Government crack down on cowboy parking companies

Transport minister Sadiq Khan today signalled the Government’s intention to crack down on rogue parking firms with the introduction of tough new rules limiting the access to driver data.

Currently, private companies can request vehicle keepers’ details from the DVLA in order to issue penalty notices for drivers who have illegally parked on private land.

They will now all need to be a member of an Accredited Trade Association – requiring them to abide by a strict code of conduct – to get this information.

The measure is part of a broader cross-Government action plan to radically overhaul the rules governing the enforcement of parking on private land, due to be published in the Autumn. The plan is designed to target rogue firms and landowners who unfairly clamp vehicles or demand extortionate payments.

Transport Minister Sadiq Khan said:

“Where drivers break legitimate conditions set by landowners then it is right that penalties are applied. But we will not tolerate unscrupulous firms breaking the law by overcharging or intimidating motorists.

“We want a fair system that is clearly communicated with an independent complaints procedure.

“In order to achieve this we will be publishing later this year a cross-Government action plan which will help us to protect motorists and put a stop to the unacceptable behaviour of cowboy clampers and rogue parking firms.”

Other measures being considered include a compulsory licensing system for clamping firms which will ensure they behave responsibly and will allow the Security Industry Authority – the body that regulates the private security industry – to hold them to account.

This has recently been the subject of a consultation from the Home Office, the results of which will be announced later this year. However, specific measures are likely to address issues such as excessive penalties for releasing clamped vehicles, impounding cars unreasonably quickly after being clamped, inadequate signage warning drivers that clamping takes place and inadequate processes for dealing with objections from drivers.

The Government is considering how they can secure an independent review of complaints, and how best to make sure motorists are aware of their rights under consumer protection legislation.

Shadow Cabinet expense claims published online

David Cameron has announced a series of immediate measures to start to rebuild trust in politics and take action on the issue of expenses.

He has banned Conservative MPs from claiming for furniture, other household goods and food shopping; put an end to the practice of 'flipping'; and set up a Scrutiny Panel to review all excessive claims and arrange repayments where appropriate.

In addition, the Shadow Cabinet are publishing online all the expense claims they make to the House of Commons.

You can view the Shadow Cabinet's expense claims here. They have been made available using Google docs technology, which is an open and accessible format so people can use the information however they choose.

Frontbenchers and all other Conservative MPs will start publishing their claims as they are submitted to the House of Commons as soon as possible.

OFT warns debt sector about tracing tactics requirements imposed on debt collection company

The OFT is warning the debt collection and tracing sector that using neighbours to pass on messages to trace subjects is an unacceptable practice and should be ceased immediately.

It is concerned that some businesses are breaching the spirit of the OFT debt collection guidance by using this trace method, which has the potential to reveal to neighbours that individuals are being pursued for payment of debts.

The OFT is calling on businesses in the sector to take positive steps to address these concerns. If businesses continue to use these tactics, the OFT will look to take swift enforcement action.

The OFT has imposed requirements on one 'trace and collect' company, Link Financial Limited (Link), to confirm that it will no longer engage in this practice.

Following an application by Link to renew its existing consumer credit licence, the OFT, working alongside Lambeth Trading Standards, reviewed Link's business practices and raised concerns about the use of this trace method.

Link agreed to stop using the practice and, as allowed under the Consumer Credit Act 1974, made specific proposals which addressed the OFT's concerns. As a result, the OFT has imposed requirements which state that Link must not in future use neighbours to pass on messages to trace subjects.

Nigel Cates, OFT Deputy Director for Consumer Credit, said:
'Using neighbours to pass on messages to trace subjects is an unacceptable practice that contravenes our debt collection guidance. It has the potential, whether unintentional or not, to lead to the disclosure of private financial affairs and to cause distress and embarrassment, and we have made this clear in discussions with the Credit Services Association.

'We are pleased that Link has acted responsibly and taken positive steps to change its policies and procedures.

'If other businesses continue to engage in similar practices we will not hesitate to use our licensing and enforcement powers.'

(Home Office) Consultation launched to tighten regulations for wheel clamping businesses

A major new consultation has begun into plans to subject rogue wheel clamping businesses to tough new regulations, the Home Office announced today.

The public consultation, which sets out proposals for licensing wheel clamping firms, will run for 12 weeks. It is an opportunity for members of the public and all interested groups including wheel clamping businesses and motoring organisations to have their say.

The Government's proposals include the introduction of compulsory licensing to tackle the limited number of wheel clamping businesses whose practices include excessive fines for releasing clamped cars, towing cars unreasonably quickly after being clamped and putting up hidden, missing or confusing signs warning drivers that clamping takes place.

Currently, any individual undertaking wheel clamping must hold a frontline licence from the Security Industry Authority (SIA), with supervisors or directors holding a non-frontline licence. The new proposals could also make it mandatory for the business itself to be licensed to help ensure it upholds standards of conduct, which will be enforced if they are not met.

Home Office Minister Alan Campbell, said:

"There are clearly a minority of wheel clamping businesses that indulge in unacceptable behaviour including unclear signage and excessive fees.

"The Government intends to take firm action to prevent abuses by some of these firms and their employees.

"This consultation paper is designed to canvass views on a range of options for controls and is a vital step towards putting an end to rogue practices by some clampers."

(OFT) OFT to focus investigation into unarranged overdraft charges on three banks

The OFT has announced that it is to streamline its investigation into unarranged overdraft charges by focusing on the terms of three banks in particular. The aim is to progress the case in the shortest and most efficient way possible.

The OFT believes that the terms of the three selected banks provide the best representative selection of all the banks' unarranged overdraft charging terms, and therefore the outcome of this more focused investigation will be relevant to the assessment of other banks' terms.

The investigation will concentrate initially on the charging terms of Lloyds TSB, HSBC and Clydesdale. The OFT has written to all the banks under investigation to outline this decision.

It should not be assumed that the OFT is more or less likely to find the terms of these banks' unfair than those of the other banks. The investigation into the other banks' terms is merely on hold and the OFT has stressed that no banks' terms have been given a clean bill of health.

The OFT expects to reach final conclusions on fairness later this year.