When will private parking companies stop harassing innocent motorists?
We all know about the unscrupulous practices of cowboy private parking enforcement companies; however, it seems as if the recent ban on private clamping has done nothing to diminish their overzealous (and highly dubious) techniques.
On 22 September 2012, Brian Smith* parked his Ford Transit in an NCP car park in Birmingham managed by Vehicle Control Services Ltd. (VCS). He parked up at 15:37 and returned to his van an hour later, paying £1.50 for an hour's parking.
However, Brian was astounded when, eleven days later, he received a parking charge notice claiming that the car park's Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras had snapped him entering the car park at 14:56 -- 41 minutes before he paid for his ticket -- and that, because of this, Vehicle Control Services (VCS) was asking for £90 off him.
Understandably, Brian wrote to Vehicle Control Services (VCS), appealing the decision. He claimed that there must have been a mistake with the company's ANPR equipment and said: "It does not make sense that someone would park in the area for 30 minutes and then go and buy a ticket."
Vehicle Control Services (VCS) responded to Brian's complaints, saying: "Despite careful consideration of the circumstances, we have not found sufficient grounds to cancel the charge."
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Mr Clampit: Simon Renshaw-Smith's Vehicle Control Services (VCS) was found not to have the legal right to pursue parking charges. |
Previous Form
Vehicle Control Services (VCS) was defeated in court in May after a disgruntled motorist, Ronald Ibbotson, refused to pay what he deemed and unfair charge after parking in a Wickes car park.
The judge ordered Vehicle Control Services (VCS) to repeal the fine and pay £42.50 in costs.
The incident was particularly embarrassing as Vehicle Control Services (VCS) is owned by Simon Renshaw-Smith, who also holds a senior position in the industry-funded British Parking Association (BPA). Renshaw-Smith also owns the vehicle immobilising company Mr Clampit.
The case dealt a major blow to so-called cowboy parking enforcers who relentlessly pursue and intimidate motorists in order to get them to pay inflated (and often unfair) parking fines.
Our view
While there is undoubtedly a need to enforce parking regulations on private land, this is no reason for private companies to use scare tactics to extort money from innocent motorists. Vehicle Control Services (VCS) should drop the case against Brian Smith and target only those who wilfully flout parking regulations.
If you have any stories about unfair parking charges, we'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at contactus@buyyourcar.co.uk and we'll put your story on the site. We won't publish your real name or registration plate. With your help, we can try to put an end to the cowboy private parking enforcers!
*Brian's name has been changed to protect his anonymity.
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