Parking Awareness sent a motorist an invoice for parking which the motorist disagreed was valid. When the motorist did not pay, Parking Awareness sold the alleged debt to rogue debt collectors MIL Collections.
However, Parking Awareness's KADOE contract with the DVLA prevents them from selling on motorists' details without express written permission from the DVLA. Following the Prankster's advice, the motorist wrote to the DVLA and got a letter back confirming they had not asked for permission.
The motorist therefore took out a count court claim against Parking Awareness for £500 for misuse of personal data. They did not contest the case and so paid out £500 plus £35 costs.
The DVLA are now looking into Parking Awareness's dealings with MIL Collections.
Prankster Note
If MIL Collection's have tried to enforce a parking charge against you, and the motorist details were provided by the DVLA, then you may have a valid data protection claim against the parking company, MIL Collections or both. If you are feeling brave, you may also have a claim against the DVLA as they were well aware this abuse was happening but failed to put measures in place to prevent it.
The data protection claim would likely apply whether or not the parking charge was valid and whether or not you paid MIL or even if they achieved a court judgment against you.
However, it is important to properly follow the process and get the wording of any claim correct, which will probably be different depending on circumstances.
Happy Parking
The Parking Prankster
However, Parking Awareness's KADOE contract with the DVLA prevents them from selling on motorists' details without express written permission from the DVLA. Following the Prankster's advice, the motorist wrote to the DVLA and got a letter back confirming they had not asked for permission.
The motorist therefore took out a count court claim against Parking Awareness for £500 for misuse of personal data. They did not contest the case and so paid out £500 plus £35 costs.
The DVLA are now looking into Parking Awareness's dealings with MIL Collections.
Prankster Note
If MIL Collection's have tried to enforce a parking charge against you, and the motorist details were provided by the DVLA, then you may have a valid data protection claim against the parking company, MIL Collections or both. If you are feeling brave, you may also have a claim against the DVLA as they were well aware this abuse was happening but failed to put measures in place to prevent it.
The data protection claim would likely apply whether or not the parking charge was valid and whether or not you paid MIL or even if they achieved a court judgment against you.
However, it is important to properly follow the process and get the wording of any claim correct, which will probably be different depending on circumstances.
Happy Parking
The Parking Prankster