DVLA database details sold to criminals - implications for the proposed National Identity Register
The Mail on Sunday has been investigating the scandal of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
DVLA sells your details to criminals by MARTIN DELGADO, ROB LUDGATE and MARK NICHOL, Mail on Sunday 08:16am 27th November 2005The Government is selling the names and home addresses of motorists on its drivers' database to convicted criminals, a Mail on Sunday investigation has revealed.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) tells would-be wheel-clampers there is "no problem" with them buying drivers' home addresses - even if they have a criminal record.
Indeed, the two bosses of one clamping firm on the list of companies to whom the DVLA is happy to sell drivers' details are currently serving seven years' jail between them for extorting money from motorists.
The Mail on Sunday has now forced the DVLA to hand over its list of 157 firms which can buy personal information about drivers at £2.50 a time. All the companies need do is tap in a registration plate, and back comes the full name and address of the vehicle's owners.
THe DVLA has issued a Press Statement which tries to claim that they are not at fault. If it is not their fault, then who else can be blamed ? ?
This is not the first scandal which has betrayed what should be private personal data e.g. DVLA database compromised by animal rights extremists
No senior officials or Ministers responsible for such scandals have been disciplined or have resigned.
If the DVLA cannot effectively prevent abuse when they deal with fewer than 150 companies, then what chance is there for the Government to be able to assure us about the controversial proposed National Identity Register ? According to the Home Office ID Card "Procurement Strategy Market Sounding" documents will have 265 Government Departments and 44,000 private sector organisations "accredited" to be linked to the system !
The Mail on Sunday claim that they " have forced" the DVLA to reveal this information, presumably with a Freedom of Information Act request.
The Mail on Sunday has published the names of 156 Companies in two parts: (A-L) and M-Z, to which the DVLA are selling motorists vehicle data and registered owner (often home) address information to.
The Mail on Sunday list does not include other vast users of the DVLA systems such as Capita plc, who are subcontracted to run the controversial London Congestion Charge scheme on behalf of Transport for London. We have been asking questions about how this data is handled by Capita, since before the inception of the scheme.
Are the DVLA also selling such data to say, Sainsbury's supermarkets or other Petrol retailers which use Automatic Number Plate recognition ?
What is the true extent of the DVLA sales of our private data to commercial enterprises ?
Comments
I am struggling to see the equivalence betwen the DVLC database and the proposed National Identity Register (NIR).
For DVLC, the enquiries are of the address of the Registered Keeper. Provision of this is a major function of DVLC, and is obviously necessary for dealing with parking, speeding and other traffic violations, where the perpetrator is no longer present (or is not co-operative).
All use of the NIR, excepting that for police and national security purposes, should be to confirm (or deny) correctness of information provided by the registered person (or someone claiming to be them). Thus no additional information need be extracted from the NIR. While this is not the only way that the NIR could be operated, in providing identification services, it strikes me as the best thing, to avoid concerns over infringement of personal privacy.
Further thoughts on the operation of the NIR (and whole NIdS) can be found at: http://www.camalg.co.uk/tk051116a/TK051116A_bcs_02.pdf
Best regards
Posted by: Nigel Sedgwick | November 29, 2005 5:59 PM
Nice comment piece in yesterday's Times from Libby Purves on the DVLA activities and the link with the ID card proposals: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,1056-1895065,00.html
Posted by: Ian Brown | November 30, 2005 12:24 AM
@ Ian Thanks for that reference Ian - it leads to the Parliamentary Question asked by LibDem MP Norman Baker:
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2005-11-28b.31879.h&m=1680#g31879.q0
which reveals that the number of requests which the DVLA is selling "citing reasonable cause" is averaging at about 79,000 a month.
Posted by: wtwu | November 30, 2005 12:31 PM
@ Nigel - The equivalence between the DVLA systems and the proposed National Identity register is simply that the DVLA is an example of a current large scale UK Government system, although far smaller than the proposed National Identity Register.
The failure of the DVLA to protect what the vast majority of people assume to be private personal data, and their jobsworth bureaucratic denial of any responsibility and the buck passing e.g. "the Information Commissioner is aware of what we are doing", does not instill any confidence in the proposed NIR.
Why is the DVLA selling this information to car clampers ? Even the DVLA press release says that
"DVLA information is not needed for wheel clamping"
http://www.dvla.gov.uk/whats_new/Release_of_data.htm
The "blind oracle" approach, merely confirming or denying what is stored on the proposed National Identity Register has its attractions.
However, there are no large scale Government or commercial systems for confirming say, name and address, which have been implemented in this way at the moment - why should a system as massive as the proposed NIR be the first experiment ?
N.B. the credit card authorisation system does work simply accept or reject a sales transaction, without giving details of credit limit or name and address etc., but it relies on one single number, which is not what any NIR Verification Service would have to deal with.
There are huge practical difficulties even with "simple" names and addresses.
There are countless online systems which insist that your credit card or your phone number or your postcode must be entered in a particular format, typically without any spaces or dashes which make it easier for a human being to remember or to type them in correctly.
Even within Governemnt Departments, there are a staggering number of different name and address formats, which have grown up organically over the years.
A "blind oracle" confirm/deny approach is very brittle and prone to false denials caused by different name and address formats etc. Even a tiny number of such false denials is unnacceptable if the NIR is used to control access to Government services to which a citizen is already entitled.
Even if there are mostly automated systems in place, in real life there will still have to be human operators who have access to a screen with the full NIR record information fields against which the automated comparisons are made, so that they can use their human intelligence to verify the details presented.
Where there are human operators, then the DVLA type abuses and risks to the supposedly "gold standard" identity theft proof NIR records will apply.
If you solve this problem, then much of "joined up e-government" becomes feasible, and it does not need a centralised biometric database.
Posted by: wtwu | November 30, 2005 5:49 PM
links to the Daily Mail articles are broken - any chance of adding the list of companies to your article here?
Posted by: duncan | December 2, 2005 9:34 AM
Associated Newspapers online archives are possibly the worst of the major UK newspapers. If they have chosen to take the two lists A-L and M-Z offline, they should explain why, rather than just display an "article not fouind" error message:
Posted by: wtwu | December 2, 2005 12:33 PM
i was sent a fine for £170 for parking at a aldi car park.
the car is registered in my name.
my partner has had the car registered to transport her disabled parent around.
if they even looked at the servalance cameras footage the would fine that on the date that i was suppost to park in their car park they would fine that two women were in the car at the time and one disabled.
not i repeat not by buying my information for £2.50. from the dvla. and charge me £170. for 15 minutes over the time. due to a disable person wanting to doe shopping in the store. using only the stores car park.
if the company wants to charge custmers for parking they should use a pay and display system.
not charge the cars owner for £170 for a layout cost of £2.50 buying my details from the dvla which is a goverment company which i pay taxes and road tax to support.
one unhappy customer of the goverment system.
criminals buying my information for the cost of £2.50.
Posted by: darrell parry | December 17, 2005 12:21 PM
www.redroute.info
Posted by: Protecting Your Space | December 31, 2005 9:57 PM
The DVLA are currently publishing this list as a word document, along with a press release promising a consulation paper, here:
http://www.dvla.gov.uk/whats_new/whats_new.htm
Posted by: Big Brother | January 30, 2006 10:05 PM
Interesting - the DVLA lists another company:
Note how these are only parking companies or for corporate carparks.
Where are the Petrol Retailers and Supermarkets which use Automatic Number Plate Recognition ?
Where is Capita plc / Transport for London for the London Congestion Charge ?
Who else are they selling or giving away our data to ?
Posted by: wtwu | January 30, 2006 10:56 PM
I am one of those motorists currently under the "cosh" of these private car park management companies.
I made the mistake of using an Aldi car park twice in one day. The CCTV captured my entry on the first visit and my exit after the second. Surprise, surprise it didn't record my departure and re-entry between the two. They won't release the tape but just issue threatening demands for payment. Any suggestions?
Posted by: Malcolm Hall | March 9, 2006 8:58 AM
If you have been on the receiving end of information being handed out by the DVLA, please contact tom@flametv.co.uk We are keen to get these practices out to an even wider audience on ITV.
Posted by: Tom Williams | March 13, 2006 12:05 PM
I have been on the receiving end of hassle from ECI (on your list of DVLA users). This is the only way in which they could have accessed my new address - even my old neighbours don't know where I live, so I can only assume that ECI bought my info from DVLA.
Posted by: Gill James | April 25, 2006 3:03 PM
i got clamped by premier parking servies they coned me 340 pounds ten min over on my time the law should have a set fee for all these crooked clampers
Posted by: kerry | May 4, 2006 6:32 PM
I received 2 fines for parking in aldi carpark apparently captured on cctv
No notices were issued on my car so I was totally unaware of the new parking rules as the signs are so small and not noticable on my route in and out of the carpark.Is this enforcable as I would say I didnt enter into an agreement due to the fact I didnt notice that the signs had changed there conditions of parking from for Aldi customers to restricted parking
Posted by: lynnjuska | May 8, 2006 1:19 AM
I have just received a £170 fine from UK Parking Contrl Ltd, along the lines of previous correspondants, for parking over 2 hrs in a Boots car park. I called the CAB who tell me that you have to pay up, as it is totally legal. However, Boots tell me they are trying to get out of the contract due to the outrageous fines, and since they gave the company notice they are sending out these fines even if you are 5 minutes over time. No one locally had refused and been taken to court, which the CAB say would not result in a criminal charge but would leave you being awarded costs against you ergo more expensive than paying the fine in the first place!
Posted by: Sarah | June 7, 2006 1:38 PM
I parked in a pub car park for 10mins just while i ran across the road to draw some money out. There were no signs to begin with but on my return there was a huge chalk board put up saying 'customers only' within this 10mins a parking ticket was put on my car and a letter sent to my house asking for £87 for not using the pub and not displaying a permit!?!?!??! The company was EFPN?? no telephone number has even been given for me to contact them! does anyone know anything about this company?
Posted by: Laura | June 15, 2006 3:21 PM
hi
i dont know if you can help but i need to know if this is possible.
i had an incident on the road with 2 home boys who [after following me to the garage]said that they got my details from the DVLA and that they were coming to burgle my house later.
is this possible?
if so, why is this possible?
regards
paul
Posted by: paul | June 23, 2006 9:59 PM
Paul - report this threat to the police. If these two are making a habit of this sort of threat then something might be done. It is unlikely, but possible that they have access to DVLA data. Most burglaries are opportunistic and motivated by theft rather than revenge.
What caused you to attract their attention? I suspect there's a bit more to this story than you are telling us.
Posted by: Nur Mi | June 24, 2006 10:22 AM
@ Paul - agree with what Nur Mi says. They are probably bluffing, but if they do have access to a Garage / MOT centre or to a dodgy "security" firm, then they may well have access to DVLA records.
Following the tabloid media headlines, the Governmemt announced a public consultation, back in March, and is still dithering over a decision about restricting
the DVLA data sales to the private sector.
This poorly regulated trade raises some some £6.3 million a year in fees, which may or may not actually cover the costs of the scheme.
The DVLA currently sell the Vehicle registration details (not the Driving Licence details), including the Registered Keeper Address, for £2.50 a time to anyone who can show a "reasonable cause", a term which is undefined.
See the silicon.com article: Government considers DVLA data sale restrictions
You could try using the Non-Emergency Crime and Hate Crime / Incident Reporting For the Police Service of the United Kingdom
However you will then have to to try to work out if any of these categories apply:
Incredibly, even though this system is meant to reduce the strain on the Emergency Control rooms, there is every chance that they will still end up having to deal with the resultant emails, several days after you submit the online form.
Posted by: wtwu | June 24, 2006 12:38 PM
wtwu - I don't think this helps Paul at all. The events he describes sound more like public order offences or road rage than hate crime. He should attend a police station and report the events in person. And avoid terms like 'home boys' if he wants to be taken seriously.
Posted by: Nur Mi | June 24, 2006 4:06 PM
I just received a charge certificate with a picture of my car from G24 Ltd demanding £75 for parking on yellow lines while I was in the car and my son went and posted a letter in the letterbox. I didn't even see the sings on the entrance of the road and only after I received the penalty I went and saw the sing wich was way away visibility.
Posted by: Eva | June 27, 2006 12:48 AM
G24 Ltd are on the list of companies who use the DVLA data for parking enforcement. It's not clear from your post if this took place on a public highway, where G24 Ltd enforce parking for the local authority; or on private land. I suspect the latter.
If this took place on private land, enforcement of the charge will be through the civil courts. G24 will argue that you entered into a contract to pay the charge by parking there, after seeing the signs. Your defence will be that the signs were not obvious and that you did not see them. I suggest photographing the signs now, because it's not unknown for them to move around when this sort of defence is used.
I suspect that the majority of people ticketed pay up and few cases go to court. If you refuse, it is quite possible they will drop the matter (after a few threatening letters maybe) rather than persue you to court.
A claim for £75 will be heard in the small claims track of the county court, and is nothing to be afraid of.
If this took place on the public highway then appeal is to the Parking and Traffic Appeals Service, the National Parking Adjudication Service or the magistrates court, depending on where this took place and the type of ticket.
Posted by: Nur Mi | June 27, 2006 2:04 PM
Sarah,
I as also fined 87 quid for a 5 minute stop in what turned out to be the car park of a sorry miserable pub. What did you do? did you pay up?
Posted by: Richard | July 7, 2006 8:27 AM
recd. parking ticket from OPC. Was experiecing an hypoglycaemic attack (low blood sugar). Diabetic team have provided a letter to confirm facts. Need advise.
Posted by: mrs. Clarke | July 7, 2006 11:07 AM
Mrs Clarke - What sort of ticket - public highway or private?
I'm not an expert on parking - indeed I've never had a parking ticket, but I'd suggest that on the public highway, a vehicle prevented from proceeding because of driver illness should be dealt with in the same way as a broken down vehicle - ie not a contravention. The local authority should accept your representations, if not appeal through the appropriate channel.
If this is on private land, I'd be inclined to give them the evidence and then let them sue. I can see the district judge diving them short shrift.
You may be required to inform DVLA of this incident
Posted by: Nur Mi | July 7, 2006 11:56 AM
Just been done for £75 by UK PARKING CONTROL LTD.Worked and parked in the same place for the previous 2 and a half weeks,with no problems,then a fine for £75 lands on door step. I was working on a Safeway to Sainsbury conversion and was parked in their car park. The ticket issuer must have been able too see that work was being carried out.(skips, lorries etc.) Ypu would have thought they would have the common decency to come and say that we wre parking illegally but no.Havin been told that we could park there at the beginning of the job.Just got word that 2 other people working with me that day have also been done.Which in a selfish and fiendish sort of way makes me feel a little better.
Posted by: Chris | July 7, 2006 4:02 PM
In addition to last comment, firstly sorry about spelling.and secondly thre were warning signs up but thought we wre doing no wrong.
Posted by: Chris | July 7, 2006 4:06 PM
Chris - I bet they are trying it on. If your client told you that you could use their car park - and the work would be more difficult and expensive if you couldn't - then you were authorised to park there.
If they persue it, your defence is that you were authorised to park there, and call your client as a witness.
Posted by: Nur Mi | July 7, 2006 5:09 PM
Have just received charge notice from UK parking control ltd they are on your list of people who get there info from the DVLA, and yes right across the middle in big black letters they say (Operating in accordance with DVLA code of practice for private car park enforcement).
Well right away thats put there to make it look official, and then you go on to read that the offence took place at our local McDonalds in Huyton in Merseyside yes they do have a problem with people parking and not using there restaurant, but when you take a Chrysler Voyager full of kids for lunch you expect to spend more than an hour in there restaurant.
I will not pay this fine and they can take me to court, I will also be writing to Mc donalds, the DVLA, and to these upstarts who sent me a fine for £95 and offer a discount of £20 for immediate payment also the DVLA guidlines state that they are supposed to place a notice on your vehicle at the time of the incedent,also any photographic evidence should also be sent, but yes youve guessed it NO PHOTO, but yet again right across the middle of there notice in large black letters, WE ARE HOLDING PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE ON FILE TO SUPPORT THIS CLAIM.
Well i hope they are because yhey will need it, oh yes just to make things worse we have disabled kids and they were in the vehicle and the blue disabled badge was displayed in the window, yhank you UK Parking and most of all thank you McDonalds.
Posted by: Ste Karlsen | July 7, 2006 9:11 PM
Ste - I'm sure you are innocent of any parking offence. But maybe you deserve to be fined for feeding children at McDonalds...:-)
Posted by: Nur Mi | July 8, 2006 10:39 AM
We were all sent a £75 pound fine for parking in norwod heights shopping centre car park. To make it worse we were told that we could park here. We were sent it by UK Parking Control Ltd and it sounds as the same as the one's mentioned here. What we were wondering was do we pay it or not????
Posted by: The Gallagher and Tempia Family's | July 9, 2006 3:58 PM
Nur mi - yeah i did pay the £87 fine for parking in a miserable pubs carpark. I left it for a while because i had never even heard of the company and couldnt find any information or contact numbers anywhere for them. But when they sent a letter threatening court i just payed up to save any more agro. Have u eva heard of EFPN????
Posted by: Laura | July 12, 2006 2:01 PM
Laura - I've not had any dealings with EFPN but they are on the DVLA list, so that's where they got the vehicle keeper details from.
I would have refused to pay and had my day in court. The small claims track of the county court is nothing to be scared of. If the sign was not displayed until after you had been parked it can not be said that you agreed to pay any fee for parking. If it only said "customers only" (a photo would help) then it would be difficult to set a fee for parking, and £87 would certainly not be considered reasonable. That kills off any claim in contract. The only other claim they could make is for damages. I doubt they could show that your trespass (by parking there) has cost the pub £87.
These companies play on peoples' fear of a court claim. In reality people use the civil courts every day to resolve disputes. In the small claims track the parties are not usually represented and costs are not usually awarded.
Posted by: Nur Mi | July 12, 2006 9:55 PM
I have just received a fine from EFPN for parking on a pub car park. I actually went into the pub briefly, then popped to the bank for 5 mins. On my return there was no ticket on my windscreen which would have made me aware that I would be receiving a fine. This fine states that as I have not paid the initial fine of £60 and there is now a late payment fee of £27, so the total due is £87.00. I didn't receive a first notice or anything prior to this.. Is this a scam?
Totally fed up, am going to see the pub concerned and speak to the local papers about them.
Posted by: clare | January 17, 2007 9:25 AM
To everyone reading this blog, there is no obligation to pay charges to private companies, they base their "demands" on contract or trespass law (not criminal law or decriminalised parking regulations) and have NO powers under the Road Traffic act to force you to declare who was driving the car at the time of the alleged trespass or breach of contract, i.e. the person who trespassed or breached the alleged contract. This is NOT a PENALTY CHARGE NOTICE as prescribed in law, even if it purports to be so, it is an invoice for alleged breach of accepted contractural terms or an offer to settle before court for damages due to trespass.
Posted by: Mick | January 18, 2007 10:16 AM
I have also received a 'Charge Certificate.. Civil Traffic Enforcement Notice' from my Contract Hire Company (they are the registered keeper of my vehicle!)
Can I instruct them NOT to pass on my detials to G24 Ltd (they have asked for my permission). If I don't reply they have stated they will pay on my behalf and add it to my agreement +£25+VAT costs!
Also, on the picture of my vehicle it is impossible to read my numberplate. Would there be other evidence?
Further, I've only received the 'Charge Certificate' today 23Jan07, it was Issued on 11Jan07 and refers to a Charge issued on 24Dec06. What about the 14days rule?
Posted by: Richard | January 23, 2007 12:24 PM
i parked on a road close to uni, the road never had any yellow lines. i came back to my vehicl to see a parking charge notice by uk parking control, i observed for any warning sighns and could only see a laminated letter warning of charge stuck to a lampost which i had not seen at the time of parking as it was discreet and not close to my vehicle. and then i seen at the start of the road a sign way above eye level which could not be seen as i entered. i appealed but it got rejected, it just looked like an automated letter,. do u rekon ive got a case in court?
Posted by: yusuf | February 12, 2007 12:12 PM
1st week of Jan I was in a rush early one morning to meet up with a work colleague at Woodhall Services, M1 so I could transfer to his car and then go on to meet a client. The weather was rainy and misty. I saw his car straight away, pulled mine along side, got out and into his and then he drove me off. Returned late evening (dark) got into my car & drove home. Next morning spotted fine on wiper blade. I had no expectation of a parking fine, I didn't know they'd starting doing this at service stations, I hadn't noticed any signs at the service station because I wasn't looking for them, just the colleague's car. These fines are like a tax on commercial progress, next time I have to see a client similarly located with a colleague we'll both go in separate cars. Great for CO2 emissions! I am disinclined to pay this fine, I guess a threatening letter will arrive soon. What's their justification for fining me, trespass? if so how do they put a value on it?? Has anyone gone to court over this? If so I'd be very grateful to know how they got on?
Posted by: Mitch | February 15, 2007 10:20 AM
I parked in a local diy store whose parking is monitered by G24 Ltd.They have taken just over 4 weeks to send out a claim for £60.00, for parking 109 mins in a 60 min area.It is quite possible that I was at he store twice during this time as on that day I was plumbing in a new washing mchine. There was no notice given to me or attached to the vehicle.Having checked at the car park there are a lot of signs now in place which i'm sure are recent and the allowed parking time has been raised to 90mins with a £75.00 fine.I used to be a regular shopper there but obviously not any more.Should I pay and have done with it or on principle refuse
Posted by: bernie | February 18, 2007 3:37 PM
I just received a £80 fine from UK parking control,for parking at a leisure centre with no warnings, no yellow lines.
The disturbing thing is they are also charging me for late payment as they claimed i didnt pay on time. Its funny as i never previously received any letter or charge from them, and wondering how i could pay for a charge i didnt even know about. They dont even have a phone number or correspondence address on their letter, not even an appeal preocees. Its ridiculous how the govt can allow these sharp practices to continue.
Posted by: Femi | March 3, 2007 10:10 AM
My wife has just received £170 ticket from UK Parking Control for a 18 min wait in the car to pick up a resident of the flats early on a Sunday morning in Cheltenham.
I don't see any point in paying!
Posted by: Rickie | March 15, 2007 4:47 PM
Hi Just wanted some advice,
i was parked in liverpool just off the main road and next to a private accomdation block, when i got back to the car their was a parking notice from legal parking enforcers u.k limited, which stated i had parket outside the accomodation on private land.when i looked the only sign their was to say you couldnt park in the accomodation car park which i wasnt. They have requested £80 unless i have paid within 14 days which it will be £40. they said they have taken a photograph and got my details from the dvla. I rang the dvla and they said noone has requested my information as they hav to pay the 2.50 but she said there could be other ways they can get it. I rang merseyside council and they said dont pay it but to get advice from the police. I rang the police and they said they couldnt help should i pay or not?
Posted by: Laura | March 30, 2007 3:03 PM
I been done by G24 Ltd
for overstaying the FREE parking time in a retail car park, the signs were to small & I was not looking for them as the last time I went there it was FREE parking with no limits... they want me to pay £60 I spent over £200 in the store & I have recipts to prove it, I wrote an appeal but no one got back to me on phone email or letter...
Just another demanding letter reffering to increased fees & details forwarded to balifs...
I havent heard back from them in regaurds to the appeal letter?
Im scared they are going to break in & steal my stuff
If they do, I dont know what I would be responsible for doing to them?
PLEASE HELP!!!
aaronprentice05@aol.com
Posted by: aaron | March 30, 2007 10:05 PM
I to have just been ticketed in Liverpool by Legal Parking Enforcers uk ltd. I had parked in permit holders only parking [private land] attatched to my daughters private student accommodation. There are no other parking places available for loading or unloading. So have no choice but to put my car there while we packed up her books ect. Fellow student told us not to pay, as his friend hadn't & that was over 3 months ago. Not sure what I will do as I can't be the only parent caught like this. Accommodation people no help, LPE said I could appeal but I have to pay fine first & hope I win appeal.
Posted by: helena | April 7, 2007 11:02 AM
i have got a ticket from bgs services ltd for having two wells on the grass it was £100 i said that it not fair to them and now it £250 and i just dont have the money befor they want wat can i do about this.
Posted by: joe | April 22, 2007 1:42 PM
I was sent a parking fine through the post from euro car parks saying that I over stayed my time in Tesco exress in horwich, bolton. The thing is I have never been to bolton or with my vehicle!!. I have appealed twice saying i want photo or video evidence but its falling on deaf ears and still no evidence. What can i do???
Posted by: Andrew Olsen | May 12, 2007 10:38 PM
@ Andrew - you could try sending them a letter quoting the Data Protection Act 1998 Section 10 Right to prevent processing likely to cause damage or distress.
If they have not corrected their faulty data or promised to do so, within 21 days, you can complain to the Information Commissioner, who may get more out of them (an admission of error or some actual evidence), or end up prosecuting them at public expense.
Posted by: wtwu | May 13, 2007 8:40 PM
I'm disabled and having a very bad day due to my disability had to venture out to buy some pain killers as couldn't get anyone to help-however after displaying bluebadge on the dashboard and parked legally struggled to open door in the gale force winds.
I wasn't gone long but had a ticket for £80 my badge was on the seat still clearly visible most definatly blown down in the wind.
I appealled explaining mitigating circumstances to National clamps who got my info from DVLA. After several letters all sent by recorded delivery stamped addressed envelopes and copies of blue badge sent to national clamps they have put the cost upto £240 ignored all my letters and refused me any chance of appeal.
Constant harassment letters threats of bailifs court and now they are sending debt collectors to my house. I have invited them to take me to court and since reporting this to the DVLA my car has been broken into and vandalised for the first time ever and can't help being a bit susspicious if this is connected
Di
Posted by: Di | May 13, 2007 10:04 PM
Hello,
I have just rec/d a parking chage from this company who call themselves EFPN. Like you, I have searched everywhere for there details. I have called the pub, where I go the ticket, and the manager doesnt know there contact details either. Is this a fake ticket???? Also, where it says date, the only details they have wrote down is the number '10' it doesnt even say '10th' or state the month or year. Would this make the ticket invalid? Please let me know. Thanks, Louise
Posted by: Louise | May 16, 2007 1:02 PM
I have received a parking fine from UK Parking Control for parking in my own parking space saying Vehicle not displaying valid permit. The car was displaying a valid permit but the lazy idle warden could not walk to the front of the car to look at it and took a photo of the back of the car of which only the number plate and rear drivers side of the car can be seen the rest of the photo is blacked out. The date of this alleged contravention was 16/05/07. then today 02/06/07 I received another for for an alleged offence on 30/03/07 which was 6 weeks earlier. I look forward to my day in court. The car space is registered to my address as this a block of flats and DVLA gave them the address can they not add one and one. It is not rocket science.
Daniel Shanahan
Posted by: Daniel Shanahan | June 2, 2007 6:20 PM
Law Answers: http://www.lawanswers.co.uk explains how most of these can be dealt with
Posted by: Conrad Murray | June 5, 2007 5:30 AM
I have got a reply saying ' The parking ticket has now been cancelled'. Think my ticket was a scam! At least I dont have to pay it! Louise
Posted by: Louise | June 6, 2007 7:43 AM
27 June 2007
I have been sent a letter (dated 26/6/07)from County Parking enforcement Agency Ltd demanding a fine of £80 for 'Vehicle causing an obstruction in a private car park' on 16/2/07 at 18.08.
I have never been to Crown Moran Hotel car park in Cricklewood(London).What should I do?
Posted by: P Shah | June 27, 2007 8:50 AM
Aldi clamped me and several others at the new store in Walton on Thames, Surrey - this was on Saturday night, when they have NO traffic coming through...they are parking fascists - no warning, a sign at 15feet high which was unilluminated on a street that hasn't been policed for 10 years...gits the lot of em...
Posted by: Richard Adams | September 24, 2007 12:26 PM
I've just recieved a demand from a company called BGS Services Limited (I'm guessing they also got my details from the DVLA) for £203 dateing back to 27/07/07 and I recieved the demand on the 03/10/07. legaly I've no idea where I stand and if it were £20 or even £50 I'd pay it and move on but it's £203. They also said that they issued me with a ticket at the time which I did not recieve and I've recieved no photo. I only went into BlockBusters! What should I do?
Posted by: Dominic Woodley | October 9, 2007 8:27 AM
I have received a fine from UK Parking Control Ltd for £80. I asked for photographic proof. A short time later they wrote to say it had gone up to £170, and I have just received a notice saying that I now owe £210. They are threatening to take me to court and I am really panicking. Has anyone been taken to court? How far will this go?
Posted by: Rebecca | October 29, 2007 12:31 PM
I have received a parking fine for £130 from a company called clamping enforcement agency? I live in Hull my ex boyfriend got the ticket at a university in Crewe and they got my details from DVLA, I am more than happy to supply them with his details as I was no were near Crewe on the day and they even spoke to him and he "promised" to pay it? everything I've read on the internet tells me not to pay, they are all scammers and can take me to court if they want but I am not paying them £130 just because I was the registered keeper at the time!
Posted by: Caroline | November 6, 2007 9:23 AM
Having made a trip to our local Cinema last night I parked In there FREE car park,
Admittedly I did park across two spaces as it wasn't busy and some 8 months Previously having my car hit there and
the other driver just leaving me with £400's worth of Damage to repair I wasn't happy to let it happen again.
I had been told by the very unhelpful security guard there were no cameras that covered my car so I was on my own with it, his only suggestion was to park so nobody could squeeze in next to me.
so I return to my car to find a small slip of paper under my passengers wiper blade informing me that UKPC (UK Parking Control Ltd) were sending me a ticket for a parking contravention
I have not yet received the actually fine and it does not state on the paper slip any information of the fine but seeing as most people who have had the Misfortune to deal with these people have been held to ransom for £170 im more than a little annoyed.
On the upside I Do work for a law firm and am seeking advise as to what my options are if I want to avoid this Highway robbery.
Posted by: Mr A Nonomous | January 24, 2008 12:22 PM