Parking stories in the News/media

Coupon-mad

We had this one here before, when it was first reported but the case has now pointlessly gone to POPLA.

So, take a bow, POPLA for letting a motorist down (yet again):
https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/people/musician-loses-parking-ps100-fine-appeal-for-parking-at-hartlepool-pub-where-he-performed-4025691

"A musician given a £100 ticket for failing to register his vehicle’s details in a Hartlepool pub car park during a gig has lost an appeal.

Bass player Adrian Beadnell was given the parking charge notice (PCN) in October after using The Park Inn car park while playing bass with Musicians Unlimited for customers on a Sunday afternoon.  The car park is free and restricted to customers only.

The Park Inn’s management previously told the Mail it sympathised with Adrian while insisting the charge was out of their hands. 

He has contacted his MP, Simon Clarke, raising his concerns about parking enforcement firms."

GOOD.

All MPs should be lobbied.

Coupon-mad

Another one:

Banbury pensioners complain after being fined £120 parking charges for 'retail experience'

Four Banbury pensioners who met up for shopping and lunch have been fined over £120 for outstaying their welcome at a Banbury retail park.

https://www.banburyguardian.co.uk/news/people/banbury-pensioners-complain-after-being-fined-ps120-parking-charges-for-retail-experience-4026524

Mrs Edwards and her friend paid their fines. Each had to pay £60 within two weeks or the fine would increase to £100. Her friend lost an additional £2.20 trying (unsuccessfully) to pay the fine by phone and a further £1.50 online fee.

She says the signs are not obvious but Highview Parking, which runs the system, said the warnings are ‘visible at all points’.

Absolute rip-off.  £100 taken from pensioners. Makes you wonder how people who 'work' for private parking firms can actually hold their heads up high...

Coupon-mad

Here's a "good news" story to bring an end to one we've featured here before:
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/council-cuts-ties-parking-company-26246795.amp

Council cuts ties with parking company after drivers overcharged by £400k

A parking machine company has lost its contract with a council after reportedly overcharging drivers by almost £400,000. Technical issues caused duplicate debit and credit card payments to be taken at parking machines in Worcester which left some of those affected hundreds of pounds out of pocket.

The city council has now told Flowbird, which runs the machines on its behalf, that it has terminated its deal following the saga, which affected thousands of motorists last September. Council joint leader Coun Chris Mitchell said the issues had "damaged trust in the city's car park operation." 

Coupon-mad

Found this too.

Not about private parking firms but VERY interesting:
https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/wandsworth-council-trial-to-fine-drivers-blocked-by-government/

"A trial scheme which saw drivers become the first in England to face being fined by a local council for speeding has been blocked.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has stopped Wandsworth council contacting drivers caught breaking 20mph limits and said the way the authority used its powers to enforce it was “unlawful”.

The Labour-run council put up speed cameras to catch drivers breaking 20mph limits in two roads in the borough where residents often complained about speeding in November 2022.

The eight-month pilot scheme meant drivers caught breaking the rules in Wimbledon Park Road and Priory Lane faced up to £130 fines from the council – with the penalty charge notice slashed to £65 if paid in 14 days.

The council previously said the scheme could be made permanent and extended to other roads in the borough if successful, as well as being rolled out across the capital.

But the DfT said it had asked the DVLA to stop sharing details of drivers caught speeding under the scheme with the council.

A DfT spokesman said: “Wandsworth council is carrying out this experimental speed enforcement trial using powers in a way that is unlawful.

“We have therefore taken immediate action and asked DVLA to stop sharing registered keeper details with Wandsworth council for the purpose of enforcing this scheme.”

The council said it had dished out warning letters to drivers caught breaking the rules on the trial roads so far but has not handed out any fines."

WOW.  Wow!  SPEED CAMERAS?! 

Who the heck at the Council thought this was lawful?!

And how much did it all cost?

Coupon-mad

Lastly, take a bow Spring Parking and DCBLegal for reportedly suing a woman who says both payment machines were not functioning but she still got a PCN then a court claim:
https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/leisure/23324031.anger-parking-bridge-shopping-centre-latchford/

She writes:

"I sent my defence to the court in Northampton who served it to the parking company. My defence was rejected and I received a phone call from DCB Legal (Runcorn) who act on behalf of Spring Parking Ltd asking me how much I could pay.

I informed them I couldn’t afford the full amount as I work part time at the hospital and my husband had suffered a heart attack four weeks previously. They were not interested in anything I said and kept badgering me and asking if I was going to pay the fine.

Eventually, after being backed into a corner, I offered £45 which DCB Legal said they would offer to Spring Parking Ltd.

The following day the rep from DCB Legal rang to inform me that Spring Parking Ltd had rejected my offer and they would accept £200 minimum.

I told her I could not afford that amount and she said the case will now go to Court.

I am a 63 year old female and feel sick with worry since receiving this court notification.

I have looked for help online but to no avail and solicitors fees are out of my league."

Castle

Coupon-mad said:

Not sure we saw this one in December?

Asda forced to climb down after blaming 'boy racers' for imposing an unworkable 30 minute shopping time limit:
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/black-country/shoppers-outrage-after-facing-70-25653800.amp

Asda said parking rules were changed following complaints of misuse at the store. 'Boy racers' are said to treat the car park as a 'race track' at night, causing 'awful' noise, according to customers.

Given that a Supermarket car park is classed as a "Public Place", all ASDA had to do was to contact the local Police.

Jenni_D

Coupon-mad said:

Lastly, take a bow Spring Parking and DCBLegal for reportedly suing a woman who says both payment machines were not functioning but she still got a PCN then a court claim:
https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/leisure/23324031.anger-parking-bridge-shopping-centre-latchford/

She writes:

"I sent my defence to the court in Northampton who served it to the parking company. My defence was rejected and I received a phone call from DCB Legal (Runcorn) who act on behalf of Spring Parking Ltd asking me how much I could pay.

I informed them I couldn’t afford the full amount as I work part time at the hospital and my husband had suffered a heart attack four weeks previously. They were not interested in anything I said and kept badgering me and asking if I was going to pay the fine.

Eventually, after being backed into a corner, I offered £45 which DCB Legal said they would offer to Spring Parking Ltd.

The following day the rep from DCB Legal rang to inform me that Spring Parking Ltd had rejected my offer and they would accept £200 minimum.

I told her I could not afford that amount and she said the case will now go to Court.

I am a 63 year old female and feel sick with worry since receiving this court notification.

I have looked for help online but to no avail and solicitors fees are out of my league."

Has anyone posted in the comments to point her here?

Half_way

People need to go for whoever it is that contracts the parking scum.
Instead of meekly "appealing"what they think is a fine issued by such and such who manage the car park.

If we started to see for example supermarket / pub/ shopping centre managers/ staff etc being taken to court over their agents actions in breaching things such as GDPR then maybe they would wake up to the terrible damage PPCs do in their name.

patient_dream

Coupon-mad said:

Lastly, take a bow Spring Parking and DCBLegal for reportedly suing a woman who says both payment machines were not functioning but she still got a PCN then a court claim:
https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/leisure/23324031.anger-parking-bridge-shopping-centre-latchford/

She writes:

"I sent my defence to the court in Northampton who served it to the parking company. My defence was rejected and I received a phone call from DCB Legal (Runcorn) who act on behalf of Spring Parking Ltd asking me how much I could pay.

I informed them I couldn’t afford the full amount as I work part time at the hospital and my husband had suffered a heart attack four weeks previously. They were not interested in anything I said and kept badgering me and asking if I was going to pay the fine.

Eventually, after being backed into a corner, I offered £45 which DCB Legal said they would offer to Spring Parking Ltd.

The following day the rep from DCB Legal rang to inform me that Spring Parking Ltd had rejected my offer and they would accept £200 minimum.

I told her I could not afford that amount and she said the case will now go to Court.

I am a 63 year old female and feel sick with worry since receiving this court notification.

I have looked for help online but to no avail and solicitors fees are out of my league."

I doubt Spring Parking had any say in it ?

But, we must thank DCBL for being so persistent in telling government that they are not fit for purpose

Le_Kirk

Coupon-mad said:

Asda forced to climb down after blaming 'boy racers' for imposing an unworkable 30 minute shopping time limit:
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/black-country/shoppers-outrage-after-facing-70-25653800.amp

Aren't the PPCs supposed to "manage" the car park?  Maybe Asda should have asked why the PPC were allowing "boy racers" to carry out their nefarious activities rather than shortening the time available for genuine customers.  Oh, because that way there was no profit for the PPC!