An Odd Request by a Council

[xtr2054]

I would be grateful for some advice on something that sounds rather odd.

 

I paid for a parking permit (£80) and aside from being messed around with delays, them 'losing' my letter but not my payment, having to email and repost everything, for over 6 weeks, I was finally told it was posted over a week ago. I have not received it (checked for mail every day).

 

I call back and they ask me to report it as lost on reportmyloss.com. Problem is how can I report a loss of something I have never had? The website seems to be the modern equivalent of walking to the police station to say you've lost your wallet - most police services now use it for lost and found. Furthermore it looks as if there is a £3.95 charge for this!

 

They have no proof they posted it, and it wasn't recorded delivery.

 

Would it not be fraud for me to report as lost something I have never had?

 

What should I do? I have had no success with the scripted answers from the phone, and feel unfortunately I may have to resort to a formal complaint.

 

Thanks,

 

Rich

[SabreSheep]

Im so glad I get my first parking permit free. I had to sign a letter confirming vehical reg etc and return it for my renewel

 

SO i signed and dated it, confirmed it all, scanned it in and emailed it XD Surprisingly they processed it.

 

IN your case Im guessing first stage is a formal complaint.

[xtr2054]

To be honest this is a second vehicle permit request. I don't need to park that car on the road for another month anyway so I am not bothered do much by not having the permit.

 

My concern is being asked to report as lost something I have never had.

 

Does that sound fishy to anyone else?

[rebel11]

Thread moved to correct forum.

[ericsbrother]

you have reported it, to the issuing body as not issued. I would be demanding my money back. Write to their legal services rather than the parking people and warn them that you will use any method suitable to recover the monies as a failure to perform a contract.

[Jamberson]

Don't make a big deal out of it. You can easily report it lost without ever having received it, because it is lost - but why bother?

 

What you need to do is not make complaints or issue warnings - you need to ask them what the correct procedure is for obtaining a replacement permit. If they insist that you use that site, then you will have to, to get a replacement.

 

I don't think there's a charge, but if there is, you can complain after you've got your permit, although if it's agreed within the council that this is their policy, then they are pretty unlikely to refund you. Hopefully they won't insist you report it, and will just tell you what to do to get a replacement. In any case, I think the site is free.

[xtr2054]

Thanks Jamberson. I have not escalated anything as of yet - hence seeking the opinions of those perhaps better experienced in such matters. I don't think I have actually ever formally complained about anything ever - I usually just cut my losses if things make no progress.

 

The experience tripped a red flag with me as in my limited entire experience of paying for and receiving or not receiving things (e.g. online shopping, important documents such as passport, DVLA), I have never once come across something as odd as asking the person who hasn't received something to report it as lost if not delivered. Perhaps I lead a sheltered life - have you had dealings with such websites before Jamberson? You seem to know a bit about it. The website is very clear there is a charge except for some areas.

 

I tried to start filling in the form, only to be stumped by the first question "What date was it last in the owner's possession?". They were not much help as to what I should put there. Unless I get a little creative, I would struggle to truthfully complete the form!

 

Perhaps I need to soften my moral/ethical compass and not be so principled and "ReportMyLoss". This probably stems from my professional experience at work where you have to be critically honest in any form you fill in, with severe consequences (e.g. loss of career) if not. From that setting I have always erred on the side of principle and honesty rather than expedience.

 

For now I have asked the website to advise if reporting a loss of something I have never had is within their remit.

 

R

[Jamberson]

Can't you leave the date blank, and just explain it in the description? It really isn't that big a deal.

 

Because permits aren't just "for sale" and there are qualifying criteria (residency etc), councils are audited on them and have to account for every one. If the council didn't control the whereabouts of every blank permit, it would leave the door open to dodgy types and people who aren't eligible, getting hold of them (maybe council staff would sell a blank one to their mate or something). So if someone contacts them and says their permit didn't arrive, chances are they won't be able to help themselves to a blank one and print off another copy - there will have to be a process of some sort and a paper trail.

 

It's just a question of finding out exactly what the process is in this case. If they want you to report it on that site, then that's something you'll have to do - it's just procedure so they are covered their end.

[green_and_mean]

I suspect the process is so that you make a 'formal' statement that you did not receive the permit to deter people from getting extra permits by just claiming it didn't arrive.

[SabreSheep]

Interesting.

 

my local council tie the permit to the car reg number as well as resident and address so cant be used on any other car.

[Jamberson]

Unless it's doctored.

 

In any case, you can bet the council treats its stock with a fair amount of security. They have to. The permit paper is also expensive if it contains foil strips or holograms and the like.