So you've received a payment demand from Parking Patrols (Vic) Pty Ltd? The demand may be from Parking Patrols themselves, or by their debt collectors (Australian Recoveries and Collections) or their lawyers (Force Legal). This page and surrounding links explains how to handled these fines, and explains how Parking Patrols (Vic) Pty was recently found by the Supreme Court of Victoria to have engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct.
This page explains your options regarding "fines" you receive from Parking Patrols (Vic) Pty Ltd and similar private parking companies. See the links at left to navigate this website. Do not pay any fine from Parking Patrols (Vic) Pty Ltd without reading this page and the FAQs page of this website first.
ABOUT PARKING PATROLS (VIC) PTY LTD
Parking Patrols (Vic) Pty Ltd issue infringement notices at Ace Parking car parks. Parking Patrols (Vic) Pty Ltd have structured itself to appear to be a separate company from Ace Parking, but in fact, both companies are controlled by the same three people. Parking Patrols (Vic) Pty Ltd is formerly known as Parking Infringements Victoria. Parking Patrols (Vic) Pty Ltd is 100% owned by Ace Parking.
Parking Patrols (Vic) Pty Ltd used to use Christopher Hill from Hill Legal in Mornington and Freeedman and Gopalan to follow-up on unpaid fines. Hill Legal was named in the Supreme Court of Victoria as the solicitors who enforced illegal parking fines for Parking Patrols (Vic) Pty Ltd. Do not be intimidated by any letters you receive from Christopher Hill, Hill Legal or Freedman and Gopalan.
PARKING PATROLS' LAWYERS
If you have received a letter from Parking Patrols lawyers - Force Legal, please refer to my Force Legal page. Click on "Companies" on the left side bar menu, and then navigate to "Force Legal".
SUPREME COURT DECISION AGAINST PARKING PATROLS (VIC) PTY LTD AND ACE PARKING
Parking Patrols (Vic) Pty Ltd were taken to Supreme Court of Victoria by Consumer Affairs Victoria for engaging in the following conduct. There were found by the court to have engaged in:
- Misleading or deceptive conduct
- False or misleading representations
- Harassment and coercion
and were order to pay compensation to affected motorists. For more information on the court case see this link.
Parking Patrols Vic was issued a Supreme Court injunction that prevents them from engaging in any more misleading or deceptive conduct.
PARKING PATROLS CONTACT DETAILS
Office: 5 Paran Place Glen Iris VIC 3146
Enquiries about parking fines: customerservice@parkingpatrols.com.au
Phone: (03) 9886-0549
Office email: info@aceparking.com.au
General Manager: James English 0412-836-612 jenglish@aceparking.com.au
Note: If you call the above office number, Parking Patrols (Vic) Pty Ltd will try to avoid talking to you. They will tell you to write to the Little Collins St address on your infringement notice. They may also tell you that you have got the wrong number and that you have rung the ACE Parking office and that they are not connected to Parking Patrols (Vic) Pty Ltd. However, this is not true. ASIC records obtained by Unfair Parking Fines show that both companies share the same office at 5 Paran Place Glen Iris Victoria, and that both companies are controlled by the same people. In addition, the Supreme Court Action against Parking Patrols (Vic) Pty Ltd also names Ace Parking as a defendant to the action. When you ring the number above, be polite, but be persistent. If they refuse to talk to you, ask for David Lester. If they refuse that ask for their names and write down anything they say to you. Include this information on any complaint you make to Consumer Affairs. James English is both the general manager and major shareholder in the companies, so ring his mobile number if the office number doesn't get you anywhere. (James spends a lot of time out of the office).
COLLINS STREET OFFICE IS A FORWARDING AGENT
The Parking Patrols website and letters you receive from Parking Patrols show their business address as:
430 Little Collins Street
MELBOURNE VIC 3000
Note that this is not their business address. This address is merely a forwarding address. All mail to 430 Little Collins St gets automatically forwarded to Australian Recoveries and Collections in Sydney who manage the processing of fines for Parking Patrols.
Parking Patrols set up this business address so as to make people think that Parking Patrols (Vic) Pty Ltd is a different company to Ace Parking. However, Ace Parking Ltd and Parking Patrols (Vic) Pty Ltd it are one and the same company. If you wish to email Parking Patrols, email them at customerservice@parkingpatrols.com.au The address at 430 Little Collins St is actually Normanby Chambers which is a virtual office business owned by Corporate Executive Offices who run a virtual offices through Australia. This link on the Corporate Executive Offices website shows that they own Normanby Chanmbers at 431 Little Collins St. On this link on the Corporate Executive Offices website, you will see the Gold Service (Gold Plus) which is the service that Parking Patrols use. They have a dedicated 1300 phone number which is automatically forwarded to, and answered by, Australian Recoveries and Collections. The mail is also forwarded onto Australian Recoveries and Collections.
BUSINESS PRACTICES CHALLENGED
Parking Patrols (Vic) Pty Ltd features more than once on the webpages of Victorian Consumer Affairs and the Consumer Action Law Group. Consumer Affaris Victoria has accused Parking Patrols (Vic) Pty Ltd of "misleading and deceptive conduct, false representations and harassment or coercion" - see Herald Sun 04/06/2010.
Parking Patrols (Vic) Pty Ltd are currently before the Supreme Court of Victoria. In the Melbourne Herald Sun on 4th June 2010, Karen Collier reported that Ace Parking and Parking Patrols (Vic) are being taken to court by Consumer Affairs Victoria. See this link. This is coinfirmed on the Supreme Court of Victoria daily listing See this link. This trial is scheduled for more pre-trial directions on 22nd February 2011.
The ACCC will be approached to consider a class action against companies such as Parking Patrols (Vic) Pty Ltd (previously known as Parking Infringements Victoria). See Herald Sun 2/6/2010.
Box Hill parking fines by company Parking Patrols (Vic) Pty Ltd (formerly Parking Infringements Victoria) may be illegal reports the Whitehorse leader. The company is contracted by Ace Car Parking. Consumer Affairs Victoria spokeswoman Emma Neal said the department had received many complaints against Parking Patrols (Vic) Pty Ltd. Read more in the Whitehorse Leader 27/05/2009.
Parking Patrols (Vic) Pty Ltd (formerly Parking Infringements Victoria), is under investigation by Consumer Affairs. Read more in the Herald Sun 10/10/2008.
Motorists are warned to “know their rights” after renewed fears they are being duped into paying unnecessary parking fines. Australian National Car Parks was investigated by the NSW Office of Fair Trading for issuing potentially illegal fines and Parking Patrols (Vic) Pty Ltd (formerly Parking Infringements Victoria) was investigated by Consumer Affairs Victoria. Read more in the Stonington Leader 09/09/2009.
At least three private carparking companies recently came under fire for the practice. “It’s misleading,” Mr Jennings said. “They’re giving people the impression they’ve got the same power as a magistrates’ court.” Parking Patrols (Vic) Pty Ltd (formerly Parking Infringements Victoria) was investigated by Consumer Affairs Victoria. Read more in the Caulfield Glen Eira Leader 01/09/2009.
A car park operator accused of bullying drivers and imitating council fines for failing to pay or properly display tickets on dashboards is being taken to court. Ace Parking faces legal action over claims of dodgy tickets and debt collection tactics, including threats to seize and sell vehicles or treating motorists like criminals. Consumer Affairs Victoria has launched a compensation fight on behalf of several drivers slapped with allegedly heavyhanded demands to pay up to $129.50 in charges, late fees and costs. Consumer Affairs has accused Ace Parking and its patrol service Parking Patrols (Vic) Pty Ltd, formerly known as Parking Infringements Victoria, of misleading and deceptive conduct, false representations and harassment or coercion. Read more in the Daily Telegraph 04th June 2010.
According to this link.regarding Parking Patrols (Vic) Pty Ltd refused to grant DJMC an extension on parking in a disabled permit space. Councils customarily alow this extension for disable people, but DJMC reports that Parking Patrols refused his request and demanded he pay the fee of $66.00.
CURRENT OFFICE HOLDERS AND SHARE HOLDERS (source - ASIC register extract).
- Registered office: Level 1, 311 Toorak Road South Yarra VIC 3141 accounts@aceparking.com.au
- Principal place of business: 5 Paran Place Glen Iris VIC 3146
phone (03) 9886-0549, 0412-836-612, 0431-168-730 info@aceparking.com.au info@pivic.com.au
- Company Director: William Jarman
- Company Secretary: William Jarman
- 100% Shareholder: Ace Parking Pty Ltd, Level 1, 311 Toorak Road South Yarra VIC 3141
accounts@aceparking.com.au; info@aceparking.com.au; jenglish@aceparking.com.au
PREVIOUS OFFICE HOLDERS AND SHARE HOLDERS (source - ASIC register extract).
- Principal place of business 1/8/2006-31/8/2008 204 Burke Road Glen Iris VIC 3146
- Company director 1/8/2006-1/7/2008 James John Allen English (Surrey Hills Vic 3127)
- Company director 1/8/2006-1/7/2008 Kevin John English (Glen Iris VIC 3146)
- Company secretary 1/8/2006-1/7/2008 Kevin John English (Glen Iris VIC 3146)
- Previous shareholder: Carol Joan Lanyon (Glen Iris VIC 314)
- Previous shareholder: James John Allen English (Surrey Hills 3127) jenglish@aceparking.com.au; 0412-836-612
- Previous shareholder: Kevin John English (Glen Iris VIC 3146
KNOWN CAR PARK LOCATIONS
- 545 Station Street Box Hill VIC 3128
- 2 Bowen Crescent, Melbourne VIC 3000
- 612 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
- 990 Whitehorse Road, Box Hill VIC 3128
- 128 Furlong Rd Sunshine North VIC 3020
- 478 Chapel Street, South Yarra
- Robert St Collingwood VIC 3066
- Allowah Terrace Richmond VIC 3121
- 823 Whitehorse Road, Mont Albert, VIC 3127
- Rosslyn St West Melbourne
- Albert St Richmond (near Victoria St/Pde)
- Jersey St Balwyn (near Whitehorse rd)
- 658 Church St Richmond
- 17-85 Gladstone St South Melbourne (near Kerr St)
- 14 Claremont St South Yarra
- 2 Bowen Crescent
- 8 Prospect Street Box Hill
- 19 Clifton Street Prahan
- 88 Wellington St Collingwood
- 64-72 Stanley St Collingood
- Corner Frederick St and Doncaster Roads, Doncaster
- 5 South Centre Road, Tullamarine, Vic 3043 (servicing Tullamarine Airport).