Mcdonalds parking Gatwick PCN

LDast

Send the following as a complaint to the BPA:

Subject: Formal Complaint against MET Parking Services – Breach of BPA Code of Practice during Active POPLA Appeal

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to lodge a formal complaint against MET Parking Services for blatant and serious breaches of the British Parking Association (BPA) Code of Practice (CoP). Despite an ongoing POPLA appeal, MET Parking has continued to demand payment and threaten enforcement action, as outlined in the attached "Final Reminder" letter dated 25th September 2024.

Details of the Breach:

MET Parking has breached several key sections of the BPA Code of Practice, namely:

• Section 22.6: This section requires operators to stop pursuing enforcement action while an appeal is ongoing. Despite my POPLA appeal being active, MET Parking has continued to send me demands for payment, threatening further legal and debt recovery actions.

• Section 23.12: The CoP clearly states that no further action should be taken by the operator until a decision from POPLA has been reached. MET Parking’s actions completely disregard this requirement.

These breaches represent a clear violation of the BPA's own standards and undermine the integrity of the appeals process.

Preemptive Response to BPA's Complaint Procedure Argument:

I am aware that the BPA may attempt to defer this matter by stating that I must first exhaust MET Parking’s internal complaints procedure before a formal complaint can be investigated. I wish to make it clear that this position is not tenable in this case for the following reasons:

1. The Nature of the Breach Is Urgent and Severe: The ongoing enforcement actions by MET Parking, despite a pending POPLA appeal, demonstrate an immediate disregard for the BPA's CoP and for consumer protections. Each day that passes brings closer the threat of legal action or escalated enforcement, which would cause unnecessary distress and financial harm.

2. The Issue Is Non-Compliance with the BPA CoP: This is not simply a matter of an unsatisfactory service or disagreement with the operator. This is a case of MET Parking actively breaching fundamental BPA guidelines. As such, the matter is squarely within the BPA’s remit for immediate intervention, rather than being something that can or should be handled via an internal complaints procedure.

3. A Flawed Complaints Procedure Will Not Resolve the Breach: MET Parking has already demonstrated a clear and ongoing disregard for the BPA CoP, so it is unreasonable to expect them to resolve their own non-compliance. In fact, I have little confidence that exhausting MET's complaints procedure will result in any resolution, given their track record.

Request for Immediate BPA Action:

Given the above, I request that the BPA:

• Immediately investigate MET Parking's actions and assess their compliance with the BPA Code of Practice.

• Impose sanctions on MET Parking for this flagrant breach of the CoP, as continuing enforcement action while a POPLA appeal is pending is a serious breach that undermines the integrity of the entire private parking system.

• Confirm in writing what specific actions will be taken by the BPA to address this non-compliance and ensure that MET Parking ceases their inappropriate enforcement immediately.

Please find attached a copy of the "Final Reminder" letter I received from MET Parking as evidence of the continued demands they are making during my POPLA appeal.

I look forward to receiving a prompt response and confirmation of the sanctions that will be imposed on MET Parking to prevent further breaches of this nature.

Yours faithfully,

Roknrolla

LDast said:

Send the following as a complaint to the BPA:

Subject: Formal Complaint against MET Parking Services – Breach of BPA Code of Practice during Active POPLA Appeal

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to lodge a formal complaint against MET Parking Services for blatant and serious breaches of the British Parking Association (BPA) Code of Practice (CoP). Despite an ongoing POPLA appeal, MET Parking has continued to demand payment and threaten enforcement action, as outlined in the attached "Final Reminder" letter dated 25th September 2024.

Details of the Breach:

MET Parking has breached several key sections of the BPA Code of Practice, namely:

• Section 22.6: This section requires operators to stop pursuing enforcement action while an appeal is ongoing. Despite my POPLA appeal being active, MET Parking has continued to send me demands for payment, threatening further legal and debt recovery actions.

• Section 23.12: The CoP clearly states that no further action should be taken by the operator until a decision from POPLA has been reached. MET Parking’s actions completely disregard this requirement.

These breaches represent a clear violation of the BPA's own standards and undermine the integrity of the appeals process.

Preemptive Response to BPA's Complaint Procedure Argument:

I am aware that the BPA may attempt to defer this matter by stating that I must first exhaust MET Parking’s internal complaints procedure before a formal complaint can be investigated. I wish to make it clear that this position is not tenable in this case for the following reasons:

1. The Nature of the Breach Is Urgent and Severe: The ongoing enforcement actions by MET Parking, despite a pending POPLA appeal, demonstrate an immediate disregard for the BPA's CoP and for consumer protections. Each day that passes brings closer the threat of legal action or escalated enforcement, which would cause unnecessary distress and financial harm.

2. The Issue Is Non-Compliance with the BPA CoP: This is not simply a matter of an unsatisfactory service or disagreement with the operator. This is a case of MET Parking actively breaching fundamental BPA guidelines. As such, the matter is squarely within the BPA’s remit for immediate intervention, rather than being something that can or should be handled via an internal complaints procedure.

3. A Flawed Complaints Procedure Will Not Resolve the Breach: MET Parking has already demonstrated a clear and ongoing disregard for the BPA CoP, so it is unreasonable to expect them to resolve their own non-compliance. In fact, I have little confidence that exhausting MET's complaints procedure will result in any resolution, given their track record.

Request for Immediate BPA Action:

Given the above, I request that the BPA:

• Immediately investigate MET Parking's actions and assess their compliance with the BPA Code of Practice.

• Impose sanctions on MET Parking for this flagrant breach of the CoP, as continuing enforcement action while a POPLA appeal is pending is a serious breach that undermines the integrity of the entire private parking system.

• Confirm in writing what specific actions will be taken by the BPA to address this non-compliance and ensure that MET Parking ceases their inappropriate enforcement immediately.

Please find attached a copy of the "Final Reminder" letter I received from MET Parking as evidence of the continued demands they are making during my POPLA appeal.

I look forward to receiving a prompt response and confirmation of the sanctions that will be imposed on MET Parking to prevent further breaches of this nature.

Yours faithfully,

I will send this right away thank you 

Roknrolla

A little update...... 
Still no answer from POPLA and it's been over 4 weeks now since my last response from them......... 
Today I received a response from the BPA regarding my complaint to them regarding MET pursuing me during an active POPLA appeal and this is their response..... 

I note your comments on why you do not wish to submit a complaint to MET Parking however, we cannot act outside the process due to this. We recommend submitting a complaint and if you do not receive a response, please do let us know and we can look into this further for you.

Next Steps
If you believe that there has been a breach of our Code of Practice by a member of the Approved Operator Scheme you must first submit your complaint directly to the operator using their internal complaints process which can be found at: https://www.metparking.com/wp-content/uploads/Complaints-Policy14.pdf

If you believe the alleged breach of the Code of Practice has not been addressed in your complaint outcome, we require a copy of this and supporting evidence before becoming further involved. 

LDast

So, send something like this to MET as a formal complaint requiring them to explain why they breached the CoP and issued a final reminder whilst the appeals process is still ongoing.

Subject: Formal Complaint Regarding Breach of BPA Code of Practice – Unlawful Enforcement Action During Active POPLA Appeal

Dear Sir,

I am writing to formally lodge a complaint against MET Parking Services for breaches of the British Parking Association (BPA) Code of Practice, specifically concerning enforcement actions taken during an active POPLA appeal.

Details of the Breach:

• Section 22.6 of the BPA Code of Practice: This section explicitly prohibits enforcement action while an appeal is ongoing. Despite this, I received a "Final Reminder" letter dated 25th September 2024, demanding payment and threatening legal and debt recovery action.

• Section 23.12 of the BPA Code of Practice: The Code states that no further action should be taken until the outcome of a POPLA appeal is determined. I am still awaiting a decision from POPLA, and yet you have pursued enforcement actions in direct violation of this requirement.

Request for Explanation:

I require a clear and detailed explanation as to why I was sent a threatening enforcement letter while my POPLA appeal remains unresolved. To date, I have still not received a response from POPLA regarding this appeal, making your demands entirely inappropriate and contrary to the BPA Code of Practice.

What I Expect from MET Parking Services:

1. Immediate cessation of all enforcement actions, including any demands for payment or threats of legal or debt recovery actions, until the POPLA appeal has been fully concluded.

2. A written explanation for why you have pursued enforcement in violation of the BPA Code of Practice, specifically while my POPLA appeal is still active.

3. Written confirmation that no further action will be taken until the POPLA decision is issued.

Failure to address these breaches satisfactorily will result in further escalation of this complaint to the BPA, along with the supporting evidence, including a copy of the Final Reminder letter showing your non-compliance with the BPA Code of Practice.

I look forward to your prompt response.

Yours faithfully,

Roknrolla

A further update, I've sent in the complaint to MET as suggested (which I've heard nothing from, but still within the 28 days they have to respond) still waiting for the POPLA decision which has been almost 5 weeks now (I think I'm going to call them on Monday to see if they are close) but today I received a letter from a debt collection company on behalf of MET. They are obviously going to ignore my complaint, at which point I will refer back to the BPA to escalate it. 

Am I correct in thinking that I totally ignore the debt collector letter? 

KeithP

Roknrolla said:

Am I correct in thinking that I totally ignore the debt collector letter? 

Yes you are right in thinking that - as explained in the fourth post of the NEWBIES thread.

Roknrolla

KeithP said:

Roknrolla said:

Am I correct in thinking that I totally ignore the debt collector letter? 

Yes you are right in thinking that - as explained in the fourth post of the NEWBIES thread.

Thanks, I have read the NEWBIES thread, I was just making sure as this is a scenario where a company is pursuing me while there is an active POPLA appeal. 

Roknrolla

Ok for anyone who has or is following this, it has reached its conclusion finally........ After sending in my formal complaint to MET (as requested by the BPA) I have just received this by email from MET........ 

Good morning,

 

Thank you for your correspondence. We note your comments and as a goodwill gesture on this occasion, we have withdrawn this from our debt resolution team, and POPLA and cancelled this charge.

 

This charge is no longer outstanding.

 

Kind regards,

Complaints Team

This is the correct result for me and I want to thank you for all the help and advice on here during this. 

As for those scummy cowboys, they get to move on to the next "victim" without having to answer for their dodgy ethics because I've exhausted my complaint process and the BPA will just say I've had a "satisfactory response" but with groups and forums such as these hopefully more and more people will stand up to these outrageous companies and a change in law will come about. 

Anyway thanks again all those who gave help and advice, I would have ended up paying them if it wasn't for you. 

Coupon-mad

Glad it worked!

TBF that's what the complaints team of a PPC should be doing.  Plus finding out how it happened and stopping premature DRA threatograms in future.

Castle

Roknrolla said:

A further update, I've sent in the complaint to MET as suggested (which I've heard nothing from, but still within the 28 days they have to respond) still waiting for the POPLA decision which has been almost 5 weeks now (I think I'm going to call them on Monday to see if they are close) but today I received a letter from a debt collection company on behalf of MET. They are obviously going to ignore my complaint, at which point I will refer back to the BPA to escalate it. 

Am I correct in thinking that I totally ignore the debt collector letter? 

How much were they asking for?