Blue badge/free parking

[Frontstep]

Most of parking companies do take action in the form of a county court summons.
I was watching a TV programme the other night, where a young lady was refused a mortgage, purely because of a CCJ brought about by parking, and not paying her parking "invoice".

It is often said by armchair legal experts that you should just ignore communications from these parking companies, it is for some an expensive mistake because some will bounce you through the courts.
Open all letters and read them most can be chucked but not all and do not ignore the court communications.

 

[Boxbrownie]

This is more down to how selfish & lazy society has become these days. It's all about me me me and fcuk everyone else.

Exactly..............

 

[television]

. This is more down to how selfish & lazy society has become these days. It's all about me me me and fcuk everyone else.

This can be seen in our roads and houses. When I bought my house in 1996 I got to know all 17 families, now days I only know 3

 

[rf065]

This can be seen in our roads and houses. When I bought my house in 1996 I got to know all 17 families, now days I only know 3

You had 17 other families living in your house? :twisted:

Russ

 

[television]

You had 17 other families living in your house? :twisted:

Russ

OH dear it did not sound good did it.

 

[Crazycarb]

She must be extremely unlucky or it was from a council? It's well known and documented that private parking companies have very little standing in law.

If you watched the documentary I did the other night, you may change your mind.
If you are taken to the small claims court, (and many many are)they undoubtedly will get judgement, due to it being a breach of contract which is firmly in place in writing in all car parks where timed parking is in force. It depends whether you choose to test that or not, but I wouldn't. I would like to see where it is "well documented" that parking companies have very little standing in law.(not an internet forum). From the programme the other night, they very much do have full legal right to pursue you through the small claims court. However, although the despatches programme did make it quite clear, I have an open mind and will look at documents proving that they have no legal claim.

 

[drmw]

+1 ^

Been there, have the t-shirt (and mountains of paperwork - what a waste of time).

Do not believe the keyboard legal experts - it's real, it happens.

Years ago, ignore & forget - no longer. The b45tard parking companies have wakened up and got their act in gear.

 

[C350Carl]

I'm certainly no Keyboard legal expert. I'm speaking from experience. I also know several people who have successfully had these claims quashed by courts

Here are some links. The main point is they have to prove Loss and that their charge (eg £100) isn't excessive.

Daily Telegraph

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/...995722/Do-you-have-to-pay-car-park-fines.html

For a more concrete/reputable source. Citizens Advice.

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/engla...on_private_land_if_you_are_taken_to_court.htm

When I said they have no legal standing I should have been clearer what I was referring to. I was in fact referring to the excessive charges/penalty they try to levy. So apologies for the confusion there.

 

[C350Carl]

The other thing is POPLA (which is mentioned in the Telegraph link) are very good at stopping these cases going to court in the first place. They just don't get utilised enough. The parking companies are relying on people panicking and paying up. Or not knowing their legal rights.

 

[Crazycarb]

The citizens advice link does have a "settlement out of court" section which spells it out the real message for me. You'd need to be a hard & fast gambler to take up the court cudgel. Most county court cases give the plaintiff (the parking co's) Judgement.
I would want to feel very rich & foolish to challenge a C/C ordeal. The Telegraph link is solely for very long shot gamblers. Most charges were about 50/60 quid and were getting judgement.

 

[C350Carl]

The citizens advice is detailing every course of action someone can take. They also say you can pay the fine.

As said I'm no Keyboard Legal Warrior. But I certainly would fight against paying £100 if I'd failed to pay a £2 parking ticket.

 

[Crazycarb]

I certainly would fight against paying £100 if I'd failed to pay a £2 parking ticket.

Maybe worth a punt, but I think the parking companies are getting savvy and dropping it to 40/ 50/60 quid. This where they are def getting judgement.

 

[C350Carl]

What was the program called (apart from Dispatches) I'll watch it on catch up.

 

[C350Carl]

Think I've just found it. Secrets of the Parking Wardens?

 

[turbopete]

The reason they get a blue badge is because they are disabled (yes i know some flaunt the system but that's a different debate). Why does that mean they should pay to park?

The idea is they can legally park as close to where they need to be so as not to alienate them from living as fulfilling a life as possible. So i don't agree they should pay. As you said it's an indication of disability and not wealth.

however, just looking at this from the other side (and i know where you are coming from as my dad is disabled) if i have to pay to park, surely its discrimination for a disabled person to park for free? after all, imagine the outcry there would be if suddenly everywhere stopped having to have disabled access, unless the disabled people were prepared, say, to pay £1 to use the disabled access, but able bodied people can access for free?

im not saying its right, just playing devils advocate a bit!

 

[C350Carl]

I get the point you make.

But I think it's also to take into account they may be on a limited means of income as their particular disability might preclude them from working.

 

[Crazycarb]

Think I've just found it. Secrets of the Parking Wardens?

Yes that was on recently, that maybe the one. I can't remember if it was despatches or that. It shows the wardens are under pressure to issue tickets. Of course the "trade organisation" tried to make themselves whiter than white, but you & I know it's all sh*t when caught unawares.

 

[C350Carl]

Yes that was on recently, that maybe the one. I can't remember if it was despatches or that. It shows the wardens are under pressure to issue tickets. Of course the "trade organisation" tried to make themselves whiter than white, but you & I know it's all sh*t when caught unawares.

It is that one as the bit about the woman's mortgage has just been on.

 

[turbopete]

I get the point you make.

But I think it's also to take into account they may be on a limited means of income as their particular disability might preclude them from working.

as is the case with dad. he has been battling Multiple Sclerosis for 35 years now. he can claim nothing except Income Support, my mother gets £20 per month carers allowance, he has a motability car as he was unable to get out of the 203 and only was able to get that because the specialist nurse sent the DWP a letter outlining the extent of his disability. and obviously he qualifies for free road tax and a blue badge. other than that he can get NOTHING despite being unable to get out of bed AT ALL without first having steroid injections. without those he cant lift his arm up in the air and if he could get out of bed somehow his legs would crumple beneath him.
couple all this to osteoporosis and theres probably a few odds and sods i dont know about, and its pretty grim for him, despite being only 59 years old.

i myself have osteo arthritis, im 39, can claim help with nothing but carry on as best i can, yet a guy at work has osteo arthritis and 2 fused vertebrates in his spine, he gets middle rate DLA and free tax, blue badge etc, another guy at work has a bad back (no idea what) but he can lift, decorate house interiors etc and he has a mobility car etc. id love to know how they manage THAT

 

[C350Carl]

That's why people see the system as being abused. Genuine cases like yours and your fathers don't get the help they need. Yet others not so needy do.