Parking firm ‘faked ticket timestamps’
Company that runs Braehead parking faces probe
A shopping centre car park operator is being probed over claims it faked timestamps on tickets to fine drivers.
UKPC faces allegations it tampered with photo evidence to suggest visitors had overstayed at hubs around the country.
The firm runs the parking lot at intu Braehead and has been suspended from tracing motorists by accessing contact details on the DVLA system.
The British Parking Association ( BPA) looked into previous allegations against UKPC.
Boss Patrick Troy insisted a “thorough” investigation had taken place, but said expulsion from the organisation “was not warranted”.
He said then: “If there’s a repeat of any kind of misbehaviour, that will almost certainly result in expulsion or further suspension.”
UKPC is one of the UK’s largest parking companies.
It runs more than 2,000 sites nationwide – including NHS, supermarket, mall and retail lots.
Bosses coined in an estimated £11.6m last year.
They have been barred from using the DLVA system to retrieve drivers’ addresses while checks are carried out.
This means any fines issued during the period are essentially unenforceable.
UKPC was slapped with a temporary ban from for altering timestamps on tickets three years ago.
It was investigated again the next year over similar claims.
The company had to cancel a number of tickets after “isolated photograph tampering incident” by “a few rogue employees”.
The firm “condemned” the actions of workers, who “took advantage of a software flaw”.
But it insisted systems had been updated to prevent a repeat.
Campaigner Alex Shipp, who goes by the name the Parking Prankster, helped one man overturn a ticket a UKPC supermarket lot in England.
He said: “He only parked for a short amount of time, but the pictures are theoretically a couple of hours apart.
“You can see in the photograph there’s a blue car with its boot open.
“Was that boot open for two hours? I think not.
“What happened was the photographs were doctored to issue a charge illegally.”
DVLA confirmed it is probing allegations against the operator.
A spokesman said: “We have suspended UKPC while we investigate concerns.
“While this is ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further.”
UKPC has been contacted for comment.