VCS DCB Legal court claim - PCN Maypole Retail Park

donnerlord

Dear all,
I would be grateful for your advice on my case.
Beginning of April 2024 i stayed in a hotel I've used before and used the provided parking. In May 2024, I received PCN for staying over the allowed duration, basically one for each day of my stay. I hotel reception told me to deal directly to the issuer. I did the standard appeal providing evidence (invoice) that I've been a guest of the hotel and also a copy of my blue badge. I admitted I was the driver, which now I see was a mistake, and my appeals were rejected.
The reason given was that I've had to register on a screen and provide vehicle registration mark. I've stayed the weeks before the PCNs were issued and the following weeks and never registered the car anywhere and got PCNs only for those dates.
I was forwarded to the IAS, which I see is not really helpful and the CAB were more trying to blame me than trying to help.
The ISA do not actually have the details of the PCNs and I cannot appeal even there. The issuer (vehicle control services ltd.)  have only automated lines and  no option to speak to operator and do not reply to the online enquiry form and dont even send confirmation enquiry receipt.

I still think these PCN are unfair but I'm unsure of the next step? Is it still worth complaining to the landlord? Or do I gather evidence (pictures etc.) and seek legal advice and wait taking them to court?

Thank you

LDast

donnerlord said:

I hotel reception told me to deal directly to the issuer. I did the standard appeal providing evidence (invoice) that I've been a guest of the hotel and also a copy of my blue badge. I admitted I was the driver, which now I see was a mistake, and my appeals were rejected.

How far up the hotel management food chain did you go when you complained to the hotel? Speaking to "reception" does not seem to be much higher than the bottom link in the chain. If anyone tells you to deal directly with "the issuer", ask them who is the monkey and who is the organ grinder in their contractual relationship with VCS?

Was the car park exclusively for the hotel? If so, and it was the hotel that contracted the vermin to scam their patrons, then they are jointly and severally liable for the actions of their agents. You should remind the hotel management about this fact.

Ask them to get their agents to cancel the PCN as both you and they know that you paid for the parking and if this should go to court, you will be holding them jointly liable for all costs that you will incur in the process. Put them to notice.

Unless you get the hotel to call off VCS, this will go all the way to a court claim. VCS are a nasty, vexatious bunch of intellectually malnourished, ex-clamper thugs. Whilst you would probably win, it is a PITA to have to go through the whole process.

fisherjim

donnerlord said:

Dear all,
I would be grateful for your advice on my case.
Beginning of April 2024 i stayed in a hotel I've used before and used the provided parking. In May 2024, I received PCN for staying over the allowed duration, basically one for each day of my stay. I hotel reception told me to deal directly to the issuer. I did the standard appeal providing evidence (invoice) that I've been a guest of the hotel and also a copy of my blue badge. I admitted I was the driver, which now I see was a mistake, and my appeals were rejected.
The reason given was that I've had to register on a screen and provide vehicle registration mark. I've stayed the weeks before the PCNs were issued and the following weeks and never registered the car anywhere and got PCNs only for those dates.
I was forwarded to the IAS, which I see is not really helpful and the CAB were more trying to blame me than trying to help.
The ISA do not actually have the details of the PCNs and I cannot appeal even there. The issuer (vehicle control services ltd.)  have only automated lines and  no option to speak to operator and do not reply to the online enquiry form and dont even send confirmation enquiry receipt.

I still think these PCN are unfair but I'm unsure of the next step? Is it still worth complaining to the landlord? Or do I gather evidence (pictures etc.) and seek legal advice and wait taking them to court?

Thank you

You obviously did not use "the standard appeal" from here, and cannot have taken advice from the "newbies" thread or you will have realised that:

CAB are useless when it comes to private parking tickets.

The hotel should have told you to register your vehicle so it is in part their responsibility, complain higher up the tree as LDast suggested.

The blue badge has no relevance on private land.

The IAS are in on the scam don't bother with them.

Never ever phone a PPC.

Never ever phone a debt collector (they will come next)

Never admit to being the driver (you blew that one and looking at the timeline that could have been your get out)

You don't need "legal advice" everything you need is on here.

1505grandad

Is the hotel a Travelodge?

donnerlord

1505grandad said:

Is the hotel a Travelodge?

Yes it is.

donnerlord

fisherjim said:

You obviously did not use "the standard appeal" from here, and cannot have taken advice from the "newbies" thread or you will have realised that:

Thanks for the judgement, I've never had a parking ticket before and appealed as it was written on the PCN, who would expect its such a scam.

Coupon-mad

We realise it's a niche area but there is always (every week) loads of publicity about the scam of private parking firms (including an Alexis Conran programme I was in) and MPs are up in arms about it. A new law was passed, with statutory regulation on its way after the General Election.

Anyway, the answer is this but NOT seek legal advice nor ask the CAB:

"gather evidence (pictures etc.) and .. wait for a court claim"

Zbubuman

Coupon-mad said:

We realise it's a niche area but there is always (every week) loads of publicity about the scam of private parking firms (including an Alexis Conran programme I was in) and MPs are up in arms about it. A new law was passed, with statutory regulation on its way after the General Election.

Anyway, the answer is this but NOT seek legal advice nor ask the CAB:

"gather evidence (pictures etc.) and .. wait for a court claim"

In the meantime stick to plan A - Keep harassing he hotel. Ask for details of general manager, area manager, etc ( research and find out who directors are, and be ready to make as much noise as possible)

fisherjim

donnerlord said:

fisherjim said:

You obviously did not use "the standard appeal" from here, and cannot have taken advice from the "newbies" thread or you will have realised that:

Thanks for the judgement, I've never had a parking ticket before and appealed as it was written on the PCN, who would expect its such a scam.

Sorry not judging you, I do get it, you are dealing with scammers that even copy a ticketing machine used by real authority parking wardens if using foot patrols, and the PPC's/debt collectors will be far more judgemental and accusing than any member on here, you need to prepare for it.

They are not supposed to misrepresent authority but they imitate and copy everything that authorities do all the time and get away with it in their unregulated world of private parking scamming.

You are now in the right place stick with us!

donnerlord

Thank you all for the replies. I’ll to complain to the hotel management and see what happens. I’ve decided not to pay the tickets and have my chances in court. Whilst I’m waiting for that decision just for clarification, the parking company cannot send enforcement agents that can get into my house and reposes things ? This can happen only if there’s a court order, correct? 

Does the rule for 14days apply to these type of  private parking charges ? 

Thank you all again !0

Gr1pr

Correct, which has not happened yet, and is extremely unlikely too

It may do , if the claimant parking company are trying to comply with the law named POFA 2012 , to hold the keeper to account for any liability 

Otherwise its the 6 months plus one month rules ( 7 months to obtain keeper details and get the PCN to the keeper. )