Parking stories in the News/media

Snakes_Belly

"BIG NEWS! Despite popular rumour spread by PPC World, ordinary landowners who care about their patrons and reputation can manage their own parking (and what they call 'fines' where necessary) even with pay & display machines...you don't say?!"

If supermarkets were to manage their own parking any monies from infringements could go towards the food banks rather than into the pockets of fat cats.   

Coupon-mad

Snakes_Belly said:

I saw Watchdog and there seems to be an assumption that the new code of practice was bought about because of a FEW rogue operators, Fair operators are as rare as hen's teeth.

The JR that has delayed the implementation of the new code is because the PPC's are claiming that the level of charges is not a deterrent . That is like saying that every motorist that receives a PCN is a bilker or a chancer. That is not what we see on this forum. It's often a case of faulty equipment and poor signage. In many cases people have paid or have the right to park they have just failed to comply with the onerous terms and conditions. There are more terms and conditions on some of the signage than I have seen in a mortgage offer.

I'd guess that the Government feels it has to be heard to say 'a few rogue operators' because they are working with the industry (and certain others from the consumer side!) to bring about change.

In fact, MPs and the drivers of this country know full well that it's not just 'a few'.

So I really wouldn't worry.

It's all been said.

Panic ye not.

"The PPC's are spinning this to delay the inevitable."

Yep and no doubt in the hope of persuading a group if more credulous ministers

Yep and no doubt in the hope of persuading a group of more credulous ministers this time.

After all, that tactic (legal challenge, in the hope of finding a more clueless ear to whisper in) works so well for them in Court appeals.

Look at OPS v Wilshaw for example.  A hopeless judgment once the case was reviewed when the PPC threw money at it, with the HHJ's findings so utterly full of holes it was almost laughable.

That's what they are hoping for, I'm sure.   They go again, with another bite at the cherry in the hope of persuading more credulous staff/Ministers this time.

I'd like to think they are mistaken, but time will tell.

Failing that, the JR delays might just drag it out so long that there'll be a General Election chucking the whole thing into the mix again, and the can gets kicked even further down the road.

With a whole set of new Ministers to bend the ears of, in the hope of someone believing PPC World this time and not the hysterical middle aged woman from Sussex with her anecdotal meddling in something she couldn't possibly understand...

Coupon-mad

Here's yet another story about McDonalds and their completely pointless and deluded use of UKPC to issue £100 PCNs to their most loyal customers:
https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/residents-parking-hell-fines-make-26027965.amp

Do you know what, McDonalds?

You DON'T NEED a parking time limit.  Never did.  Kick the PPC out.

Coupon-mad

APCOA at an IOW Hospital admits it has been 'accidentally' overcharging every driver who intended to pay a fiver, since October:
https://www.countypress.co.uk/news/23262965.error-sees-isle-wight-drivers-overcharged-hospital-parking/

"...anyone who parked for 4-6 hours and used one of four Pay-on-Exit machines on the hospital's site, was charged £6 instead of the advertised £5.

A spokesperson from APCOA said:

"Having been made aware of the issue raised by the Isle of Wight County Press, we have investigated.

"We have immediately had the error rectified and confirm that all payment machines are now operating with correct tariffs."

Hmmm..here's an idea APCOA:

Instead of brushing things under the carpet only AFTER a newspaper gets involved, how about cleaning up your act, checking tariffs properly and stopping your other rogue practice (e.g. continuing to rip people off at Heathrow for not paying a fiver to 'drop off' even when drivers just drive straight through the drop off zone there).

Mouse007

Le_Kirk said:

Mouse007 said:

I also think we should include as a call to arms in every reply to every post over the next week or two a request that posters email WatchDog.

Be very careful doing that, someone (well two or three someone's) got an early bath a couple of years or so ago for bombarding the forum like that.  Probably OK if it is written in your own words on each thread but not a copy & paste type response.

You may find I am cute on strategy, I'm a bit timed out work wise over the next few (11 to be precise) days but have a clear idea how to progress this. I know copy and paste template replies are doomed to fail - we need real hart felt stories. I'll be looking for those next month.

patient_dream

Coupon-mad said:

Here's yet another story about McDonalds and their completely pointless and deluded use of UKPC to issue £100 PCNs to their most loyal customers:
https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/residents-parking-hell-fines-make-26027965.amp

Do you know what, McDonalds?

You DON'T NEED a parking time limit.  Never did.  Kick the PPC out.

As I have said before, for wealth and health reasons if you must eat McDonalds food only use a drive-thru and leave the site, most will find somewhere to park out of reach of money scammers.

WEALTH ...... don't risk buying a £100 plus burger

HEALTH  .... Eating inside is like a 1950's workmans cafe and with covid still around ... it's a no go

Don't give money scammers the opportunity

SAME WITH KFC

Le_Kirk

Coupon-mad said:

Here's yet another story about McDonalds and their completely pointless and deluded use of UKPC to issue £100 PCNs to their most loyal customers:
https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/residents-parking-hell-fines-make-26027965.amp

Do you know what, McDonalds?

You DON'T NEED a parking time limit.  Never did.  Kick the PPC out.

Jeepers, "fine" and "penalty" peppered throughout that report; when will journalists start researching their subject before they go into print?

Mouse007

Coupon-mad said:

Here's yet another story about McDonalds and their completely pointless and deluded use of UKPC to issue £100 PCNs to their most loyal customers:
https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/residents-parking-hell-fines-make-26027965.amp

Do you know what, McDonalds?

You DON'T NEED a parking time limit.  Never did.  Kick the PPC out.

Worrying comment from Kent 2020 in that article

"So Moneysaving Expert say its actually a Breach of Contract and not an enforceable fine. UKPC sent me a parking charge notice (parked in a disabled bay) and I followed their advice to ignore it. ( Photo of car taken from 500 yards away so you couldn't see disabled badge in window. Signposts unreadable from the road as they were small & 20ft in the air. Free car park on a Bank Holiday Monday.) Nearly 5 years later they have taken me to their own virtual court, fined me £450 and marked my credit file with a unpaid CCJ for the next 6 years.

Was told by letter I could attend the court but there was no address or hearing date given. I could only assume it was at UKPC offices which were about 300 miles away."

Umkomaas

Mouse007 said:

Coupon-mad said:

Here's yet another story about McDonalds and their completely pointless and deluded use of UKPC to issue £100 PCNs to their most loyal customers:
https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/residents-parking-hell-fines-make-26027965.amp

Do you know what, McDonalds?

You DON'T NEED a parking time limit.  Never did.  Kick the PPC out.

Worrying comment from Kent 2020 in that article

"So Moneysaving Expert say its actually a Breach of Contract and not an enforceable fine. UKPC sent me a parking charge notice (parked in a disabled bay) and I followed their advice to ignore it. ( Photo of car taken from 500 yards away so you couldn't see disabled badge in window. Signposts unreadable from the road as they were small & 20ft in the air. Free car park on a Bank Holiday Monday.) Nearly 5 years later they have taken me to their own virtual court, fined me £450 and marked my credit file with a unpaid CCJ for the next 6 years.

Was told by letter I could attend the court but there was no address or hearing date given. I could only assume it was at UKPC offices which were about 300 miles away."

Couldn't have got it so badly confused if he'd tried!  The county court of UKPC, Judge Rupert Williams presiding! 😄Ouch.

Coupon-mad

If that commenter had genuinely looked on MSE, he/she wouldn't have seen advice to ignore it and would have known where to come to ask about how to handle any court claim.

And they'd know not to call it a fine.

And it would have been impossible to be £450.

So I suspect that commenter is a PPC.