B&Q Car Park Scam

[thecyclist]

We posted recently about a "fine" we had received from G24 a company that runs the car parks for B&Q in Sheffield. They claimed our company had parked a van in their Hillsborough car park for 10 hours one day. They had a photo of the van being driven in to the car park abd were demanding £95 as a "fine".

We wrote to them and pointed out that it was not parked in the car park but had made to separate visits in the same day. They persisited and also said they would seek legal means to enforce payment.

 

This got my back up so we proceeded as follows. We gathered all the written and printed documentary evidence showing that the van was in several places in Sheffield on that day and also the driver had a B&Q receipt stating that he was in B&Q 6 seconds after they say the van left the car park. We also had eye witness evidence from the vicar who,s house we were working at that day. I then did a bit of research in to G24. It is not the first time that they have tried these tactics in fact it is quite common on their part. Most people pay up rather than risk the debt collectors. Fortunately we are a limited company and that tends to scare debt collectors. Our solicitors also advised of a forthcoming case made by a private citizen against a council who had sent a parking fine to him. The judgement was passes that a fine can only be levied if the paperwork is attached to the vehicle concerned. In other words they cannot fine you by proxy through the post.

Armed with this little lot we contacted G24 and appraised them of the facts and also stated that we were looking forward to seeing them in court and if they wished to use a debt collector we would also sue them. we also informed them that we had contacted trading standards and SY police with regards to fraudulent claims and attmpting to seek money by deception. They backed off immediately.

Now here is the interesting bit. B&Q say that its nothing to do with them. On the boards in the car park it says G24 are operating the car park "on Behalf of B&Q". Also under the law B&Q are responsible for the actions of any agents they appoint to look operate on their behalf. We are now waiting to see what the trading standards and SY Police will do before issuing against B&Q for damages. SO DONT PAY B&Q FINES THEY ARE ILLEGAL.

All in all a lovely day.

Now where are the bank statements with all the bank charges on them.

[saxon51]

Well done to you. :thumbsup:

 

Makes you wonder whether these car parking cowboys are just miffed because they are too thick to be coppers and too bent to be bouncers, so they've found an easier and more profitable way to bully the populace.

[gelyk]

Good stuff. Everyone here should take note as sometimes people are way to quick to hand over cash to people like G24.

[saxon51]

Well done to you. :thumbsup:

 

Makes you wonder whether these car parking cowboys are just miffed because they are too thick to be coppers and too bent to be bouncers, so they've found an easier and more profitable way to bully the populace.

Er, just want to point out that this wasn't a dig at coppers or bouncers.

[SV500]

"too bent to be bouncers"

 

is there such a thing ?

 

 

 

did you ask them for a pic in the middle of the day (when you wern't there) ?

 

JJ..

[Elmambo]

If it's nothing to do with B & Q, why are the spy cameras that these bandits use, attached to the store wall ???

[yorkiepudd]

The buildings and land will be leased from a landlord. The landlord will have instructed the company issuing the PCNs to do so (which are a civil charge for parking, the same as you would pay in, say, an NCP car park and are not a fine), not B&Q as they would have no right to do this under the terms of the lease.

 

They are therefore 'distanced' from the instruction to impose parking charges, even though it was probably them that requested the landlord do it.

 

BTW, it is a different company that operates the one at Queens Rd (UK Parking Control Ltd).

[thecyclist]

Fortunately Yorkiepud. The signs in the car parl state quite clearly that G24 are opertaing on behalf of B&Q. Not a landlord. This alone puts B&Q firmly in the frame but just to add to the crime. B&Q have a duty to its customers to not maliciously attempt to intimidate, or attempt to extract monies in an unlawful way> Nor can they allow their agents, whoever they are to do so on their behalf.

Its very simple, the law is the law.

[thecyclist]

Yes we did ask for the whole video SV500. This would have shown that the van was not there. This is when they backed down, that and the fact that we pointed out to them that it was a serious fraud to attempt to obtain monies by deception. Its a scam and its being carried out by B&Q and G24. Again dont pay these fines. Insist on seeing the evidence, because it does not exist.

[Cyclone]

Nice one, I don't think companies like G24 are going to disappear, so we need legislation that restricts their activities.