proud.

BPA signs have been terrible for years, in my area they are still rubbish

WHERE IS THE BPA ????? I DOUBT THE DEFUNCT BPA EVER BOTHERS TO LOOK

Nellymoser

The firm say in the article the signage complied with BPA guidelines and met industry standards. Well doesn't that just prove how poor their standards are.

The BPA may think unreadable small print on the signs is acceptable but with so many others disagreeing surely it's time for the Private Parking Scrutiny and Advice Panel (PPSAP) to take a look and publicly give a decision.

If I recall correctly BPA/IPC said the role of this new Panel was to raise industry standards....we're waiting....

1505grandad

Broader Role of the PPSAP 

• Regularly review and enhance the Code to improve standards for motorists and operators. 

• Monitor decisions made by independent adjudicators for consistency. 

• Develop and enforce a consistent scheme of sanctions to ensure fair application of the Code. 

• Engage with consumer groups and government for a full Code review from April 2025. 

• Regularly meet with Consumer groups to hear motorists voice and concerns. 

Perhaps contact can be made with the "independent" chairman of the Panel Nigel Williams who I am sure will be more than happy to do a "regular review" of the latest signage.

sidsnoteveret

I have just looked at the PPSAP website. A brief page of non-information. Vacuous kicking of the can down the road. No method of contact. Hiding behind a smokescreen and mirrors.