Odd parking fine
Discussion
Bit of an odd one. £160 parking fine received from the external company who manages the parking at our workplace, however it’s not for my car. After much trawling I figured out it was for a visitor that I printed a visitor permit for. The visitor permit system is a bit ad-hoc, but basically just consists of us printing the thing out and adding our name to it. There are no T&Cs attached to their use that I’ve been able to source other than the standard parking T&Cs. The fine is due to the visitor not parking in a designated visitor space.
I kinda assumed the parking company would contact the DVLA for ownership details, but presumably they (at least initially) use our workplace database of numberplates of those with permits.
The workplace itself won’t touch this, as they just trot out the usual ‘parking is managed by a third party company’ line, so I’m wondering what it’s best to do?
I kinda assumed the parking company would contact the DVLA for ownership details, but presumably they (at least initially) use our workplace database of numberplates of those with permits.
The workplace itself won’t touch this, as they just trot out the usual ‘parking is managed by a third party company’ line, so I’m wondering what it’s best to do?
ukaskew said:
Bit of an odd one. £160 parking fine received from the external company who manages the parking at our workplace, however it’s not for my car. After much trawling I figured out it was for a visitor that I printed a visitor permit for. The visitor permit system is a bit ad-hoc, but basically just consists of us printing the thing out and adding our name to it. There are no T&Cs attached to their use that I’ve been able to source other than the standard parking T&Cs. The fine is due to the visitor not parking in a designated visitor space.
I kinda assumed the parking company would contact the DVLA for ownership details, but presumably they (at least initially) use our workplace database of numberplates of those with permits.
The workplace itself won’t touch this, as they just trot out the usual ‘parking is managed by a third party company’ line, so I’m wondering what it’s best to do?
How is it addressed to you? At your office address I suppose I kinda assumed the parking company would contact the DVLA for ownership details, but presumably they (at least initially) use our workplace database of numberplates of those with permits.
The workplace itself won’t touch this, as they just trot out the usual ‘parking is managed by a third party company’ line, so I’m wondering what it’s best to do?
Did they have access to company records to get that detail?
Sounds like a breech of the Data Protection Act to me
PurpleMoonlight said:
Who are they seeking to charge exactly?
What do you mean? It's a fairly standard penalty notice for failing to adhere to the conditions of parking (which is fair enough if the owner of the car parked in the wrong bay).However, it's addressed to me, but includes the number plate for a car I've never seen or been near and that isn't registered to me.
ukaskew said:
What do you mean? It's a fairly standard penalty notice for failing to adhere to the conditions of parking (which is fair enough if the owner of the car parked in the wrong bay).
However, it's addressed to me, but includes the number plate for a car I've never seen or been near and that isn't registered to me.
Then send it back stating you are not the keeper or driver.However, it's addressed to me, but includes the number plate for a car I've never seen or been near and that isn't registered to me.
ukaskew said:
What do you mean? It's a fairly standard penalty notice for failing to adhere to the conditions of parking (which is fair enough if the owner of the car parked in the wrong bay).
However, it's addressed to me, but includes the number plate for a car I've never seen or been near and that isn't registered to me.
Reply stating the vehicle has no connection to you and they should contact the driver. However, it's addressed to me, but includes the number plate for a car I've never seen or been near and that isn't registered to me.
Also ask how they managed to obtain your details as you wish to bring a case for Data Protection breach and are holding them jointly liable along with who gave out your detsils. Post on MSE or Pepipoo and buy some popcorn
ukaskew said:
I kinda assumed the parking company would contact the DVLA for ownership details, but presumably they (at least initially) use our workplace database of numberplates of those with permits.
There is logic in that as it is your workplace which issues them. Presumably the database contains details of the person isssuing the permit.Hence why the PPC has you in their sights. However you have merely acted as agent for your workplace. You are not personally liable.
Btw it's not a fine. Only a court can impose one. It's an invoice for a parking charge.
ukaskew said:
The workplace itself won’t touch this, as they just trot out the usual ‘parking is managed by a third party company’ line, so I’m wondering what it’s best to do?
For starters - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgonBt1oa9Y - 
pavarotti1980 said:
Reply stating the vehicle has no connection to you and they should contact the driver.
^^This^^Except that if I were in the OP's shoes I would expect an officer of the company rather than me to trot out the 'company line'.
The Company Secretary is the legal officer. Get him/her deal with the PPC.
Of course the PPC has no way of knowing who the driver is unless someone tells them.
If the workplace only has a name but not an address then it's going nowhere.
The PPC has the VRM. They can pursue the charge using keeper liability per Schedule 4 of PoFA 2012.
pavarotti1980 said:
Also ask how they managed to obtain your details as you wish to bring a case for Data Protection breach and are holding them jointly liable along with who gave out your detsils.
If they manage the OP's work parking, then the OP quite probably gave them his own details when he got a permit to park there...Red Devil said:
^^This^^
Except that if I were in the OP's shoes I would expect an officer of the company rather than me to trot out the 'company line'.
The Company Secretary is the legal officer. Get him/her deal with the PPC.
Of course the PPC has no way of knowing who the driver is unless someone tells them.
If the workplace only has a name but not an address then it's going nowhere.
The PPC has the VRM. They can pursue the charge using keeper liability per Schedule 4 of PoFA 2012.
Unless it was a Foreign registration plate or the plate was obscured Except that if I were in the OP's shoes I would expect an officer of the company rather than me to trot out the 'company line'.
The Company Secretary is the legal officer. Get him/her deal with the PPC.
Of course the PPC has no way of knowing who the driver is unless someone tells them.
If the workplace only has a name but not an address then it's going nowhere.
The PPC has the VRM. They can pursue the charge using keeper liability per Schedule 4 of PoFA 2012.
I grant you that a foreign plate is possible but the percentage chance of that is vanishingly small.
As for obscured that's also possible. If then comes down to how the contravention was detected.
The OP hasn't said whether it was by someone patrolling or ANPR/CCTV.
Both front and back plates would be have to be amazingly dirty to defeat the Mk1 eyeball up close.
Not many ANPR/CCTV systems are extensive enough to detect the absence of a permit while the vehicle is parked.
As for obscured that's also possible. If then comes down to how the contravention was detected.
The OP hasn't said whether it was by someone patrolling or ANPR/CCTV.
Both front and back plates would be have to be amazingly dirty to defeat the Mk1 eyeball up close.
Not many ANPR/CCTV systems are extensive enough to detect the absence of a permit while the vehicle is parked.
ukaskew said:
I'll write back and (correctly) claim complete ignorance of the car or incident in question.
<scratches head>ukaskew said:
...it was for a visitor that I printed a visitor permit for. The visitor permit system is a bit ad-hoc, but basically just consists of us printing the thing out and adding our name to it.
TooMany2cvs said:
If they manage the OP's work parking, then the OP quite probably gave them his own details when he got a permit to park there...
But that doesn't give the company carte blanche to give out those details to a parking company. Even more so when the vehicle is unconnected to the employeepavarotti1980 said:
TooMany2cvs said:
If they manage the OP's work parking, then the OP quite probably gave them his own details when he got a permit to park there...
But that doesn't give the company carte blanche to give out those details to a parking company. Even more so when the vehicle is unconnected to the employeeThe ppc seems to be saying OP is liable by not having ensured "his" visitor adhered to the parking T&Cs
OP, what does it say in your employment contract about any responsibility you might have towards visitors using the car park?
Does it say that you are liable for the charge if a visitor that you organised the permit for breaks the parking rules?
OP, what does it say in your employment contract about any responsibility you might have towards visitors using the car park?
Does it say that you are liable for the charge if a visitor that you organised the permit for breaks the parking rules?
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