Newbie Parking Ticket Advice Please

SassySid

Hi all, and a Happy New Year. 
 
My sincere apologies to those people, who either read these posts or, in the case of Umkomass and Coupon-Mad, commented/offered advice, for my disgustingly late reply but, I WON.........!   I know it was some months ago, but I couldn't leave my posts open ended and I wanted to, draw a line under them, thank people and tell everyone that the advice I got here was INVALUABLE to helping me win, so, follow it, act on it and, providing you haven't been a complete and utter "numpty" i.e. parked illegally and trying to say you didn't......! Then the advice here is solid.
Having read all the information, I followed the "pro former" letter, with a few minor additions (see post above), emailed it, plus my evidence (my till receipt and photos), to Parking Eye and, although it took four weeks for them to reply they sent a letter to say my appeal was successful and no further action would be taken.  RESULT.  I did also write to my MP, who was, as expected, totally useless, his reply just said that "strict rules are in place to protect the consumer and Parking Companies are, by law, required to follow those rules"  Duhhhhhh, yeah......??? Your own MP might be better than mine, so still write....!
Anyway, that's it, line drawn, circle complete.  It is worth the time and effort to appeal and thanks to those people that followed me and the two mentioned for their advice and help. Good Luck to those who follow.

Coupon-mad

 I did also write to my MP, who was, as expected, totally useless, his reply just said that "strict rules are in place to protect the consumer and Parking Companies are, by law, required to follow those rules"  Duhhhhhh, yeah......??? Your own MP might be better than mine, so still write....!

That is appallingly tone deaf.

Which MP please, @SassySid ?

And can you show us that reply in full here?

Do they appear oblivious to the fact that the Government is clamping down on rogue PPCs and legislation was passed recently, when the House of Commons unanimously condemned (and named and shamed) the likes of ParkingEye?

We want to suggest a reply...

SassySid

Hi Coupon,

The MP is Dr Dan Poulter, Conservative MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, although, I believe they are trying to change the constituency boundaries to manipulate the voting to keep it a strong Conservative seat.  I've said it to his face, yes I've met, and questioned, him on several occasions, and I'll say it here, he is useless.  Typical, spineless MP, follows the party line, no matter what.  Here's a link to his page, if you're interested.      

https://infolink.suffolk.gov.uk/kb5/suffolk/infolink/service.page?id=TDxQZzKkFKQ

Was it his reply you wanted me to post....?

Just as an aside, as we appear to be similar in thought.   I don't know about you(sic) but I don't remember giving the DVLA permission to give my private details out to these thieving Parking Companies, or more like sell them to them.....That's what the Government should be stopping, especially with all his GDPR we now have to comply with as mere mortals.....

Regards 
Sassy Sid 

Coupon-mad

Was it his reply you wanted me to post....?

Yes please. His answer sounds like the polar opposite of the party line:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11463787/Motorists-hit-30k-parking-fines-day-ministers-delay-crackdown-cowboy-firms.html

A government spokesman said:

 'We recognise there has been unacceptable practices by a small number of cowboy companies.  We will introduce our Private Parking Code of Practice as soon as possible to help tackle this issue.'
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/private-parking-code-of-practice/private-parking-code-of-practice

The legislation is robust and is only temporarily stalled.  Did this Conservative MP show ANY sign of knowing his actual party line on private parking, which is that this rogue industry needs major cleaning up and the issuance of this many scam 'parking charges' is a rip-off that his party are closing in on addressing. 

SassySid

I'll dig it out and post it up here in a day or so.....

SassySid

As promised, here is the reply from my MP, in hindsight there might have been a little more information in there than what I first though, but at the time, I didn't think it was particularly helpful.  Maybe it might be more use to you than it was to me.....?

Thanks for taking the time to write to me.

I am very sorry to hear about your experience and I completely understand the concerns of drivers about unfair and extortionate charges from private car parks.

The Government published a new Parking Code of Practice in February 2022. However, as you may know, some private parking companies started legal proceedings against the decisions to introduce new levels of parking charges and to ban additional fees. The Code has been temporarily withdrawn until these decisions are reviewed and their impact assessed. I have been assured that the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities will continue to work with industry and consumer groups to reintroduce the Code as quickly as possible.

Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.

Coupon-mad

Ah, so the MP is spouting the party line but hadn't offered to assist you at all!

SassySid

Yup, that's about par for the course for this guy.  Tbh, the only reason I wrote to him was that I wanted to follow all the suggestions made here on the website.  Bizarrely, this was the fourth reply from him, after my initial contact, the other three were to clarify that I was indeed, one of his constituents, even though I included my address in my initial email?  Made me feel really quite important (not), as I said before, not only have I written to him several times before but I have also met him, personally on a one to one basis, on several occasions, one being quite a high profile local issue.  Clearly I'm someone not worth remembering until he's canvasing for my vote at election time.....!!!!!
Anyway Coupon, I hope this helps.  Keep up the good fight and, again, thank you for, your assistance and wisdom.