Who We Are 

The International Parking Community (“IPC”) is a trading name of United Trade and Industry Limited, company number 08248531, registered in England and Wales. Our registered address is Cromwell House, Royal Court, Brook Street, Macclesfield, SK11 7AE. 

United Trade and Industry Limited also uses the following trading names: 

- The Independent Parking Committee; 

- International Parking Community; 

This Privacy Policy explains how the IPC collects, uses and shares personal data in connection with its functions as an Accredited Trade Association, membership body, compliance body, complaints handler, training provider and related services. 

We process personal data in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation, the Data Protection Act 2018 and other applicable data protection legislation. 

Trade Association 

The IPC is an Accredited Trade Association. Our members are private parking operators and related organisations. Members of the IPC may be able to request registered keeper data from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (“DVLA”) where they have reasonable cause to do so. 

We oversee member compliance with the IPC Code of Practice and related requirements. As part of this role, we may receive and process personal data relating to individuals who have received a parking charge, made a complaint, submitted an enquiry, or otherwise contacted us about the conduct of an IPC member.

Complaints and Enquiries 

The IPC handles complaints and enquiries about IPC members, parking charge processes, Code compliance and related matters. 

When you submit a complaint or enquiry to the IPC, we may process the information you provide, together with information provided by the relevant IPC member, the DVLA, public authorities, regulators, or other relevant third parties where necessary.

Member Information 

We hold information relating to our members and their employees, representatives and contractors where this is necessary for carrying out our activities as a trade association, compliance body and membership organisation. 

The Legal Position 

This Privacy Policy explains: 

- the lawful basis on which we process your personal data; 

- the categories of personal data we process; 

- what we use personal data for; 

- who we may share personal data with; 

- how long we keep personal data; 

- your rights under data protection law; 

- how to contact us or make a complaint. 

Your Rights 

You have the following rights under data protection law: 

- the right to be informed; 

- the right of access; 

- the right to rectification; 

- the right to erasure; 

- the right to restrict processing; 

- the right to data portability; 

- the right to object; 

- rights relating to automated decision-making and profiling, where applicable. 

These rights are not absolute and may not apply in every circumstance. Where you make a request, we will consider it in accordance with applicable data protection law and respond within the relevant statutory timeframe. 

Right of Access 

You have the right to request a copy of the personal data we hold about you. This is known as a Subject Access Request. 

You can make a Subject Access Request by emailing our Data Protection Officer at: 

dpo@theipc.info 

We may need to verify your identity before providing information. 

If you have created an account on the IPC website, you may also be able to access some information by logging into your account.

Our Lawful Basis for Processing Your Personal Data 

We process personal data where we have a lawful basis to do so. Depending on the circumstances, this may include:

Legitimate interests 

We may process personal data where it is necessary for our legitimate interests, provided those interests are not overridden by your rights and freedoms. 

Our legitimate interests include: 

- operating as an Accredited Trade Association; 

- overseeing member compliance with the IPC Code of Practice; 

- investigating complaints and enquiries; 

- communicating with motorists, members, regulators and other relevant parties; 

- protecting the integrity of private parking processes; 

- maintaining records of complaints, enquiries, compliance action and member conduct; 

- protecting our legal position and the legal position of others. 

The Categories of Personal Data We Process 

The personal data we process may include: 

- name; 

- address; 

- email address; 

- telephone number; 

- vehicle registration mark; 

- parking charge reference; 

- date, time and location of a parking event; 

- correspondence relating to a complaint or enquiry; 

- information about a parking charge; 

- information provided by an IPC member; 

- information provided by the DVLA, regulators, public authorities or other relevant third parties; 

- account login and website usage information; 

- member contact details; 

- training, event or membership information; 

- any other information relevant to a complaint, enquiry, membership matter, compliance matter or service you have requested. 

How Long We Keep Your Personal Data 

We will keep personal data only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected. 

Personal data relating to complaints, enquiries or parking charge-related matters will normally be retained for up to 2 years after the dispute, complaint or issue has been resolved, unless a longer retention period is necessary because of legal, regulatory, audit, dispute-resolution, compliance or legitimate business reasons. 

Member, training, contractual and compliance records may be retained for longer where necessary for legal, regulatory, audit or business purposes.

Are We a Data Controller or Processor? 

In most cases, the IPC acts as a data controller for the personal data it processes. This includes personal data provided to us by motorists, members, complainants, enquirers, regulators, public authorities or other third parties in connection with IPC complaints, enquiries, membership, compliance, training or trade association functions. 

In some limited circumstances, the IPC may act as a processor where it processes personal data on behalf of another controller under written instructions.

Sharing Your Personal Data 

We may share personal data where it is necessary and lawful to do so. This may include sharing information with: 

- IPC members, where a complaint, enquiry or issue relates to that member; 

- external software providers and IT support providers; 

- the DVLA; 

- government departments; 

- regulators and oversight bodies; 

- legal advisers, auditors, insurers or professional advisers; 

- law enforcement or public authorities, where required or permitted by law; 

- another person authorised by you to act on your behalf. 

We will only share personal data where there is a lawful basis to do so and where the sharing is necessary and proportionate.

International Transfers 

We do not routinely transfer personal data outside the United Kingdom. 

Where personal data is transferred outside the United Kingdom, we will ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place in accordance with applicable data protection law. 

When Will We Contact You? 

We will contact you where necessary in connection with the purpose for which we hold your personal data. This may include contacting you about: 

- a complaint or enquiry; 

- a membership matter; 

- a compliance matter; 

- a training or event booking; 

- a request you have made; 

- a legal, regulatory or operational issue; 

- information relevant to IPC members or services. 

If you are a member, we may contact you with advisory, compliance, operational or membership information which we believe is relevant to you.

Changes to This Privacy Policy 

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in how we process personal data, changes in our organisational structure, changes in law, or changes in regulatory requirements. 

Where changes are material, we will take reasonable steps to bring them to the attention of affected individuals where appropriate. 

This Privacy Policy was last updated on: 02/06/2026

Contact Us 

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how the IPC processes your personal data, you can contact our Data Protection Officer: 

Email: dpo@theipc.info 

Post: Data Protection Officer, International Parking Community, Cromwell House, Royal Court, Brook Street, Macclesfield, SK11 7AE 

You may also contact us by registering an account at: 

https://theipc.info/complaints 

and logging a complaint or enquiry with us.

Complaints About the Processing of Data 

If you are unhappy with how we have handled your personal data, please contact us first so that we can try to resolve the matter. 

You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office, which is the UK supervisory authority for data protection matters. 

You can contact the ICO through its website: 

www.ico.org.uk