The RAC is today supporting a call from motorists for the
Government to introduce better regulation of the private parking
sector as new figures suggest trust has hit rock-bottom.
Three-quarters of 2,194 motorists (73%) surveyed on the RAC
Opinion Panel felt the sector should have to fall under
government regulations rather than continuing to ‘self-police’
through membership of a trade association.
Motorists’ perceptions of private parking operators’ priorities
are clear, with the belief they are only interested in making
money being the most popular view – one supported by six in 10
(62%) of motorists questioned by the RAC.
Nearly half (45%) said their enforcement policies are too
heavy-handed and more than a quarter (28%) think there is no
justification whatsoever for the way private parking operators
enforce their rules. Only a tiny 4% think their charges are fair
and their conduct reasonable, though a fifth (21%) accept that
private parking operators are necessary to stop a parking
free-for-all.
Opinions of private parking penalty charge notices could not be
clearer with three-quarters of motorists (73%) saying they
understand that such charges may be necessary, but generally they
are excessive or disproportionate for the level of parking
contravention. Of the remainder, a fifth (21%) claim that any
penalty charges are wholly unacceptable and only 6% would go so
far as to say the amounts are reasonable.
In March 2015 the Department for Communities and Local Government
launched a discussion paper looking at unfair parking practices;
however their conclusions are still yet to be published.
Asked about what they would like to see emerge from the
consultation, around nine in 10 motorists cited penalty charge
capping (91% in favour); guidelines for penalty charge amounts
(88% in favour) and action to prevent aggressive enforcement (90%
in favour).
Nearly one in five (16%) of drivers surveyed said they had
received a parking charge notice from a private parking company,
but while 38% (of the 16%) decided to pay straightaway a
determined 62% decided to appeal against the charge. Of those who
appealed, 60% said they were successful in getting the notice
reduced or cancelled. And of those remaining, half lost their
battles and paid up while the indignant other half said they
still refused to pay.
RAC spokesman Simon Williams said: “Few issues incense motorists
more than the practices of some private parking companies. There
cannot be many other sectors that are trusted so little, yet are
so unaccountable.
“There remains a proportion of the parking sector which operates
outside of a trade association, which is something the Government
should consider outlawing altogether. The research findings show
that when a motorist does appeal against a penalty charge, the
charge is set aside on the majority of occasions. This suggests
that the appeal processes operated by the trade associations are
fair, but this also lends weight to the accusations of operators
being heavy-handed in the first place.
“The overwhelming consensus from motorists is that they have
little or no faith in private parking operators and therefore
believe that further government regulation is needed to protect
motorists from questionable practices. Insisting every private
parking operator is a member of an accredited trade association
would be a good start.
“The Government’s response to the discussion paper in 2015 is
long overdue, and we would hope to see at least some minimum
standards applied to the sector, even for those that are signed
up to an accredited trade association.
“Due to the strength of feeling from motorists on this issue the
RAC is now calling on the Government to intervene with some
concrete proposals that improve motorists experiences of the
private parking sector.”
For advice on how to appeal and avoid private parking penalty
charge notices visit the Drive section of
RAC website.
Ends
Notes to Editors
* Survey carried out with 2,194 members of the RAC Opinion Panel.
