Euro Parking Services

Fergie58

Hi I had a text last week from Empira re a parking fine passed on from Euro Parking Services for a fine dated March 25. Went to my old address so knew nothing about it. Took me ages to even remember it and Empira staff were very unhelpful to begin with. Eventually got the PCN and went through EP's Data subject access request portal.  It was outside a shop and I spoke to the shopkeeper who has been helping me appeal as she does many of her customers who are getting these. The video footage shows me parking and moving away within 10 mins which is the rule on the notice. Europarks have asked the shopkeeper if she wants to cancel the PCN and she said yes.  They emailed today and have counted my complete reverse which has taken me 10 seconds over so refused to cancel the PCN. Any advise on next steps would be most welcome. Thank you 

Snakes_Belly

I think that Euro Parking Services would struggle with this at court especially if the shopkeeper backed you up with a WS and using  De minimis as part of the defence which means that it is a very trivial matter. Were you moving in the car for those 10 seconds? I take it that you are too late to appeal and that the letters are from a debt collection agent. If you receive a letter before claim then you need to respond to this. You also need to update your records with the DVLA.  If you receive a letter before claim then post again on this thread.

Car1980

Clowns. Just ignore them, but I'd send an email to both them and Gladstones stating your correct address for the service of a court claim. That way you're covered.

Coupon-mad

"Europarks have asked the shopkeeper if she wants to cancel the PCN and she said yes.  They emailed today and have counted my complete reverse which has taken me 10 seconds over so refused to cancel the PCN."

  

Oh the scammery! MHCLG wakey wakey.

You could reply telling EP that you will report them to the ICO for a clear breach of the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice, if they continue to suggest that reversing is part of a detected period of parking. Give them a week to cancel.

Then complain to the ICO with the proof you have exhausted the trader complaint and the 'evidence' this scammer is using.

Fergie58

Hi to all that have replied I very much appreciate it. You will have to forgive my 60 odd year old brain but there are things written above I don't understand and will make it clearer below. 

Snakes belly -WS and using  De minimis as part of the defence what do these mean pls?
Were you moving in the car for those 10 seconds? - I parked at 18.28.46 started reversing away at 18.38.40. I have the footage if someone can advise how I attach? lol
Yes the text is from a debt collection agency ive never never received any letters -
If you receive a letter before claim then you need to respond to this. You also need to update your records with the DVLA. What is a letter before claim. DVLA records now up to date.

Carl - but I'd send an email to both them and Gladstones stating your correct address for the service of a court claim. Who are Gladstones? I have advised them of my current address and email  last week when i called. 

Coupon Mad -  MHCLG what is this pls? who are the ICO? (BTW I have been referred to you personally by H087 who sends his very best regards   )  

They mentioned I should have keyed my REG in at the shop but the shopkeeper advised  that is if someone was there after 10-20 mins . She is trying her level best to help They have said I have till 8th October to pay before it goes legal. its  been increased to £160.

Again thank you 

Coupon-mad

"You will have to forgive my 60 odd year old brain"

I'll meet that and raise you! 



"BTW I have been referred to you personally by H087 who sends his very best regards."

ooh same - send him my best regards.

MHCLG = a government department.

ICO = Information Commissioner's Office

kryten3000

Make sure both Euro Car Parks and Empira have your correct address for service and instruct them to ERASE the old one to stop them "accidentally" issuing any claim to the wrong address.

Nellymoser

As said above, but it's best to notify the correct person of your address change, that's the company's Data Protection Officer (DPO).

You'll find email for each DPO in their privacy policy. Google search Euro Parking Services DPO email, do same for Gladstones solicitors and Empira. Then send one email to Euro Parking Services DPO and cc in other two.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81519771/#Comment_81519771

Snakes_Belly

"Snakes belly -WS and using  De minimis as part of the defence what do these mean pls?"
If they do take court action you will have to prepare a defence. You are not at this stage yet. Don't worry you will get help with this if and when they take court action. If they did take court action they are very unlikely to succeed providing you defend the claim.

"Were you moving in the car for those 10 seconds? - I parked at 18.28.46 started reversing away at 18.38.40. I have the footage if someone can advise how I attach? lol"

If your car was moving you were not parked. If they do make a claim through the courts it is vexatious and judges do not like these sort of claims.

"Yes the text is from a debt collection agency ive never never received any letters -"

"If you receive a letter before claim then you need to respond to this. You also need to update your records with the DVLA. 
What is a letter before claim. DVLA records now up to date."

Letter before claim means that the parking company are intending to take legal action. You need to refute this if and when you receive one. It comes before the claim. 

It is unlikely that it will go this far because they are scraping the barrel. 

Follow what Coupon says.   

Fergie58

Hi All, Changed my address at Europarkng & Empira. They have both confirmed. I sent this on Friday 3rd I have sought advise on this matter and can confirm I will report you to the ICO for a clear breach of the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice, if you  continue to suggest that reversing is part of a detected period of parking. 

They replied this morning 
Regarding the contravention, our records indicate that at 18:38:57, your vehicle was still present within our enforcement area. As such, this is considered within the period of the detected parking contravention.

My timings were as follows. 
Parked at 18.28.46 Commenced reversing at 18.38.40.  

This is a screenshot of what the shopkeeper had. They have included the time it took for me to reverse ( 11 seconds !!) She has requested they proceed with the cancellation and heard nothing back .

Could some advise me on next steps please i have no idea where to start, what to say or any contacts for the ICO or MHCLG ..thank you

Coupon-mad

Just report them as you said you would. We won't write a template for an ICO or MHCLG complaint because that ruins the effect of the complaint.  I've used the ICO portal and all you have to do is upload evidence and also prove that you exhausted the complaints procedure of the trader.