TonyThank you for your message - brief outline, I parked my car (I have a valid visible permit) in an allocated bay in an adjacent road as wasn't able to park in my road. On the next occasion when I had to use my car - 5 days later, found it was gone - phoned the police to be informed that the Trace line would know where my car was. On contacting them was advised it had been removed by the council and relocated to a neighbouring street. On asking why I wasn't informed was advised it would have been contravening the Data Protection Act.I have since had a reply from the manager of parking services and frankly I am not happy with his reply which is as follows:When the suspension came into force on the morning of the 25th November 2009 your vehicle was relocated from its location to allow access for the domestic removal vehicle. As your vehicle was logged as being parked prior to the warning signs being erected instead of removing your vehicle to the vehicle pound the removal unit attempted to relocate the vehicle as close to its original location, in an area where the vehicle would not be in contravention of any parking regulations. The details of where your vehicle was removed from and relocated to were then passed to an organisation called "TRACE", so anyone contacting them would be passed the details of the new location of your vehicle. I believe the Police advised that you contact them and they confirmed the location of your vehicle. I have spoken with the lady who handled your call when you contacted Ealing vehicle pound and I apologise if the information you were provided was not clear or if you felt it was misleading. In light of the comments you have made I have asked that the process followed when relocating a vehicle be reviewed to confirm if any changes can be made to try and contact drivers if valid permits were displayed on the vehicle, as in this case. I have also asked the Manager of the Civil Enforcement Officers to ensure that when a vehicle is relocated that the new location is clearly recorded so anyone contacting TRACE will be given a more precise location for their vehicle. Hopefully this review and any changes to procedures will ensure that this situation is avoided in future. I apologise for any inconvenience this incident may have caused and will ensure that the issues you raise are taken on board to avoid any future repetition.His comments regarding the "Trace" organisation are surely a contravention of the Data Protection Act as they are passing on details of a person's details to a Third Party.Have contacted MR Clarke again and am waiting for his reply, however I am sure he will try and blind me with jargon as to why they left my details with a third party.
J Smith ● 6111d