Today we have all to be hyper vigilant. There are those out there who will fly past the letter of the law travelling way beyond it to milk our hard earned money and gullibility.
None more so than the present day highwaymen AKA private parking companies. These dubiously legal entities will try any and every way to clamp, issue tickets on false pretence or even as I shall relate not issue tickets yet use their entitlement to look up your registered vehicle to send a notice of non payment of penalty charges and exorbitant further penalties.
There are many tales of woe where individuals meet with these highwaymen, masked often through anonymity of place and being. It is not to say there are those entities running kosher enterprises responsible for the smooth running of private parking across the cities and towns of the UK, but although I am certain there are cowboys in every land this tale refers specifically to the UK.
The Tale as told:
So a trip is made to London on a Sunday, Canary Wharf being the destination. Parked up on a private parking slot marked free Sunday parking visually, not photographically verified and attested by two trade witnesses who happened to be around, the day’s events took place and returning to an unticketed vehicle the journey home made.
Over a month later a letter was received by the keeper of the vehicle, who was not the driver at that time to inform them a previously issued ticket to the driver of the vehicle had not been responded to in the due time to afford a reduced payment opportunity and that now a payment of one hundred and forty five pounds sterling was due immediately or costs would accumulate on a daily basis after a brief payment window of fourteen days. It was stated if legal proceedings ensued all costs would be down to the keeper of the vehicle.
Knowing a fair bit about these highwaymen activities a rat was smelled after enquiries to the driver revealed no such ticket was found to be in existence and the previously stated parking allowable was in place. The driver was instructed to defend their position, in spite of a letter stating the possibility of challenging the decision had past its time to appeal.
A request was thus made to be furnished with photo evidence, (which legally must be supplied) showing the ticket on the vehicle as issued. Terms and conditions were also requested to back up claims that the parking spot was payable seven days a week.
A reply was shortly received, stating any further action was now on hold while the search for visual evidence was procured. Several weeks later a curt email was received to state the matter was now closed and no further action would be taken.
The highwaymen had been found out to have no legal legs to stand on, so failed with this alert victim to collect.
The moral here is that it is imperative for each and every one of us to challenge these and all sorts of authorities. There are wide boys out there ready and willing to rob all those too fearful or frightened to challenge. The legality used to hide behind can be as fragile as gossamer or invisible as a black hole!
What transpired is along the lines of this little trick. The firm was short on a target profit line and thus used CCTV evidence of cars in their area of interest to then find, through the DVLC (government car tax info source) the name and address of the keeper of the vehicle and send a specious request. It is certain their success rate works well as there are many more people unwilling or ill informed enough to just pay up, feel helpless to challenge ending up complying and paying.
This example of highway robbery is but one of many robberies perpetrated on each and every one of us daily, year in year out. Through taxes, spams, scams, dubious laws passed behind the curtain of transparency and so much more. How many British people do you know who would die rather than complain about a bad meal/rotten service in a restaurant? Too few – and that is exactly why and how we allow our government, corporations, companies and dodgy enterprises and individuals rip us off without ever questioning their right or legality.
Is it any wonder television shows exposing scammers, dodgy trades folk, con artists and their ilk are so prolific and popular. We are peasants always in the cross hairs of the shooting season of criminal chancers.
This small example of taking power back is but one. Its specifics are of a breed of criminality condoned yet not legislated against enough by vile elite robbers in league and also playing their own game on far greater scale than this particular instance.
The lesson to be learned is to be strong, without fear even when uncertain or unclear of your position. Do due diligence, always challenge and never accept No for an answer until it is absolutely proven against you.
Warriors arise and use your voices, your innate rights and your power to right wrongs, seek out and broadcast thievery, injustice and pillage. Only then will we see the turning tide on ethical, social, moral issues and justice whose absence plagues us so virulently today!