Author Topic: Multimillion pound parking company (UKPC Ltd) suspended by DVLA  (Read 4956 times)

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Offline Web Admin

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Multimillion pound parking company suspended by DVLA over allegations of 'data misuse'

Exclusive: UK Parking Control has more than 2,000 sites nationwide, including NHS, supermarket and retail centre car parks


It is not the first time the company has been suspended: in 2015, it admitted to faking time stamps on tickets to catch out drivers

One of the country’s largest parking companies previously caught faking time stamps on tickets has been suspended by the DVLA.

UK Parking Control (UKPC) has more than 2,000 sites nationwide, including NHS, supermarket and retail centre car parks.

It is not the first time the company, which had a turnover of more than £11.6m last year, has been suspended by the DVLA.

In 2015, the company admitted to faking time stamps on tickets to catch out drivers. The firm claimed a number of employees had used a “loophole” to alter times and fine those who had parked legally.

Neil Horton claims he parked his car in July 2015 for just 15 minutes but still received a fine, despite the car park he was using providing 90 minutes of free parking.

The photographic evidence he received stated that he had left his vehicle for almost two hours, but the images, which UKPC claimed to be two hours apart, showed the same car behind Mr Horton’s with its boot open in both pictures.

Sarah Gashi had a similar experience when she spent an hour visiting a friend in Worcester.

She received a ticket claiming she had stayed for more than two hours, and when she asked for evidence she received two photographs of her car – one stamped with 14:13 GMT and another 16:19 GMT.

“I was at my parents’ house at 14:20. I was nowhere near here,” Ms Gashi told the BBC.

“If you look at the colour of the sky in the photograph, everything is still the same. Whereas to me, it should have got darker at that time of year.”

After the incident, UKPC were prevented from chasing unpaid fines due to a temporary suspension from using DVLA data to trace drivers’ addresses.

However, a subsequent investigation found UKPC car park attendants misleading drivers and telling people issued with tickets during the ban that they would still be pursued.

In response, UKPC claimed its staff misunderstood an email regarding the suspension.

DVLA confirmed they will now investigate the allegations against UKPC.

A DVLA spokesperson said:  “We have suspended UKPC while we investigate concerns. While this is ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further.”

The Independent has contacted UKPC for a comment.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/uk-parking-control-dvla-suspension-misuse-of-data-a8325941.html

Offline The Bald Eagle

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Re: Multimillion pound parking company (UKPC Ltd) suspended by DVLA
« Reply #1 on: 30 April, 2018, 09:13:47 AM »
I can't help thinking that it's no coincidence that this clampdown by the DVLA, after years of letting abuses like this slide, is intrinsically linked with the forthcoming introduction of the new GDPR.
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Offline DastardlyDick

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Re: Multimillion pound parking company (UKPC Ltd) suspended by DVLA
« Reply #2 on: 30 April, 2018, 11:23:13 AM »
I can't help thinking that it's no coincidence that this clampdown by the DVLA, after years of letting abuses like this slide, is intrinsically linked with the forthcoming introduction of the new GDPR.
Yes, that and the Bill that's currently going throrough Parliament - DVLA will want to be able to say 'we found out we've been doing it wrong, and this is what we've done to fix it'. I suppose the only question is "How long will this diligence last?".

In other news, UKPC have once again shown their contempt for the Law by failing to provide evidence to a Council in a fly tipping case, and were fined £4000 + £1582 costs in their abscence by Lincoln Magistrates for obstruction.
(courtesy of Parking Prankster)
« Last Edit: 30 April, 2018, 11:43:18 PM by DastardlyDick »

Offline scalyback

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Re: Multimillion pound parking company (UKPC Ltd) suspended by DVLA
« Reply #3 on: 30 April, 2018, 05:23:46 PM »
Poor old Rupert that owns the company...
Rupert, Rupert you're bare, All the dough's gone away,
Rupert, Rupert you're bare, All the dough's gone away... And that's how it'll stay!
(knew that song would be useful eventually!).

Offline Web Admin

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Re: Multimillion pound parking company (UKPC Ltd) suspended by DVLA
« Reply #4 on: 03 May, 2018, 09:56:10 AM »
Company in charge of controversial Dundee car park suspended by DVLA



The company in charge of a Dundee car park dubbed a hot-spot for “unfair” ticketing practices has been suspended by the DVLA over allegations of UK-wide “data misuse”.

Multi-million pound firm UK Parking Control, which runs more than 2000 car parks around the country, has been the subject of anger by motorists using the Gallagher Retail Park facilities.

The company has, in the past, launched a number of  small claims cases against drivers who allegedly failed to display tickets at the retail park, but were later abandoned and an “urgent review” was launched by the owners of the site.

It has now been revealed by the DVLA that parking attendants misled drivers in various parts of the UK, telling people they would be pursued for fines despite the company being temporarily prevented from accessing drivers’ details.

The temporary ban had been imposed by the DVLA after UKPC admitted to faking time stamps on tickets to catch out drivers in 2015.

The parking company is now suspended again while a further investigation takes place.

This means they cannot access vehicle keeper details from DVLA and, if subsequently reinstated, cannot access details for the period during which they were suspended – essentially making any fines during that period unenforceable.

A DVLA spokesman said: “We have suspended UKPC while we investigate concerns.

“While this is ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further.”

UKPC have been contacted for comment.

https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/dundee/644958/company-in-charge-of-controversial-dundee-car-park-suspended-by-dvla/?utm_source=twitter

Offline DastardlyDick

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Re: Multimillion pound parking company (UKPC Ltd) suspended by DVLA
« Reply #5 on: 11 May, 2018, 08:25:02 PM »
I'm going to celebrate this by parking in one of their car parks for ages! :-)

Offline The Bald Eagle

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Re: Multimillion pound parking company (UKPC Ltd) suspended by DVLA
« Reply #6 on: 09 June, 2018, 06:58:24 PM »
According to this link on Pepipoo UKPC Ltd were reinstated by the DVLA on 25th May 2018. http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?s=&showtopic=120819&view=findpost&p=1388819
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Offline scalyback

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Re: Multimillion pound parking company (UKPC Ltd) suspended by DVLA
« Reply #7 on: 10 June, 2018, 01:29:37 PM »
Quote
UKPC Ltd were reinstated by the DVLA on 25th May 2018

Were they? And what is this? It seems like a clear message from the DVLA that says, "You hide the corruption ok, and we are happy to keep taking the money off you."???
And people wonder why I refer to them as the DeVious LA ???

Really? Bunch of bankers (Sorry, the double 'u' is not working properly on my keyboard).
« Last Edit: 10 June, 2018, 01:31:59 PM by scalyback »

Offline DastardlyDick

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Re: Multimillion pound parking company (UKPC Ltd) suspended by DVLA
« Reply #8 on: 10 June, 2018, 02:03:52 PM »
Hmm, given that the last investigation of this type lasted a year (according to Pranky) this rather smacks of a whitewash or at least an inadequate investigation!

 


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