Parking stories in the News/media

patient_dream

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81899774#Comment_81899774

A DUNCE CAP FOR UKPC

UKPC has a history of stupidity

** HIDING BEHIND BUSHES

** DOCTORING PHOTOS

Doubt if the BPA will be interested, they just let their scammers run riot

STUPID UKPC

Nellymoser

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/electric-car-owner-slams-private-043000463.html

The parking management system implemented at this car park by the 'expert' parking management company (unnamed in the article) is clearly 'not fit for purpose'. It only monitors cars coming in and out, it doesn't record if you are using the charging points.

Norman left his car charging in an Aviemore hotel car park for 40 minutes while he had a coffee inside. Several days later he received a £100 pcn from the English company for the time he had been parked there - despite signs saying parking in the charging bays was free.

When the 76 yr old phoned the Midlands parking firm they dismissed his complaint. However the manager at the Scottish hotel who he contacted apologised and has since quashed his pcn.

Nellymoser

https://www.change.org/p/been-caught-out-parking-after-8pm-at-west-quay-retail-park-cancel-fines-make-it-fairer/u/34336572

25/2/26 update from Cllr Jeremy Moulton

Umkomaas

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81900117#Comment_81900117

Cllr Moulton seems to have his finger on the pulse of this scam. His communications with his constituents are so well laid out and explained simply, yet on point. I just hope the approaches he is proposing to undertake with likely stonewall responses (Trading Standards, Council, BPA) don’t dampen his apparent grit and determination.

Nellymoser

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/tv-presenter-alexander-armstrong-teams-up-with-the-cma-to-champion-clear-pricing?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications-topic&utm_source=8fe9cd0b-1f41-4f27-96a6-a85764ebad1a&utm_content=immediately

Press release:

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has today launched its Clear Pricing campaign to encourage UK businesses to be upfront, transparent and fair with their customers.

Clear pricing is at the heart of building customer trust. We want businesses to stay on the right side of the law and compete on the strength of their products, not on hidden fees or confusing charges.

We’ve shown we’re serious about supporting businesses and this three-step pricing check makes it even easier for businesses to understand their legal responsibilities as they navigate the new rules.

We’re urging businesses to review their pricing practices now, because when companies play fair, everyone benefits.

Alongside helping businesses to comply, the CMA is also protecting consumers through enforcement action – and is progressing its first investigations into pricing practices under the new powers. 

Let's hope ECP progress to the investigation stage.

Maybe Derek would better focusing on this for the private parking industry instead of his latest media broadcasts warning Govt what will happen if they reduce the pcn cost and ban the 'debt fees' (or whatever they're calling these fees today).

Nellymoser

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgj08wn90qo?xtor=AL-72-%5Bpartner%5D-%5Byahoo.north.america%5D-%5Bheadline%5D-%5Bnews%5D-%5Bbizdev%5D-%5Bisapi%5D

Signs outlining new parking charges at Framlingham's Co-op were put up accidentally, the supermarket says.

"If any of our members and customers in Framlingham have paid using the RingGo app, they should contact our customer support team."

patient_dream

Signs outlining new parking charges at Framlingham's Co-op were put up accidentally

OF COURSE THEY WERE ???

Coupon-mad

How on earth does that make any sense?!

IPSERV are a (hated by motorists) Council arm that issues £100 parking charges on supposed 'private land' provided or owned by Ipswich Council (which is questionable in itself, given the MHCLG's stated position on the Robert Goodwill letter to local authorities telling them they can't do this).

But this is a Co-op car park for goodness sake!

Co-op admit they WERE 'reviewing' the car park arrangement but what the heck were Co-op thinking to let IPSERV 'accidentally'(?) restrict all shoppers to a max twenty minute trolley dash, with 5 minutes either side to find a space, park, read the new signs (then after a rushed shop) load your bags and hare off past the cameras with your fingers crossed?!

What about extra free time allowances for elderly & disabled shoppers?

What a mess. IPSERV should be ashamed.

Somebody could FOI Ipswich Council for a copy of the agreement and all comms IPSERV had with the Co-op and any other party that led to these signs going up. Plus any comms with the journalist and Co-op (and any other interested party) that caused the signs to be hastily removed.

Might be revealing!

Nellymoser

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81885987#Comment_81885987

I think the Sainsbury's in this article is different to the ones C-mad posted on.

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/sittingbourne/news/supermarket-defends-new-anpr-parking-rules-after-shoppers-le-336755/

Coupon-mad

Yes my one was Horsham in Sussex, not far from me. Your new one is:

Sainsbury’s defends new ANPR parking rules at its Sittingbourne store

"The normal ticket machines have been replaced with four number plate registration machines directly out the front of the Avenue of Remembrance site.

Shoppers will need to enter their registration and get a refund ticket from one of the new machines if they are staying for more than half an hour."

Imagine how many people - genuine users of Sainsburys or the local shops & businesses - ECP will now catch out, like they did at Kent Country Parks. Keypads deliberately or negligently set to cause a high % of partial VRMs is a scam.

As is a 'free 30 minute total stay' that people will think begins & ends when at their car.