How to proceed? Any advice and guidance is very welcome. Demand for medical evidence by UKPC.

1505grandad

Interesting to note that NCP embrace the Kaizen philosophy  -  wonder if any other ppc's adhere to this commendable strategy?.

https://www.ncp.co.uk/help-centre/website-terms-and-conditions/quality-policy-statement/

MauveMoo281

I have news! 

My UKPC invoice has been cancelled, as a "goodwill gesture".

Yesterday's email to Georgie Brooks @ Hampson Wall was passed to a variety of recipients who in 'hot potato' stylie, swiftly handed it on and so I have no idea of the role of the players in this money spinning endeavour.

                 Natasha Mann ~ Service Delivery Manager @ bellrockgroup.co.uk

This individual emailed to inform that the invoice had been cancelled and for that I am genuinely grateful. 

I have asked if I will be formally notified by UKPC or would her email suffice.

Remember the plaque on a building @ Highbridge Retail Park showing a Legal & General Helpline?
My call was answered by a female from BellrockGroup ~ Maintenance Division which threw me in terms of trying to establish where best to direct my complaint.

So it is now proven that BellRock Group have access to the client portal to UKPC.

Anyway, I am so very grateful to Coupon-mad's comprehensive (and daunting!) Newbie thread and the Forumites that helped me to this succesful outcome (and even the potential stalking horse.)

I shall be sticking around as I have found this place fascinating and have so learned much from you all and shall be recommending this site to others who find themselves in dire straits.

~ Edited to remove supernumerary contacts ~

I have added the precis to the Successful Complaints About PPC's pages plus hyperlink to this thread.

ChirpyChicken

That's great news. I wonder if @Kaizen2024 will applaud this route taken in getting this ticket cancelled without having to have their truthfulness tested?

Coupon-mad

We LOVE Plan A and people who persevere with it!

Is this direct enough for you and the anti-consumer parking industry ilk, @Kaizen2024?

@MauveMoo281 please do stick around and help encourage newbies; it's how we all started.

Also please post about your case and exactly who to email for this site, in Successful Complaints About PPCs. Your thread will die away but that one is permanently linked in two sticky threads.

MauveMoo281

Thanks @ Coupon-mad.

I shall post in Successful Complaints About PPC's. 

The who to email bit is somewhat tricky hence why I named the bit-part players behind the curtain. Ultimately I suppose BellRock Group links into UKPC somewhere but what their official role is, who knows? Or cares.

Semper sersum!

Kaizen2024

Is this direct enough for you and the anti-consumer parking industry ilk, 

There is no doubt that this strategy will work occasionally as requests of this nature will be few and far between on the scale of things (and generally relate to isolated incidents such as this case); especially as the landowner is the weakest link (it’s very easy to give away someone else’s revenue). 

One thing that’s for sure is if any given landowner starts to experience an influx of people bypassing the appeals process for bog standard Parking Charges, they will (and do) then take the stance that they will cease entertaining such requests; which is why it’s a hit and miss strategy.

Also, look how much time the OP has spent on this, it’s certainly the long way round as the same result may have been achieved had they submitted a comprehensive appeal in the first instance.

Coupon-mad

MauveMoo281 said:

Hello! 

On 18th March, 4 days after the alleged 'contravention' I received a parking charge letter from UK Parking Control by post.

My *offence* ~ 'Not parked correctly within the markings of the bay or space' in a free-to-park, retail park in Waltham Abbey, Essex. The photo shows my vehicle parked in 1 of 2 'bays' separated by 1 hatched marking.

One of the rear wheels 3 inches into that hatched marking in the disabled bay, which to all intents and purposes in my mind *is* part of the bay?

My Blue Badge was on display. 

I had suffered a medical emergency and needed to exit the car quickly. I was driven home by a relative, in her car. 

My car was collected less than 30 minutes later so there was no overstaying.

I disputed the charges on receipt of the postal charge letter, (18th March 2025), and explained what had happened via email.

That I had suffered a medical emergency, had displayed my Blue Badge at all times and had been driven home by a relative and my car had not overstayed the 2.5 hour limit.

On Good Friday, 18th April I received an email demanding "medical evidence for the date of the contravention".

I have been back, (19th April), to photograph the signage, the disabled bays and spoken to store managers about UKPC predatory conduct. 

With reference to UKPC outrageous demand for "medical evidence", I would assert that in order to obtain a Blue Badge I have already established, with proof, my disability and it is most certainly not within their, (UKPC), powers to decide this. 

Moreover, it is a gross breach of my right to privacy.

As a disabled person, I have protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010 and failing to make reasonable adjustments, (ie. the need to park differently due to my condition) is a breach of those protected characteristics which amounts to a criminal offence by Legal & General and their sub-contracted agents, UKPC.

Can they make this disgraceful demand for "medical evidence in relation to the date of the contravention?" 

Could you please offer advice on the best way to proceed?

I cannot and will not pay £100 on a point of principle, (reduced to £60), you know the 'deal'...

-----------------------


UPDATE - APRIL 24th:

I have news!   

My UKPC invoice has been cancelled, as a "goodwill gesture".

Yesterday's email to Georgie Brooks @ Hampson Wall was passed to a variety of recipients who in 'hot potato' stylie, swiftly handed it on and so I have no idea of the role of the players in this money spinning endeavour.

If any of the learned Forumites here can unravel:

Jessica Marrison @eu.jll.com onto a Chris Hosey, (Senior Surveyor @jll.com) Property and Asset Management @ JLL. Interesting, eh? 

Then onto Natasha Mann ~ Service Delivery Manager @ bellrockgroup.co.uk

This individual emailed to inform that the invoice had been cancelled and I have asked if I will be formally notified by UKPC or would her email suffice.

Anyway, I am so very grateful to Coupon-mad's Newbie thread and all that helped me to this succesful outcome and even the potential stalking horse.

I shall be sticking around as I have found this place fascinating and have so learned much from you all and shall be recommending this site to others who find themselves in dire straits.

Kaizen2024 (self confessed parking industry poster) said:

There is no doubt that this strategy will work occasionally as requests of this nature will be few and far between on the scale of things (and generally relate to isolated incidents such as this case); especially as the landowner is the weakest link (it’s very easy to give away someone else’s revenue). 

One thing that’s for sure is if any given landowner starts to experience an influx of people bypassing the appeals process for bog standard Parking Charges, they will (and do) then take the stance that they will cease entertaining such requests; which is why it’s a hit and miss strategy.

'Revenue'!

Entirely reliant on scamming people. Firms like yours/your industry see consumers as a 'revenue opportunity'.

Sums up all that is wrong with operating 'free' like a protection racket.

Also, look how much time the OP has spent on this, it’s certainly the long way round as the same result may have been achieved had they submitted a comprehensive appeal in the first instance.

You and I both know it wouldn't.

And this OP refused on principle, to 'prove' their medical condition.  For goodness sake they were parked in an accessible bay, with a Blue Badge!  Should NEVER have been targeted.

No other trader restricts valid disputes to a policy of: 'speak up in the first 28 days or shut up, pay up £170 or be sued' like this industry does.

This mimicking of penalties must end.

ChirpyChicken

Only the long way round because of the over top request by the parking firm
And luckily landowners frequently boot out parking firms when they cause them so many problems

MauveMoo281

Coupon-mad said:

'Revenue'.

Entirely reliant on scamming people.

Sums up all that is wrong with operating 'free' like a protection racket.

Also, look how much time the OP has spent on this, it’s certainly the long way round as the same result may have been achieved had they submitted a comprehensive appeal in the first instance.

You and I both know it wouldn't.

No other trader restricts valid disputes to a policy of: 'speak up in the first 28 days or shut up, pay up £170 or be sued' like this industry does.

This mimicking of penalties must end.

   Not “the long way round” at all.

When you weigh up the time, energy, and emotional toll of this ongoing ordeal — this wretched Sword of Damocles — the choice to stand up against it was clear.

I live with chronic pain, often punctuated by sudden, severe flare-ups triggered by stress for example. The anguish of facing an unjust penalty for something that was entirely beyond my control only made things worse. But I chose to fight — not just for myself, but because it was the right thing to do.

I fully understand the purpose of the yellow-hatched markings in a disabled bay. In this instance, there was a slight, entirely unintended encroachment by one rear tyre — less than 3 inches — which caused no obstruction or harm. I had to abandon the car urgently due to a sudden, debilitating onset of facial pain.

To be met with threats of escalating and disproportionate fines is completely wrong, especially given the circumstances.

Under the Equality Act 2010, disability is a protected characteristic. This legislation requires organisations to make reasonable adjustments for disabled individuals — and that includes recognising that someone with a disability may need to park differently or behave differently in ways that non-disabled individuals wouldn’t. There is also a duty to consider the context and provide flexibility, not deliver rigid punishments via automated processes.

UKPC would have been aware of my status as a disabled person — they accessed DVLA records, and the vehicle is clearly marked as part of the Motability scheme. That alone should have prompted a more thoughtful, humane response.

No one — apart from my medical consultants — truly understands what I face on a daily basis. I’ve alluded to one of my diagnoses, but I’ve chosen not to disclose everything publicly. Despite this, I was expected to engage with a cold, box-ticking process, where an office junior dismissed my complaint (note ~ NOT an appeal) with a standard “computer says no” outcome. Then I would have been left to endure months of distress.

Thankfully, the right and compassionate decision was made within a day — and for that, I’m genuinely grateful.

But this experience shows how badly the system needs reform — because disabled people deserve to be treated with understanding, not suspicion.

Half_way

One thing that’s for sure is if any given landowner starts to experience an influx of people bypassing the appeals process for bog standard Parking Charges, they will (and do) then take the stance that they will cease entertaining such requests; which is why it’s a hit and miss strategy.

Simple answer in that case is to go after the landowner, if the parking company has acted unreasonably/breached the equality act, go after the landowner.

If a farmer keeps dangerous animals ( ie certain breeds of cattle) on land with public access, then the farmer is held to account for the actions if his/her animals if someone is harmed

 If a landowner allows an un regulated parking company on land with public access, then the landowner should be held to account for the actions of its agents