MPs get dedicated online portal to raise parking concerns

International Parking Community to provide fast-track responses

The International Parking Community (IPC) has created a dedicated online complaints portal to provide MPs with a confidential method for raising concerns in connection with private parking on behalf of their constituents.

The new portal features secure accounts for every Member of Parliament to enable them to raise issues with the DVLA accredited trade association.

“Recent discussions with a number of MPs revealed some longstanding frustrations when trying to address parking concerns raised by individuals within their local areas,” said IPC chief executive Will Hurley. “Having assessed the best way to provide a more expedient and responsive solution, we have responded with an approach that combines immediacy with confidence. 

“The online portal for politicians is truly a first for the parking industry. It is entirely consistent with our commitment to maintain a progressive approach in everything we do. It builds on the success of our pioneering work in providing the country’s first online appeals system to enable motorists to obtain swift redress for appeals against parking charges issued on private land. This resulted in a dramatic reduction in the time taken for motorists to receive a response to an appeal – the industry norm was previously well over a month and is now less than a week as a result of the portal provided by the Independent Appeals Service.” 

When logging a complaint on the new portal, an MP is given the opportunity to identify the parking operator responsible and, where applicable, provide relevant details from a parking charge notice. This information will be used to establish if the operator is a member of the IPC and whether or not the association can investigate the issue. 

If the matter does not relate to a particular parking operator, but to the parking industry as a whole, an MP can still use the new system to log the issue and obtain an informed and prompt response from the IPC, said Hurley. 

“The new portal will continue to evolve and develop to reflect the needs of MPs,” he added. “It is very encouraging that the new approach has been very well received and is already being used to great effect by many MPs. Responsiveness and transparency is absolutely vital in any service-led industry – not least in an emotive and potentially sensitive area such as parking.

“I’m confident this new initiative will set a new benchmark for the industry. It will also foster a greater sense of engagement to help overcome the mistrust, evasiveness and misinformation that has not only plagued the industry for far too long, but has also undermined the efforts of responsible operators to improve their services for customers.”