The private parking industry in the UK is unregulated, and this has led to numerous complaints about its operations. MPs across all parties in Parliament have called these companies "rogues", "rip-off merchants", "cowboys", "scammers" and "bloodsuckers" who "fleece" their victims. This article will explain why the private parking industry is unregulated and what this means for the public.
Firstly, the private parking industry in the UK is not subject to any statutory regulation. While local authorities are responsible for enforcing parking regulations on public roads and car parks, there are no equivalent regulations for private car parks. This means that private parking companies can set their own rules, charges and enforcement methods without any oversight or regulation.
Secondly, private parking companies (PPCs) are not obliged to comply with any code of conduct or industry standards. While some companies have voluntarily joined trade associations, such as the British Parking Association (BPA) or the International Parking Community (IPC), there are no mandatory rules or regulations that these companies must adhere to. This lack of regulation has led to numerous complaints about unfair practices, including excessive charges, unclear signage, and aggressive enforcement tactics.
Thirdly, the lack of regulation has resulted in a proliferation of PPCs, many of which are small, unprofessional and many of them ex-clamper rogues. Most of these companies operate in a predatory manner, targeting vulnerable or elderly drivers with misleading advertising or signage. Others use intimidation tactics, threatening legal action, to enforce their parking charges.
Currently, PPCs issue roughly 35,000 parking tickets every day, often adopting a labyrinthine system of misleading and confusing signage, opaque appeals services, aggressive debt collection and unreasonable fees designed to extort money from motorists This is a billion-pound industry. Despite the numerous complaints and calls for regulation, the government has been slow to act. While several bills have been introduced in Parliament to regulate the private parking industry, none have yet been passed into law. Some have suggested that the powerful lobbying of the industry has played a role in preventing regulation.
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities ('DLUHC') published in February 2022, a statutory Code of Practice, found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/private-parking-code-of-practice. Whilst it is known that the rogue parking industry have filed Judicial Reviews and have delayed the new Code of Practice, the Government is pressing ahead and has conceded to undertake a final Public Consultation and Impact Assessment,
In conclusion, the lack of regulation in the private parking industry in the UK has led to numerous complaints about unfair practices and predatory behaviour. The government must take action to regulate this industry, and ensure that drivers are protected from unscrupulous parking companies. Until then, drivers should exercise caution when using private car parks, and be aware of their rights when challenging unfair charges or enforcement actions.
