Parking Code of Practice Consultation - now EXTENDED - closes Friday 26th September

Krunkled_Mustilid

Done. What a load of old b.s.

Le_Kirk

Krunkled_Mustilid said:

Done. What a load of old b.s.

Which particular part are you referring to as BS?

Coupon-mad

I've started to dig deeper and read the consultation a bit more.

But the Options Assessment (OA) looks as clear as mud. They have redacted a big black section and don't seem to have any clarity, pros or cons about 'Preferred Option 4'.

It looks like it's missing? Or have I missed it?

Yet I spotted these odd paragraphs in the OA that don't make sense, as there's no context:

Whaaat?

NONE OF THE PROPOSALS INCLUDE A CHANGE TO THE DRA FEE CAP?!

Yet the Consultation promises:

"The government wants to hear the views of all stakeholders in favour of, or against, the current industry cap of £70 on debt recovery fees. This will assist the government in considering whether to include the £70 industry cap in the Code, or whether another amount is more appropriate, or whether debt recovery fees should be banned."

Ummm... what preferred option section?

Ummm... what "reallocation of the parking charges to the motorist's disposable income'?!

What do they mean? Where is that section?

Also I found this published recently, the RPC assessment of the Options Assessment which shows its journey (it failed RPC clearance at first) which explains the extra delay this year:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6870ed942cfe301b5fb67a9e/RPC-MHCLG-25042-OA-Opinion_FINAL_v2.pdf

We need all drivers to know about this and I'm hopeful MSE Towers might get the MHCLG public consultation in the weekly email in good time, to drum up more consumer input. I'm on the case with that.

Just really confused by the above.

Some 'assumptions' in the Consultation should be called out, e.g.:

• "If the proportion of those paying does not change, our analysis suggests that debt recovery agencies would ‘break even’ (with costs that are equal to revenue) with a DRF of approximately £26. If DRFs were set below this level, this may impact the ability of debt recovery agencies to continue operating in this space and limit the availability of the debt recovery process as an option for parking operators to recover unpaid parking charges. This could increase the proportion of parking cases ending up in the court system and incurring associated costs."

Rubbish.

Banning the 'extortion' of consumers footing the operator's DRA bill plus the operator's VAT (plus a massive enhancement as a cherry on top that INCREASES the PCN face value for PPCs) doesn't mean DRAs won't be paid!

They already get paid by PPCs behind the scenes (plus VAT) and all motorists are saying is that it offends against public policy that consumers are paying for a service/supply and VAT (and extra profit) that the POFA intended to cap at the PCN as the 'maximum sum' recoverable.

Nobody is saying DRAs won't be paid.

There is no evidence that a '% commission off the PCN' model isn't viable for both operators and DRAs.

Castle

We need all drivers to know about this and I'm hopeful MSE Towers might get the MHCLG public consultation in the weekly email in good time, to drum up more consumer input. I'm on the case with that.

Just really confused by the above.

I need a lie down!

If only they knew somebody who has a 1 hour long live TV show on ITV.

Coupon-mad

Which isn't back until the Autumn!

patient_dream

This will assist the government in considering whether to include the £70 industry cap in the Code, or whether another amount is more appropriate, or whether debt recovery fees should be banned."

This was a cloud dreaming attempt by OSNER TO EXTORT MORE MONEY.
The BPA approved it to keep their members happy. It is without doubt, an EXTORION CHARGE AND MUST BE BANNED

There are other words that should be banned...
DAMAGES
ADMIN

BAN DEBT COLLECTOR CHARGES

Nellymoser

It's not only the debt fees but the practice of the DRAs. The consultation survey in the debt fees section states
"This government is committed to ensuring that motorists are not intimidated during the debt recovery stage and that they are not misled, resulting in them taking a decision that they might not otherwise have taken."
But the document then gives no details (well none I can see) on how the Govt plans to achieve this.

patient_dream

But the document then gives no details (well none I can see) on how the Govt plans to achieve this. 

What can we expect from a Government who seems clueless ....... if they allow the fake £70, the government will then allow EXTORTION ...... we will see ???

Le_Kirk

11 Do you agree that it is reasonable for motorists to be charged an additional sum to cover the costs relating to recovering unpaid invoices,

also known as debt recovery fees?

Strongly Disagree

Please explain your answer :

At the point that the PPC tries to implement debt recovery fees, there is no proven debt, it is merely a speculative invoice and hasn't been ratified by a judge. There is or should be, no need for debt recovery fees as any and all admin should be included, just like any business overheads, in the initial charge. PPCs do not pay fees to recover the debt, they try to use the small claims system to do this work for them. Debt Recovery Agents work on a no-win no-fee basis.

12 If you agree that there should be a charge, which of the following cap levels do you think is reasonable for debt recovery fees?

Not Answered

Please explain your answer :

I do not agree that there should be a charge. I cannot move on until I have ticked a box therefore I ticked £1-£19

Excerpt from some of my answers, making it clear that Debt Recovery Fees are NOT required.  Also a typical example of a poorly written survey by not giving an option to select £0. By making a selection at any price/cost it is apparently showing me as agreeing with debt collection fees, whereas my view is the exact opposite!

Coupon-mad

I cannot move on until I have ticked a box therefore I ticked £1-£19

Don't tick any box and don't fill anything in there. Can you then move on? This is really important because I need to alert the MHCLG if you cannot avoid ticking a box that has a £.