dvla

[ChuffingHell]

I was ina bit of a hurry to get a train and ended up parking in the local tesco's because the station car park was shut for resurfacing.

When I got back to pick my car up, I noticed a sign saying that people parked for more than 3 hours (which I was) would get a fine. they would take your reg number down on their security cameras and get your details from the dvla and send on the fine.

are they legaly entitled to do this? I haven't given my permission to the dvla to give my details out.

[Kerplunk]

No Tesco cannot do this. They are however permitted to charge you on exit if they have proof that you over stayed your welcome and have adequate signs stating charges etc...

To place a ticket on you car they would need to have authority from the local council.

[heathfield]

Oh yes they can. Anyone can do it where private land is used by the public for parking, so long as just such a warning notice is displayed. The 'Watchdog' programme on TV has highlighted rip-off merchants who do exactly this and charge enormous fines.

[OBonio]

I doubt VERY much they are able to get your details from the DVLA. I suspect it's just scare tactics. I've had this from a local LIDL down the road (not enough parking at work) and nothing has ever come of it.

[Ethel]

It is quite clearly stated by the DVLA that keeper information will be disclosed to companies who can show good cause for �2.50 a go.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/Motoring/OwningAVehic le/AdviceOnKeepingYourVehicle/AdviceOnKeepingY ourVehicleArticles/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4022067&ch k=Q6exa4

[ChuffingHell]

thanks for those.

I actually just spoke to someone at dvla and the term they use is providing the information to a party who has a "reasonable" wish to do so. section 27.1e apparently

i'm really p*ssed off about this - not so much the fine but the fact that a government agency can sell information about me! Whoever the info goes to (in this case tesco), if they're not the police, they're not allowed to come to my house but they are allowed to write to me.

Think I'm going to preach the data protection act and see where that gets me. I should have signed something to say I consent to them passing my details on, I think.

[mccfluff]

I have had two letters recently from Tesco's advising me that two cars registered to us have been parked at tesco's for more than the timelimit allowed, bascially threatening that if it happens again a fine will be issued

[Ethel]

The council sells your details too. I am very much against it.

[clarebear86]

I work for b&q and we have our car park managed by a firm called g24, the customers have 90 minutes free parking to use the store, there is a camera which takes a photo of your vehicle entering the car park and another when your vehicle leaves if it is iver 90 minutes then you receieve these pictures as evidence along with a fine through the post they do not issue tickets so i presume that they must contact the dvla for your details so it must be legal.

[OBonio]

I don't believe it :

DVLA has a duty under the Data Protection Act 1998 to protect personal information. However, regulations provide for the release of information where enquirers demonstrate �reasonable cause� to require it. Information will only be released when the circumstances relate to a vehicle or its use on the road.

*hangs head in desperation*

[Ethel]

Clarebear - what happens if customer arrives at 10am, leaves at 10.30, returns at 11.00 and then leaves at 12?

The company could produce photos to 'prove' the customer arrived at 10.00 and left at 12.00 - 30 minutes too late.

[clarebear86]

good point Ethel i will ask that next time i am in work as I know that some customers have to make a few trips when buying heay goods. Im not 100% sure though how it all works I just know that after 90 minutes you are sent a fine through the post.

we only introduced it recentley and have nothing but complaints we had no choice though as the local shopping precinct went to pay and display so everyone started using our car park and the store is right next to the train station so we had people using our car park all day for free and getting the train into manchester to work and then we had no spaces for our genuine customers.

[spaced]

i suppose this teaches you a good lesson. It will sure stop you from parking in tescos in a hurry!

[clarebear86]

thinking about it though if a customer came at 10:00 left at 10:30 then that would calculate it as 30 minutes as it takes a picture off you coming in and then out, if the customer returned at 11 til 12 that would calculate 60 minutes. Think it would class it as 2 seperate trips. The idea is to catch people who park there all day long not genuine customers, would be a bit annoying if your sat in an office somewhere and you had to keep nipping out and driving your car on and off the car park every 90 minutes just to park for free.

[Loosehead]

Lets clear one thing up, they cannot fine you, they can however charge you and then persue that charge with whatever vigour they deem appropriate. This is a civil matter and up to, in this case, Tesco's to pursue. They can use the data at the DVLA as can anyone with a suitable need and by paying the fee. In Asda they clamp you and charge for removal. The supermarkets are understandibly pi55sed off at people using them as a free car park.

[atolhurst]

My query is not about tesco's charging me for parking. I appreciate they provide a service to customers and at that time, i wasn't a customer. therefore, if they'd put a clamp on, I woudn't have griped - it's on their land, they can do what they like as loing as they don't damage the car.

My annoyance is about the DVLA giving out my info without my permission or perhaps without having suitable knowledge of the person they pass the info to, ensuring that the info will only be used to write to me, and that it will be kept confidential by that person.

For example, lets say I have a rather expensive aston martin. and some pesky car thief sees my car and decides he wants to steal it. but because he doesn't want to damge the car, he wants to get the keys and drive off in it.

what security measure are in place to stop him ringing up the dvla, getting my address and turning up at my house and breaking in to nick my keys and then nick my car?

[Loosehead]

Looks like you are getting your multiple ID's mixed up!

[atolhurst]

sorry loosehead. that's not me. i'm on a multi-work computer.

ooh, someone in my office uses AB. I wonder who it is???

[Loosehead]

I'm pretty sure the process for obtaining addresses from DVLA is rigorous enough to weed out most car thieves.

[ChuffingHell]

Sorry Alison. Pinched your ID!!

[atolhurst]

That's fine Chuff (who are you? email me). Good luck with the dvla.