According to motoring organizations, the industry is “booming” with new firms joining the market constantly. They assert that the companies are attempting to profit ahead of a forthcoming code of practice that proposes reducing some fines from £100 to £50.
Analysis indicates that private parking companies are issuing 50% more fines this year, averaging over 30,000 per day.
Between April and June, a record-breaking 2,7 million were issued, compared to 1.8 million over the same time in the previous year.
The findings are based on an examination of Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) data by the PA news agency.
Private parking companies have been accused of aggressively pursuing debtors, charging exorbitant prices, and employing confusing and misleading signage.
A long-awaited government rule of conduct intended to “clean up” the market was dropped in July after parking companies filed a court challenge.
Between April and June, 176 parking companies requested vehicle owner records from the DVLA to determine whom to mail their penalties.
ParkingEye was the most prolific buyer, purchasing 521,000 records at £2.50 apiece. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) states that it does not make a profit because the money merely covers the cost of processing the request.
In retrospect, the increase in the number of fines issued becomes even more apparent.
In 2017 from April to June, only 1,3 million records were requested, less than half the quantity sought this year.
According to the RAC Foundation, it is “inconceivable” that so many motorists deliberately disregard parking regulations.
The director of the organization, Steve Gooding, stated that the industry was “booming” with “new entries every day.”
“The attraction can only be one thing: the opportunity to make substantial gains before the government implements adjustments to level the playing field,” he said.
“At a time when household budgets are so tight, it is incomprehensible that millions of motorists yearly go out to rack up fines of up to £100 each. This latest information is indicative of a faulty system.”
AA’s director of roads policy, Jack Cousens, stated that corporations appeared to be giving “as many alerts as possible” before the code’s implementation.
It was scheduled to take effect by the end of next year and cut the maximum fine for some parking violations from £100 to $50.
However, it was withdrawn pending a review of the accusations, and it is unknown when it will be reinstated.
Lisa Webb, from the consumer advocacy group Which? warned that customers receiving fines from businesses not accredited by a trade group “may want to disregard them.”
She stated that because they are unable to access the DVLA database, they are typically unable to seek payment.
A government representative acknowledged the presence of a “limited number of cowboy enterprises” in the industry and stated that the code of conduct would be implemented “as quickly as possible.”
