Tuesday, 17 September 2013

Are POPLA's days numbered?

In the executive Board Meeting of the BPA which took place on May 23rd, it became apparent that the BPA were not happy with the performance of POPLA with regard to the backlog of cases:
Patrick Troy, Chief Executive of the BPA Ltd, confirmed that an 18 month break clause has been put into the contract with London Councils in view of the performance issues.
POPLA's days may therefore be numbered. Costs are already more than expected and this will only get worse now that more assessors have been employed.

As well as performance, the AOS members are also unhappy that the assessors are sometimes correctly applying the law. Apparently, the operators believe they are more qualified to judge legal matters than law graduates under the supervision of a barrister with many years experience of parking.
Ashley Bijster, managing director of Imperial Civil Enforcement Limited stated that the feedback she has received from operators following the last AOS Board meeting was that they are very unhappy with the service provided and have negative perceptions which are impacting on the BPA, and that some of the decisions are being made by people apparently without sufficient knowledge of the relevant law.
Although POPLA have shown a large bias towards parking companies, this is apparently not enough for the AOS members. One wonders who they will get to replace POPLA?

Happy Parking

The Parking Prankster
at

5 comments:

  1. Unknown18 September 2013 at 01:40

    It seems to me that the days of using POPLA or any other 'Industry' appeal board are numbered. Popla has lost any appearance of impartiality. Moving Goalposts, Only considers selective parts of a submission, glossing over inconvenient evidence. I guess it will have to be done to be included in any subsequent Court case.

    Parking Companies are being ever more creative in coming up with ways to defraud drivers. reducing permitted time, not allowing customers to leave the car park, what next, 'stepping on cracks in the pavement?' Soon time to campaign to get the whole lot outlawed.
    stu k

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  2. Custard Pie18 September 2013 at 02:31

    PPC expected PoPLA to under pin their fleecing of motorists.

    Obviously it was never expected that things like "the law" were expected to go in the way of the scam.

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  3. cjdenver18 September 2013 at 05:48

    Funny coincidence - the July meeting minutes have just popped up over at pepipoo and there is talk that the contract with London Councils was nearly terminated...

    Linky:

    http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?s=&showtopic=82863&view=findpost&p=870300

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  4. Colin MacDonald18 September 2013 at 08:34

    Can't the POPLA law students take a leaf out of standard CEO training?

    You know, strict performance targets and off-the-record "advice" about how to hit them? Don't worry about the actual law, you're just doing your job, it's tough all over. Anyway, the motorist can always appeal...

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  5. Custard Pie19 September 2013 at 00:46

    The problem for The PPC's Colin is that the scam has been uncovered along time ago. Motorists are asking the basic questions around law. If PPC's were right in law, then everytime they would counter with basic law principals.

    Instead, they try to use smoke, mirrors and bullying tactics, as they basically are legally wrong.

    They don't respond to the questions being asked because they can't.

    ReplyDelete