I bought it used - it is 04 reg. Don't know what you mean about 'what sort of warranty'.

I bought a Mini Cooper from a dealership and I have had to take it back to the garage for repair on five occasions. It has broken down on the motorway, I have had to have it towed home, it has cost me lots of lost work hours, I have had to hire cars when the mini was being repaired etc etc The car is 04 reg My guarantee is about to expire and because I don't think it is 'fit for purpose' (as per the Sale of Goods Act) and I asked for a refund. (I would have been happy with an extended guarantee), but thought I would ask the dealership for more in the hope they would offer this guarantee. They have told me the vehicle IS fit for purpose as it had a 120 point check before it left the garage and therefore WAS fit for purpose. The have said 'as a goodwill gesture' they will give it a 'healthcheck'. Where do I stand with this? Is this all they are obliged to offer me? Can anyone help me please ... I am desperate!!!

I too have contacted Mobilise about the way I have been treated. My question to them was:- "I wonder if you have approached (or would be happy to approach) UKCPS regarding their way of 'dealing' with the fact that they continue to harass and intimidate disabled people in this way. I forgot to put my blue badge in the window of my car, and appealed against the 'fine'. My appeal letter has been ignored and they are going to continue to frighten and intimidate me by sending me threatening letters. I feel this is discrimination against disabled people. What do you think?" The reply I received from them was as follows: We are in contact with UKCPS and all the complains and concerns have been passed on to them. But as I said earlier we cannot dictate how they choose to run their business. Their parking contract (which you have entered by parking on the property managed by UKCPS) would be stated that: if a vehicle is parked in a disabled space without displaying a valid Blue Badge then they are most likely to issue a parking ticket. These are the rules so I do not see this as a discrimination. They would act in the same manner regardless if the person was disabled or not. However, I do sympathise with you that you feel penalised by forgetting displaying your badge. It is a costly mistake indeed. All I can suggest is that if you decide to take up the offer from UKCPS and become a member of Mobilise then when you receive a parking ticket in the future we will be able to help or offer you advise. I still think this is discrimination, but Mobilise disagree with me, and I am still in the situation where I am receiving threatening letters. Not a good place to be.

I have received two letters from UKCPS and now my ‘fine’ has been referred to a company called “Court Proceedings Limited London”. The letter reads as follows:- DO NOT IGNORE THIS NOTICE IMMEDIATE PAYMENT REQUIRED We have been instructed by UKCPS Ltd to recover the above debt before court proceedings are instigated we have been authorised to offer you the opportunity to settle your debt in full by paying the reduced amount of £95.00 To accept this offer you must pay the amount in full within the next seven days. Your failure to comply to this final offer will automatically result in court action being progressed for the original debt in full plus all associated costs which could exceed £325.00. A typical breakdown of costs is as follows:- Original amount £100.00 Preparation of court papers £50.00 Court and Hearing Costs £50.00 Expenses £125.00 Payments should be made by cheque to Court Proceedings Ltd or by phone. TELEPHONE 08708 900 281 SETTLE TODAY FOR £95.00 Non payment or not contacting us on the above number will lead to immediate court action being progressed and could end up with you having a County Court Judgement against you which could severely damage your chances of getting credit or a mortgage in the future. I must admit I am getting quite concerned now this has been referred to another company in London. BUT I am attempting to stay strong and ignore their letters. Nevertheless it is still VERY distressing.

No I never received a reply, just an 'out of office' message saying they would be back on 18th August. I have received my first intimidating letter from UKCPS though! Still ignoring them.

I have contacted Mobilise again. My letter reads as follows: "I wonder if you have approached (or would be happy to approach) UKCPS regarding their way of 'dealing' with the fact that they continue to harass and intimidate disabled people in this way. I forgot to put my blue badge in the window of my car, and appealed against the 'fine'. My appeal letter has been ignored and they are going to continue to frighten and intimidate me by sending threatening letters. I feel this is discrimination against disabled people. What do you think?" I will let you know as, and when, I receive a reply.

I did write to Mobilise, as advised, and am still ignoring UKCPS, although I haven't received any threatening letters yet!! Here is the reply I received from Mobilise:- "Thank you for your email concerning Mobilise’s collaboration with the parking company UKCPS. We are well aware that there are problems within the private parking sector but it is only by working with organisations like UKCPS that we have any chance of improving the situation for disabled people. One of our reasons for working with these companies is because we are able to help educate them and their staff on Blue Badge and disability issues. As you may be aware when you park in a private car park you have agreed to abide by certain rules and this is part of contract law. Therefore if it says only Blue badge holders in specific bays and you park there without a badge you would probably get a ticket. We can not dictate to companies like UKCPS how they should run their business but by working with them we can have a small amount of influence over how they deal with people who get a ticket. One of your complaints is that the appeal is just an internal appeal and like you I believe that is wrong too. The British Parking Association also want there to be an independent appeals service which is similar to the service you receive if you get a ticket on the public highway. It is possible that this change will be brought in in the not to distant future. I hope I have helped you understand why Mobilise is now working with organisations like UKCPS." It would appear they are more than happy to be associated with UKCPS and I really don't understand why. I am still ignoring, ignoring, ignoring (but it isn't easy waiting for those threatening letters), but thanks for your support.

Thanks so very much for all your help. I am going to continue to ignore this 'fine' (although I haven't received any threatening letters yet). I have also contacted MOBILISE explaining exactly what has happened to me, and asking why they are associating themselves with UKCPS. (I wouldn't have had the courage to do all this without your help), but trust what you have all advised me. I will let you know what happens. Many thanks

So what is everyone saying here about the 'contractual agreement'? Does it mean I am liable, because I have broken the contract?

I have been back to the retail park to see exactly what is written on UKCPS notice boards. It states the following:- Welcome to ***** Customer Car Park Private Land Contractual Agreement This land is strictly for the parking of motor vehicles that apply With the following conditions indicated below. 3 hours maximum stay No return within 2 hours Only vehicles complying with the above time stay limit and displaying A current valid disabled badge may park in disabled bays. The badge must be displayed inside the front windscreen with All appropriate details clearly visible. IF YOU PARK A VEHICLE ON THIS LAND AND ARE NOT FULLY COMPLYING WITH THE CONDITIONS LISTED ABOVE YOU ARE CONTRACTUALLY AGREEING TO ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING A parking charge notice being issued and a charge of £100 being enforced discounted To £60 if paid within 14 days (failure to pay will lead to court action for recovery And will incur additional costs UKCPS So it would seem I have made a contractual agreement. Does anyone know what this means? I will still ignore any letters I receive, and trust what others have told me about ignore, ignore and they will go away!

Thanks again DBC. So UKCPS won't reply about whether it is ethical to do what they have done to me? Interesting. I find the reply from Mobilise pathetic. So are they saying if I give them a ring, they will help me and perhaps make sure I WON't have to pay the parking notice? I really don't think so!!

Wow thanks so very much DBC. It's like a minefield for me. They DO seem to be adamant about their 'rules & regulations', and are still insisting they have every right to imposing parking notices. It's like a minefield for me. Thanks for your support.

Well let's just hope Mobilise part company with UKCPS. Thanks again for your help.

Many thanks for all your replies. I feel reassured now. Sorry, I wasn't ignoring your replies to me, I just needed reassurance & because B & T has been in the same situation, and nothing happened, I am now going to ignore all future letters! Thanks again.

I understand what you are all saying, but I am the one receiving these letters. Now MOBILISE have been brought into the picture this distresses me even more. I know I must sit tight and wait for all the threatening letters to come through my letterbox. I will do this, but I must admit I am still VERY concerned. Many thanks everyone for your support. I am trying to be positive about this, but it still concerns me.

Thanks dx100uk for your reply. You haven't received this 'notice' so you really don't know how I am feeling!! Please don't be rude. Put yourself in my position! afcwben - Many thanks for emailing Mobilise. They do seem like a genuine charity. Will you please let me know what they say about these parking 'fines'? Thanks

Well since my last post my husband decided to appeal against the parking notice. We have received a reply which states: "Thank you for your correspondence regarding the above parking notice charge. Your vehicle was parked in a disabled bay without having a disabled badge on display. By parking your vehicle you have entered a contract to display a valid disabled badge or pay a parking charge of £100 (reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days). As you failed to display your disabled badge you were correctly issued with a parking charge which will stand. In a joint venture with Mobilise, the leading charity for disabled motorists (drivers and passengers) UKCPS is offering disabled badge holders the chance to pay a reduced charge of £44. This will include free membership of Mobilise for one year – which UKCPS will pay. Mobilise is a campaigning charity for disabled motorists and Blue Badge holders. They lobby government and businesses across the UK in order to improve parking, refuelling and access provision for disabled people, so that they can access the goods and services that they need. The offer to join the scheme and pay the reduced charge is available for the next ten days, after this time the full charge is payable. If you wish to take up the offer please fill in your details on the enclosed form along with payment of £44. UKCPS Ltd is an ethical company, we are Data Protection registered, SIA approved members of the BPA (British Parking Authority) and registered with the DVLA. Regards UKCPS Appeals Department I have checked out the Mobilise site and they do seem very genuine. I wonder why they are associating themselves with this private parking company? What should I do now? Should I join this Mobilise charity and only pay £44? Any help would be most appreciated.

Thanks very much everyone. I feel reassured now, particularly having watched the clip from Watchdog. Many, many thanks.

Ha ha thanks for that. I feel slightly better about the situation now! BUT ... I have still parked on private land, and I have been told that I was trespassing! And I was also told by CAB that those are the rules of the retail park. How does that stack up? Should I complain to Argos? Or do I try to find out who owns the retail park and complain to them? I just don't know how I will deal with getting letters about courts action, from solicitors and even bailiffs! Thanks

Many thanks for the advice. The parking space clearly had yellow painting showing a disabled parking place only, that is why I parked there. I was on a retail park, and I wonder if I should contact the shop where I made my purchase. I also contacted another CAB in another town. This time I was told that I MUST PAY THIS DEBT because that is their rules, and because I was on private land. This is really stressing (and confusing) me.

I am a disabled driver, and went in to a shop (on a private car park) and forgot to display my blue badge. Wrong of me I know, but when I returned to the car some five minutes later I had a ticket. The ticket was from UK CPS. I know I can appeal, BUT (1) Do I have to pay the fine before appealing (as the fine goes up to £100 if I don't pay within 14 days)? (2) Am I likely to get my money back if I do pay immediately and (3) Is this fine legal if I produce a copy of my blue badge? Many thanks I rang CAB and I have been told that I could be taken to court NOT for parking in a disabled place without displaying my blue badge, BUT because I have trespassed on private property. I DID make a purchase from the retail park, so how can I have been trespassing? Now I feel really upset and confused. Can anyone help me please?