NPC Parking Permits

Snayl86

Hi there, 

Absolutely incensed by this, and have searched the forum but not found anything dated more recently than 2021.

Having got back from holiday, I have had this letter sent to me, along with a request for a copy of the V5C! 


My OH and I share a car, it's registered to her. 


I'm going to email the property management company asking when they consulted residents on this as it's a variation of the head lease. I'm also going to email NPC saying that I'm not signing anything, they do not need a V5C and will be getting a copy of the license plate number, a utility bill and that's it. 


I'm wondering if there's anything else that I should include? Things move so quickly and I want to ensure I'm going in armed properly with all relevant information. 


The head lease makes no mention of parking at all other than visitors need to park in the visitor bays. 

KeithP

At first glance I can see three glaring errors.

Firstly, to send a letter dated 8th August 2024 demanding a response in less than a week is ridiculous.
You said yourself you have just returned from holiday and it seems likely that others will miss that arbitrary deadline for that exact reason. That's just another excuse to extract money from victims.
To expand on that, even if one assumes that letter was actually posted soon after it was written, the earliest that letter could be deemed delivered was Monday 12th August. They then expect the victim to get a printed form completed and returned with photocopied enclosure within two days - dream on.

Secondly, in the last paragraph of that letter they claim that they will use the data provided, presumably the copy of the V5c, 'In order to verify ownership'. Someone needs to tell National Parking Control Ltd that a vehicle's Registration Document does not provide that detail.
In fact, this banner across the top of my V5c states exactly the opposite...

Thirdly, what sort of ballot, if any, of residents has taken place?
I'll leave it for others to discuss the detail about that, but just to say that a significant majority must be in favour of the scheme.

Snayl86

KeithP said:

At first glance I can see three glaring errors.

Firstly, to send a letter dated 8th August 2024 demanding a response in less than a week is ridiculous.
You said yourself you have just returned from holiday and it seems likely that others will miss that arbitrary deadline for that exact reason. That's just another excuse to extract money from victims.
To expand on that, even if one assumes that letter was actually posted soon after it was written, the earliest that letter could be deemed delivered was Monday 12th August. They then expect the victim to get a printed form completed and returned with photocopied enclosure within two days - dream on.

Secondly, in the last paragraph of that letter they claim that they will use the data provided, presumably the copy of the V5c, 'In order to verify ownership'. Someone needs to tell National Parking Control Ltd that a vehicle's Registration Document does not provide that detail.
In fact, this banner across the top of my V5c states exactly the opposite...

Thirdly, what sort of ballot, if any, of residents has taken place?
I'll leave it for others to discuss the detail about that, but just to say that a significant majority must be in favour of the scheme.

It's ridiculous isn't it. The post mark on the letter is 9th, so it would have arrived on 12th - as you said it's insane to expect anyone to return the second page by then.

I'm going to email the Management company about that too. The answer is there wasn't a ballot. I own my property and I've not been asked. They are notoriously poor at siding with residents, however. 

KeithP

Earlier this year @Le_Kirk wrote this on another thread...

Ask the MA/MC when, NOT IF, the consultation of all residents took place and what was the date and outcome of the ballot.  This is in line with the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987, where 75% of the residents must be in favour and not more than 10% against any changes.

Snayl86

KeithP said:

Earlier this year @Le_Kirk wrote this on another thread...

Ask the MA/MC when, NOT IF, the consultation of all residents took place and what was the date and outcome of the ballot.  This is in line with the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987, where 75% of the residents must be in favour and not more than 10% against any changes.

This is perfect, thank you

Coupon-mad

You and other leaseholders / freeholders must get together sharpish and REFUSE to accept this scheme. Nip it in the bud together.

Leaflet all neighbours within 48 hours if you can, and invite them to a WhatsApp group to kick out the parking firm before they start. Don't even let them put signs up.

Act quickly and in numbers.

This is how it's done and argued:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5997200/pcm-company-introduced/p1

That complaint letter worked.

Snayl86

Coupon-mad said:

You and other leaseholders / freeholders must get together sharpish and REFUSE to accept this scheme. Nip it in the bud together.

Leaflet all neighbours within 48 hours if you can, and invite them to a WhatsApp group to kick out the parking firm before they start. Don't even let them put signs up.

Act quickly and in numbers.

This is how it's done and argued:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5997200/pcm-company-introduced/p1

That complaint letter worked.

I've tried that already, I'm the only one seemingly bothered by it.

It's a change of company. I say change, NCP bought the last company about 18 months ago. 

Coupon-mad

OK so you can still use the complaint letter linked.

Snayl86

Coupon-mad said:

OK so you can still use the complaint letter linked.

That's exactly what I plan on doing first thing tomorrow morning  

Snayl86

So, I've emailed both the NPC and the property management company (using the template, thank you Coupon-Mad) laying out my position and throwing in data protection concerns.

The management company, unsurprisingly, came back with a list the reasons why they have changed company and stated that  'Parking control has been on site for many years now ' without addressing any of my points. I did respond that it's irrelevant how long they have been on site, that it's a variation of the lease without consulting residents and giving them seven days to respond before I take it further. I won't hear anything back from them until they get a letter from my solicitor for sure, they are notoriously useless.

NPC responded that they needed the V5 'as proof of address and proof that the vehicle is registered to an address on-site' which is another variation of the lease. 

I found out that an acquaintance of mine who lives in my old flat that's managed by the same people and parking firm got a permit without providing a V5, just a utility bill and photographic ID. I've provided email evidence to them of this, and reiterated my position, giving them a week to respond. I've got a complaint into the ICO early because the lead times are insanely long, and in exactly 5 days time I'll be chatting to my solicitor to get a letter out to them, along with a bill for it.

Coupon-mad

Very good fightback. Definitely get your costs.