All I did was park my car at the hotel.

This is a little story about hotels and car parking and data access control – and those that issue fixed penalty fines claiming they hold ISO 9001 - certificated by organisations with non-UKAS accreditation.

Is this acceptable? They have access to your data, because they have access to the DVLA via your car registration.

Who is looking at this data?

Listen to my story about "Smart Parking" and an organisation named POPLA and the British Parking Association (BPA) and my “fixed penalty” charge.

However, “Smart Parking” went on to explained that I have the right to appeal to an organisation named POPLA (this is an independent appeals service for Parking Charge Notices issued on private land).

I noticed on the footer of the “Smart Parking” letter they “claim certification” against ISO 9001 and members of the BPA. But is this a scam? Who are these organisations that fail to understand the UK "conformity assessment" rules of best certification practice.

Do "Smart Parking", POPLA and the BPA simply represent the original “man in a van” (or lady in a van) wheel clampers from the past?

I asked these question in the first instance (perhaps selfishly on my part), because I have this “fixed penalty” charge from “Smart Parking”, but also prompted by “Smart Parking” claiming an ISO 9001 certification that is clearly NOT UKAS-accredited. This makes me think - bogus! No legitimate regulator is unaware of UKAS accreditation.

Secondly, my complaint is in the process of an appeal with an organisation [POPLA] that is linked to a trade association named BPA [British Parking Association]. Again, they seem to be unregulated. And you'll like this bit, “Smart Parking” is also a member of the BPA.

Is this an all-round conflict of interest?

Who is actually looking at my data?

Is access to my data a breach of my privacy rights?

Where is the impartiality with my appeal? I seem to be screwed...or am I?

Or if BPA or POPLA is regulated, do they represent their members [including “Smart Parking”] and the owners and managers of car parking schemes - or me.

Over to you DVLA. Over to you ICO. Over to you UKAS.

In the meantime, I am awaiting my appeal that is currently with POPLA - the organisation recommended by "Smart Parking". I will keep you posted.