VCS Leeds Bradford airport parking charge notice

datsun240z

Hello, I need some help as my father recieved a claim form from vehicle control services stating he owes them £255. He recieved a letter 2 months ago which showed my fathers vehicle stopped in the no stop zone.

My father wasn't driving the vehicle, I was but he is the registered keeper. I attended Leeds Bradford airport for a job interview with the security department for which I was told later I was unsuccesful for. I wasn't given adequate instructions on where to park. I was checking google maps on my phone to guide me and it took me to the jet2 car park. I had once parked at the Jet2 car park 6 months prior due to attending another job interview with Jet2.

I noticed someone who was dressed smartly and holding a document folder was speaking to member of Leeds Bradford airport staff. I overheard the staff member telling him he needed to go to the short stay car park as I drove a few metres forward to the jet-2 car park barriers. I  then pressed the buzzer from my vehicle and the gentlemen informed me that I cannot park in their car park and that I have to turn around and drive to the short stay car park.

After turning my vehicle around, I stopped beside the person who was making his way back down the road. I asked him if he was going for a job interview as myself at the security department and he told me yes. I told him to get in as i'm heading in the same direction. My vehcle was stopped less than 10 seconds and then drove to the short stay car park which is a short distance away. 

Fast forward a few months and I recieve a letter showing a picture of the vehicle I was driving stopped on the red lines. I thought I didn't need to pay the fine at the time and ignored the letter as I believed I only have to pay the council parking fines and not private company notice fines. I also didn't have any money to pay a £100 fine at the time as I was unemployed. 

Can anyone give me some much needed advice as too what should be my next steps as the £255 fine seems very unreasonable to me and the letter is addressed to my father which I don't want him to get involved with any court cases or recieve any more letters, I would prefer evrything to be in my name but I don't want to contact them and admit fault or give them more of a reason to come after me.

Thanks 

nopcns

The first thing you need/must do is read the Newbies/FAQ thread. Under no circumstances reveal who was driving. You have not been "fined" but if you have now received a claim form, please tell us the "Issue date" of the form and which solicitor, if any, VCS are using (replies to box).

Also, please show us the PoC.

You need to understand that VCS have no idea who the driver is and there is no obligation in law to reveal the identity of the driver. If the claim is in your fathers name (as the keeper), it is he who needs to respond (but you can do all the work for him but it has to be in his name).

VCS don't know who the driver is and, whilst they will say that they must assume that the keeper was the driver, they are not allowed to actually do so and they have lost important appeal case. Only the driver is liable and they cannot transfer liability to the keeper because they cannot use the PoFA Act as it does not apply on land under statuary control such as an airport or railway staton.

Coupon-mad

Search the forum for Airport defence Traffic Roadway and change the results to Newest.

I wrote some extra wording for an East Midlands VCS claim last month. Go find that thread (we won't do the search for new posters as that's bad practice and leaves you with no idea how to use the forum well).

Is the claim filed by Elms Legal? Please show us the PoC.

Half_way

This is not a fine, and under no circumstances do not attempt to name, or guess as to who was/could have been driving - not on here or in any so called appeal.

 As this is an active airport site there must be bye-laws in place, and here they are: https://lba-production.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/lba-byelaws-2022---(clean-july-2023).pdf

 As such the Protection of freedoms act will not apply ( not relevant land) and the parking company will  not be able to go for the registered keeper as long as the driver is unknown and you have not said who was/wasnt or could be driving ( no use of I/He/She/Mum/Dad/uncle/aunt/neighbour etc) .

The Bye-laws in force issue must also be mentioned to the parking company, mentioning bye lays in force is important as if they say they consider the bye-laws to be obsolete then that would be an interesting ( for want of a better word) response

sevenhills

datsun240z said:

Fast forward a few months and I recieve a letter showing a picture of the vehicle I was driving stopped on the red lines. I thought I didn't need to pay the fine at the time and ignored the letter as I believed I only have to pay the council parking fines and not private company notice fines. I also didn't have any money to pay a £100 fine at the time as I was unemployed. 

Can anyone give me some much needed advice as too what should be my next steps as the £255 fine seems very unreasonable to me and the letter is addressed to my father which I don't want him to get involved with any court cases or recieve any more letters, I would prefer evrything to be in my name but I don't want to contact them and admit fault or give them more of a reason to come after me.

Thanks 

Double red lines mean no stopping at any time. Red Routes are not common in Leeds, but that cannot be used as a defense.

I assume that Leeds City Council will enforce those rules, not the airport, so you do need to pay this fine.

Coupon-mad

sevenhills said:

datsun240z said:

Fast forward a few months and I recieve a letter showing a picture of the vehicle I was driving stopped on the red lines. I thought I didn't need to pay the fine at the time and ignored the letter as I believed I only have to pay the council parking fines and not private company notice fines. I also didn't have any money to pay a £100 fine at the time as I was unemployed. 

Can anyone give me some much needed advice as too what should be my next steps as the £255 fine seems very unreasonable to me and the letter is addressed to my father which I don't want him to get involved with any court cases or recieve any more letters, I would prefer evrything to be in my name but I don't want to contact them and admit fault or give them more of a reason to come after me.

Thanks 

Double red lines mean no stopping at any time. Red Routes are not common in Leeds, but that cannot be used as a defense.

I assume that Leeds City Council will enforce those rules, not the airport, so you do need to pay this fine.

sevenhills

This is completely wrong advice.

This is NOT a fine.

This is NOTHING to do with any Council.

No-one pays these. Dead easy to defend.

sevenhills

Coupon-mad said:

sevenhills

This is completely wrong advice.
This is NOT a fine.
This is NOTHING to do with any Council.
No-one pays these. Dead easy to defend.

Red routes are on public roads, or is this within the airport?

Coupon-mad

It's within the Airport.  Standard stuff. We defend VCS Airport claims all the time.

For example, here's a thread that might help this OP, with pics & maps of this Airport's supposed enforcement roadways:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80629892/#Comment_80629892

The clue is partly that it's VCS (an ex-clamper, not a local authority) and the fact the OP has a county court claim. LAs don't make civil claims for £255.

sevenhills

Coupon-mad said:

It's within the Airport.  Standard stuff. We defend VCS Airport claims all the time.
For example, here's a thread that might help this OP, with pics & maps of this Airport's supposed enforcement roadways:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80629892/#Comment_80629892

The clue is partly that it's VCS (an ex-clamper, not a local authority) and the fact the OP has a county court claim. LAs don't make civil claims for £255.

I have read the other thread, it's very interesting.

The red route cost the council £20,000

I know councils can hand over authority to enforce certain rules.

https://democracy.leeds.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?Id=47401

Coupon-mad

The council has not been involved.

The Red Route you are talking about is on nearby public highway and not within this area. Please can we let this bog standard VCS claim (civil case) get back on topic?

datsun240z

Hello, I have attached the PoC and the issue date is 26/03/2024.