Private parking firms have crossed their fingers behind their backs and promised to update their code of practice. The pirates have acted after receiving bad press about ‘rip off’ charges, including a £1,906 bill because a motorist couldn’t pay for lack of a mobile phone signal.
The new code (which the pirates admit are ‘more what you'd call guidelines than actual rules’) will be amended as follows:
1. Private parking firms will no longer be allowed to seize cars in lieu of unpaid parking. In future, they will be able to remove up to two wheels and/or wiper blades and/or wing mirrors, as a contribution towards full payment for parking fees and penalties. Any cars that have been crushed due to parking violations should be returned to their owners promptly.
2. Private parking firms will not be allowed to paint out parking bay markings while a car is parked there in order to issue a fine.
3. Private parking firms will no longer be allowed to hold family members, friends or work associates hostage in order to secure the payment of parking fees and penalties.
4. Private parking firms will not use jamming equipment to interfere with mobile phone signals.
The industry has warned that the changes will damage UK growth. Economists estimate that these changes will reduce UK GDP by between 0.3 and 0.7 percentage points.
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