Private Parking Company Fines for Property Management Company Owned Land

AMDebtWorrier

Dear all,

I live in a new build flat in a small close surrounded by houses.. the houses have 3/4 car driveways, the flats have numbered bays and then also a number of “visitors” bays..

the close has been blasted with parking notices from a private parking company…. It has a generous time period for these visitor bays and since my partner has a car I don’t have a bay, so I park my vehicle in a visitors bay. There are many others that also do this, they have either never received a parking ticket or only ever received one or two.

The parking company signs state they have cameras, ANPR. This is not true at all.

i see a parking warden every so often, but it isn’t any fixed time and I’ve never seen one give me a ticket. (Like every X amount of hours that you’re “allocated” for parking.) 

so… I’ve had a number of parking tickets in the 2 years or so
I have lived here… the parking tickets state no actual time
of arrival, only an “observed” time. I,e. “Charge: overstayed allowed time: observed 01:30-01:45”

I’ve recently discovered that the close is “owned” by a property management company. A number of directors on this company are listed as directors on this property management company…

one of the directors has questioned me a handful of times about my parking tickets…. I’ve also noticed I’ve only ever got one after this particular person has mentioned something to me. I have also noticed that this person works odd hours. I was curious one night and I made a note of the times they left for work and returned… I correlated that I received parking fines at 01:30am, 11:00pm, 00:28am…. These parking notices match roughly half and hour to a hour after this person has left and then returned from work..

What is going on? Has anyone ever experienced anything similar and how did you deal with it?

im hesitant to park my work van up the road from my flat as there have been a number of vandalism/vehicle break ins along that road… I feel like I am being victimised despite being very helpful to our neighbours and community. I’m at a loss at how best to resolve this. I’ve only just began the last two years a long journey to get out of debt and I am finally getting back on my feet. I am
worried I might be prosecuted for simply parking my car.

its worth noting the area I live in has absolutely zero public transport, (no need to park here for access to a train or bus). No large business that would have employees utilise the parking. I’ve lived here 2+ years now and I’ve only ever seen the close full of cars when one of the houses within the close has had a gathering. (BBQ, family event etc)

sorry for the long post… I’m just at my wits end with this. I’m a good neighbour, I make no noise, I’m clean and tidy. I’ve even made tip dumps to clear out the communal bin area that other, more inconsiderate neighbours abuse with their waste etc…

regards,
A

Coupon-mad

Sounds like that director is issuing the PCNs or tipping off someone to attend to issue a PCN.

 I am worried I might be prosecuted for simply parking my car.

Don't worry! It is impossible that you could be 'prosecuted' (criminal offence only).

You could get a small claim. but that is the ultimate 'dispute resolution' opportunity and we do defences every single day here. No risk, no CCJ as long as you don't ignore a court claim or move house without telling the PPC.

Which PPC?

Which property company?

Name and shame. We'll have heard of them.

AMDebtWorrier

I do personally suspect that the directors are reporting me to the parking enforcement company. I DO NOT, make any claims that the property management company is in cahoots with the parking company..

I am scared to name anyone involved for a number of reasons… 1. I don’t want my post to be flagged on money saving expert. 2. I’m scared that the property management company (or its directors) would pin point me and cause more trouble…

I’ve not had a court claim, but admittedly I have been naïve and lacked knowledge on parking tickets, so I have ignored the window stickers (never stuck to my screen, only tucked under windscreen wiper). And I have also
ignored 14 day letters and then also private debt collection letters. (3 in total for 3 separate tickets.) 

I have had more than 3 window tickets…. Each one for given to different vehicles. But I’ve only received further pressure for the 3 tickets all for 3 different vehicles…. 

It’s almost like they’re only chasing one ticket for each vehicle…. Despite the fact I’ve had 4 on one, 5 on another and 3 on my latest.

I understand i might have gone about things the wrong way, but I was going on the advice of friends and the generic “just ignore it” view for these kinda things.

but now im getting concerned and especially after finding out about the property management company thing..

Coupon-mad

We do need to know which PPC so we can advise you properly.

AMDebtWorrier

Coupon-mad said:

We do need to know which PPC so we can advise you properly.

One Parking Solutions based out of Worthing

Grizebeck

AMDebtWorrier said:

Coupon-mad said:

We do need to know which PPC so we can advise you properly.

One Parking Solutions based out of Worthing

CM knows them well

Coupon-mad

Ah, my local arch nemesis, OPS!  A notoriously horrible ex-clamper company. They do sue people but I've never lost at a hearing and most cases have been against that bunch, as I'm in West Sussex.

Going forward:

I say you can't live in a place infested by them, they ruin residents' lives at their own homes and wreck your peace of mind.  So (as soon as possible) I'd plan to move out if it were me.  This can't go on.  I'm not joking - that is my honest advice - and I don't say that lightly; it is that bad with OPS.

IMHO they blight estates.

Are you saying Directors of OPS are also Directors of the Management Company?

What your guy is doing as he leaves for work and/or returns, is sending a text to OPS with a distance photo of your car.  A whistleblowing text that he probably gets rewarded for when people pay (which is how he knows you haven't paid).  OPS then send a mobile ticketer round, maybe on a motorbike or in one of their cars.  Seen it loads of times in Brighton/Worthing and the odd place beyond that where OPS manage to infest.

You can't put up with this 'outrageous scam' (Hansard, 2018: a phrase from the MPs' debate re the new private parking (Code of Practice) Act.

AMDebtWorrier

Coupon-mad said:

Ah, my local arch nemesis, OPS!  A notoriously horrible ex-clamper company. They do sue people but I've never lost at a hearing and most cases have been against that bunch, as I'm in West Sussex.

I’ve sent you a PM mate. Appreciated if you could check it out.

thanks,
A

Coupon-mad

Mate?! It's fine, but...

I'm a lady and so is my local friend and fellow OPS knowledgeable fighter, @ParkingMad, who may have more time than me. Maybe. I don't know, can't speak for her.

I'm about to go on my hols and I also do some volunteering now, so what with that and prioritising family and the Government committee I'm on, I don't have any spare time to deal with cases 'off forum' any more.

AMDebtWorrier

Coupon-mad said:

Mate?! It's fine, but...

I'm a lady and so is my local friend and fellow OPS knowledgeable fighter, @ParkingMad, who may have more time than me. Maybe. I don't know, can't speak for her..

Sorry, the “mate” was very informal. I meant nothing biased or assuming by it. I do not differentiate between anyone with my use of mate. I will seek advice from your friend on the matter. Thanks for pointing me in her direction. Enjoy your holidays. Sorry for any misunderstandings and I appreciate your words on my issue.

regards,
a