Parking stories in the News/media

Coupon-mad

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81924730#Comment_81924730

I agree - but your question was about mobile camera cars which are only ever used to send PCNs by post. That's their purpose and their use is restricted.

Even on a practical level you wouldn't drive an expensive camera car into a car park then get out to affix a PCN to a windscreen!

But I think the first article journalist got the wrong end of the stick and didn't realise the new deal is for APCOA to administer off and on-street penalties.

Coupon-mad

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81924870#Comment_81924870

Interesting…probably because (unlike most PPCs) they own & lease lots of multi storeys which is a huge drain in terms of business rates, site security & maintenance.

"Britain’s biggest car park firm is set to crash into administration, the Daily Mail and This is Money can reveal. The company runs over 800 car parking sites across the country and employs more than 1,000 people.

The firm has been frequently criticised in recent years for levying overzealous fines.

Last February, NCP apologised and quashed all incorrectly applied fines after a grandfather was incorrectly asked to cough up a £100 penalty charge for a 14-minute stay in Darlington, County Durham. Signs at car park stated parking was free for customers for 90 minutes.

In 2024, Bolton Council wrote off almost £1.5million in debts owed by the company from during the pandemic."

So they leached £1.5 million from the public purse (and millions from victims over the years) then they finally keeled over because despite the massive turnover they couldn't make ends meet…how sad.

🎻

Good riddance.

And at least they can't blame the new statutory CoP which I BET THE BPA WAS HOPING TO DO, if the timing had fallen favourably for them to spin it against the MHCLG's Code.

IMHO local Councils are really missing a trick by not running more local car parks themselves as pay & display sites. The Government should incentivise Councils taking sites back from being run by third party scammers.

More investment in parking provision off-street (with proper Parking Places orders and clear signs) would earn councils money, provide a service to out of town visitors & shoppers and prevent a lot of congestion and poor parking choices on city streets and tourist beachfronts, etc.

Jenni_D

😉

(One's gotta have a larf now and again) 😁

Umkomaas

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81926361#Comment_81926361

🤣😆

DjangoUnchained

wont be long before some other parasitic parking company moves in and takes them over i guess.

Nellymoser

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/756036

Update - Parliament will debate this petition on 23 March 2026.

You'll be able to watch online on the UK Parliament YouTube channel.

Half_way

The independents take on the state of the government code:

UK drivers hit with millions of parking tickets despite crackdown on rogue firms

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/parking-tickets-rac-fines-parking-eye-b2939347.html?test_group=lighteradlayout

Le_Kirk

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/parking-tickets-rac-fines-parking-eye-b2939347.html?test_group=lighteradlayout

I cannot read that, I refuse to pay or be bombarded with Ads.

Jenni_D

I don't get any such issue (on my laptop) .. then again I'm using Brave browser with its inbuilt adblocker, and I also have the I Still Don't Care About Cookies extension.

It talks about the Code and the reason for the delays. But the key part related to the title seems to be:

The RAC Foundation analysed the number of records obtained from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) by companies chasing vehicle owners for alleged infringements in private car parks.

Between the start of April 2019 and the end of September last year the total was 68.4 million.

The RAC Foundation calculated there have been about eight million requests since then – based on a daily rate of 48,000 tickets – leading to a total of 76.4 million.

Steve Gooding, director of the charity, said: “No one denies there are some drivers who will always try it on, but the idea that the vast majority of the estimated 48,000 people who get ticketed daily set out to flout the rules is absurd.

“In this financial climate who knowingly risks getting charged a ‘penalty’ of typically £100?

“This suggests something fundamental is wrong with the system and we urge ministers to finally act to curb some of the power of the parking industry whose aim – which is understandable in a way – is to make as much money as possible.

“Clearly, there are big issues facing the Government but finally resetting the private parking landscape would bring a cheer from millions of motorists whilst still ensuring real offending is curtailed.”

A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: “Motorists must be protected when using private car parks and we are determined to drive up standards in the industry.

“We have run a consultation on this issue and will set out further details on the private parking code of practice as soon as possible.”

Isaac Occhipinti, head of external affairs at industry body the British Parking Association, said: “The BPA recognises the need for a code of practice that reflects today’s motoring environment.

“With record numbers of vehicles on the road, the new framework is an important step to address current concerns, protect decent drivers and deter behaviour that harms communities.

“Parking charges act as a deterrent. When they are reduced, evidence shows that compliance falls, disruption rises and more people ultimately receive charges.”

Hope that helps.

Coupon-mad

“Parking charges act as a deterrent. When they are reduced, evidence shows that compliance falls, disruption rises and more people ultimately receive charges.”

Jeez, I hate it when they trot out that lie.

The industry know full well why more PCNs are issued when the PCN is £70 because it's deliberate. It's not some sort of evidence of a surprise coincidence where drivers think: "oh look, this car park is only running a £70 PCN, so that's a bargain therefore I'll overstay"!

Chicken & egg…other way round.

The BPA must think the MHCLG was born yesterday.

The sector know full well - UP FRONT WHEN SIGNING CONTRACTS - that they'll obviously issue more PCNs at certain sites. This is about monetising car parks after all, and it is their very business. They know exactly what they're doing.

Obviously in some cases the £ is deliberately set lower (up front when pitching for the contract because they've done their sums and possibly even monitored average stays in advance).

They know what they can get away with and know how to tweak the obligations to catch more people.

Some obligations are deliberately harder to meet: e.g. in the Beavis case there were lots of stores but the time limit was reduced to 2 hours. Therefore, they calculated they could set the PCN at £85 (perhaps to win the pitch against a competitor, to appear reasonable and keep the landowner sweet on all levels).

ParkingEye even had it written into their contract that they'd pay the landowner part of the 'income' and the landowner's share was averaging £1000 per week (heard in open court). ParkingEye continue to make a mint at that retail park and it's not because motorists think £85 is worth it.

Of course more PCNs are issued when you (the operators) set a tight max stay!

Flipping heck BPA. Stop spouting nonsense.