'PCN NOW CANCELLED' data privacy & complaints NPC Group, DCB Legal, DVLA, IPC, ICO & MP

Thorndorise

Umkomaas said:

Thorndorise said:

Umkomaas said:

Small update, nothing on the actual charge front - just the usual DCBL threat letters (which I'm ignoring obviously).

Is that DCB Limited or DCB Legal?  Different entities under the same umbrella. One can be ignored, the other not!

Hi Umkomaas - A very good point, and I was feeling highly confident in answering this until I looked - but there is one mention alone on the letters that states it's Debt Collection Bailiffs Ltd - everywhere else it just states DCBL, think I'm okay...

DCB Limited can be safely ignored, but do anticipate that DCB Legal will be writing soon, based on the standard pattern. Easily dealt with, but no longer by ignoring. 

Many thanks - that indeed is the flow of things - all prepped and waiting for their silly tirade of letters and threats and subsequent letter about a claim - the usual .... 

Thorndorise

Small update, obviously I've had a couple more letters letters from DBCL, and now one from DBC Legal Limited as a 'letter of claim' (dated 13th Aug) asking for the usual £170 - standard email to them sent on 16th Aug, no response yet.

I did also attempt Plan A again, I wrote expressing my concern over the PPCs lack of care over the signs on the landowners site, and could they please attempt to cancel the PCN, the response was surprising tbh...

If you were to park in XXXXXX and disregard the parking guidelines, resulting in a ticket - as was my own experience recently - you would settle the parking charge notice. Following my parking charge, I refrained from investigating the property owner's identity or posting about the matter on social media platform.  Engaging in public discussions about such penalties on social media is extraneous and unproductive.

Should you believe that there are legitimate grounds to challenge the claims made by National Parking Control (NPC), you are encouraged to pursue this matter through the court as you have indicated.

Please note, if you make any further public statements that could be construed as defamatory towards our business or XXXX, we will (without any further warning) take legal action against you for defamation and slander.

I was a little taken aback with the vigour that they responded with, felt very much like both sour-grapes that they had been caught out (I personally always try to park in John Lewis at this location) - I was also shocked at their lack of understanding of the written word being libel vs slander...hey ho - worth a shot.

I did also write to the retail outlet in question, no response given, very poor show.

I guess I await a proper claim soon

Coupon-mad

I'd show that threat your MP. I wouldn't take that rubbish lying down.

Thorndorise

Coupon-mad said:

I'd show that threat your MP. I wouldn't take that rubbish lying down.

Thanks CM

So I did write to both my local MP and the one that is responsible for this region (one county over - but literally next door). My local MP, well lets just say he was having a change of heart and has moved his allegiances, the one for the region I don't live in was actually not interested as I didn't live there - I did persevere and pressured his secretary to please share with him as it affected his constituents (also there was an election looming at the time) - she did reply that if they had more complaints she would share it with him.

I may well reignite that flame now the dust has settled a little, and find out who the new MP is for that area (and share with my new one too).

Timely reminder thanks CM

Coupon-mad

Sounds like a plan.  That reply is appalling.

Thorndorise

Even better - they changed the boundaries and now its covering my area and that area - and it's our new and first Green party member in the East!

LDast

I’d call their bluff on “defamation and slander”.Back in the early to late nineties and early to mid naughties, I owned and ran a very popular website forum and was often threatened with libel action by the biggest and wealthiest company owners, especially Middle Eastern royalty and a certain Irish LoCo CEO. Never did any of them carry out their threats to actually initiate litigation. Im not saying that in this case they wouldn’t but as you have pointed out, wrongly calling it defamation shows a lack of understanding and more likely than it’s a bluff.

Stating an opinion that the signs on the landowners site is not libel. Good luck with your MP but don’t hold your breath for anything positive from them.

Coupon-mad

Bleugh the Greens...ahem...they used to run Brighton Council. Truly awful. But let's hope that new MP is keen to rattle the landowner's cage for you and to ask questions of the Labour Government (MHCLG) about culling the rogue practices of the PPC industry.

Thorndorise

@Coupon-mad @LDast et al

Morning - I had a quick response back from the MP's office - stating they were in the process of setting up their office and hiring staff (sigh) - didn't hold out much hope for an answer...however I just received this email this morning....

But....(and please note this was from a caseworker in my MPs office - starts off well)

The parking companies ‘enforcing’ parking on private land are an absolute menace.   In response, the former government passed the Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 requiring the introduction of a statutory code of practice for private parking and to bring it into line with public parking.  

On 1 October the statutory code of parking will come into force, with all existing sites to be updated by end of 2026. 

https://www.britishparking.co.uk/write/Documents/AOS/NEW Redesigned Documents/sectorsingleCodeofPractice.pdf

The new sector single Code:

• Introduces an Appeals Charter, creating clear parameters for motorists to appeal against a parking charge
• Mandates a 10-minute grace period for motorists
• Provides consistent rules for private parking operators
• Requires clear signage to help motorists navigate parking on private land.

• Ensures the protection of the most vulnerable in society, with no decrease to the deterrent for abuse of Blue Badge bays or those who choose to park selfishly, putting their own convenience above the needs or rights of others.
• Maintains a cap on the parking charge at £100 reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days.

Unfortunately, the parking charges (£100 reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days) will be maintained.   Originally the government proposed £50 reduced to £25, but the various parking bodies successfully challenged the decision in the High Court.   As a result the government withdrew its draft consultation statutory code and in June of this year, it issued a new code which will come into force on 1 October.

This should curb some of the worst excesses of private parking operators including the use of intimidating language.  

Re. your point about signage and planning law – private parking operators are required to display signs setting out terms and conditions as that is the basis on which they can enforce their parking terms and conditions.

It will be interesting to see whether the private parking companies clean up their act.

I read this with glee, thinking yes, they're bringing in the new code - oh - but hang on a minute - they're genuinely stating the new 'statutory' COP of practice is their very own self-serving one!!! arghh! Not only that, it seems they have implied the new joint 'code' is formed on the basis of the 2019 parking act from government!!!

I may be wrong here but haven't they misrepresented the new code a little here? and also forgotten about the bill going through? I even mentioned the change from DLUHC to the MHCLG and the bill - which has been not mentioned.

I'm at a loss

Coupon-mad

OMG that caseworker is COMPLETELY WRONG:

"On 1 October the statutory code of parking will come into force, with all existing sites to be updated by end of 2026."

NO IT WILL NOT.

You need to reply and tell them the 1st Oct joint code IS ABSOLUTELY CATEGORICALLY NOT THE STATUTORY CODE.  It is a sneaky interim tactic by the menace parking industry, timed and designed to fool the public and the press!

Articles about it:

https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/news/motoring-news/new-private-parking-code-to-launch-in-the-uk-later-this-year/

https://www.sloughobserver.co.uk/news/national/uk-today/24414465.aa-rac-warning-new-private-parking-code-conduct/

The DLUHC (now MHCLG) responded at the time that this is not the statutory Code which will still be coming in.