UK Parking Control Ltd have been banned from accessing the DVLA database. This means for instance that if they issue a windscreen ticket, they have no way of following up and contacting the keeper (unless the keeper appeals giving away their address). This also means that any ANPR site they manage is now effectively useless because tickets cannot be issued at all. Essentially then, their income stream dries up, and any landowners using them have no effective parking management.
This is therefore not a step undertaken lightly by the DVLA. Although the DVLA are not divulging the exact details, they are investigating UKPC for a potential breach of contract. The DVLA will not be releasing details until the investigation is finished. UKPC will be hoping that the investigation is swifter than the investigation into MIL Collections, which has so far taken several years and is still continuing. Perhaps the investigation will be as quick as the one into Proserve, which only took a year or so.
There are around 200 private parking companies and The Prankster receives most if his complaints about 20 or so of them. Sadly UKPC are one of those companies. UKPC have a long history of dodgy practices, being caught out faking timestamps on photographs multiple times, using council signs to fool motorists, and a myriad of other dodgy practices.
He takes large numbers of motorists to court on bogus charges which have no basis in law. Although he is fully aware of this, he continues to do so in the knowledge that most motorists are scared of court and will pay up on receiving his bullying letters.
Rupert Williams owns UKPC and the network of other companies he owns makes interesting reading. He has siphoned millions out of the business into his own pockets and his other businesses, (inclusing writing off huge loans) yet pays his staff a pittance.
Any UKPC who wishes to contact The Prankster confidentially can do so at prankster@parking-prankster.com
The DVLA needs to take strong action and weed out the 10% of the industry who are not interested in providing proper parking management, but who instead devise schemes to fleece motorists to line their own pockets. These companies give a bad name to the industry, hurt the legitimate parking companies and most of all hurt motorists.
When UKPC previously broke the law by forging timestamps on photographs so that they could charge motorists even though they did not overstay, the issue was brushed under the carpet and no proper investigation was undertaken by the DLVA. Frankly, UKPC have run out of chances, and if they have been found to do wrong, the DVLA should sens out a strong message to the rest of the industry that abusive practices are no longer acceptable.
Happy Parking
The Parking Prankster
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Any info on how long the ban will last?
ReplyDelete"When the investigation is over"
ReplyDeleteMr P are you aware what your wrote? "and any landowners using them have no effective parking management."
DeleteWith UKPC did they ever have any?
The MIL investigation is still live, it has been going since 2015. This is how Robert Toft and the DVLA roll. But not for much longer, eh Robert?
ReplyDeletethe outcome of the MIL fiasco has now been decided , the DVLA CANNOT touch MIL , its upto individuals to sue the parking cos that sold the details on , in many cases the DVLA do not know the companies or cases involved , scratch bum ,, walk away smiling time
ReplyDeleteOr they could do what I suggested in my reply to the blog of 15th April ....
Delete<< The DVLA should require both ATAs to conduct a full and vigorous investigation of their members and determine who has sold such data to MIL and report each and every case to the DVLA to follow up and inform those affected of the compromise of their data.
Thereafter, they should assist those affected to instigate (even fund) civil proceedings against the relevant PPC and MIL and press for damages.
Is there a potential ambulance chasing legal outfit wanting to cash in here? Gladstones, BWL, SCS, Wright Hassall, QDR, and Miah - this does not include you! >>
was that a flying pig I just spotted? the BPA and micky mouse club are members clubs not only are they there to protect members , but I suspect data access etc etc will stop them forwarding info , they are private companies and answer to no one
DeleteWhy doesn't Private Parking Appeals - who are both BPA members and part-owned by Pranky - ask these questions of the BPA from inside the tent?
ReplyDeleteIt is good news as now it means free hospital parking for my appointment in a few weeks ;)
ReplyDeleteIf you can find a space!
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ReplyDelete'm guessing the DVLA is being a bit more cautious right now.
ReplyDeleteThe new EU Data Protection Directive is enforced very shortly and the penalties for non compliance are huge. Also I think that the new Independent Supervisory Data Protection Body set by Parliament may well take a firmer view of misconduct via collusion or inability to monitor those who access their data
They can't rely on the ICO any more.
It may be more difficult to say that a Parking Company who is "supposed" to follow the KADOE Agreement and their own Code of Practice but doesn't, is nothing to do with them.
If you ask me they have been given a spanking for using their new software INPR which tracks real live people after they leave their parked cars. This was nominated in the BPA annual awards and there was even a Youtube animation demonstrating how it works - to make sure drivers and passengers do not leave the area the car park is provided for. Strangely, almost all traces of this new tool has disappeared from internet searches.
ReplyDeleteSomething else worthy of consideration is that having been found guilty BIG TIME by the DVLA then their membership of the IPC should be withdrawn. If not then that pins down the IPC for exactly what they are.
ReplyDeletethey are members of the BPA , not IPC
DeleteI received a response to my appeal from beginning of April, on 30th April, once they had been suspended. Theyve asked for drivers details etc. Should i provide this now?
ReplyDeleteNo. Never reveal the driver.
DeleteHi, BMPA have been helping me with a UKPC/SCS law claim regarding residents parking. I have recently emailed them but had no reply. Does anyone have a telephone number for BMPA?
ReplyDeleteJust getting a little worried as time is getting short.
Many thanks.
Anyone know if they are still banned?
ReplyDeleteask the dvla , bpa will not tell you
DeleteFinally got a response from DVLA all be it too late to have some fun with UKPC at the hospital today , but yes they are still suspended from the database. But of a tip for you if you are going to a UKPC car park with barriers check if they have infrared safety on the barrier if so a crafty post-it note when someone else leaves is all it takes for free parking (not that I would condone or encourage this activity)
ReplyDeleteThey have access to the DVLA now. They've sent me an NTK. I never sent them anything revealing my address before I received it.
ReplyDeletePrankster's quite. Whats happened to you?
ReplyDeleteHi, i have received a court letter after 5 years 4 months, can Ukpc contact Dvla for my details please? Regards Sandra
ReplyDeleteYes, hey have been reinstated. The statute of limitations is 6 years, so if this a court filing, they are just in time. If not, you should try and draw things out, but without admitting anything.
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