Parking Ticket - Grrr

[HSK]

Hey guys,

Need some advice, I park at my gym (they have section within a bigger car park) and ask people to display a sign when using the car park. It's a about A5 in size, a bit big, so I usually put it in on the dash when im there...they have MET parking folks checking often.

Only went and forgot to stick it up there.

Came back and MET parking are asking for 100 quid (60 in 14 days). Told the gym I forgot to stick it up, but they weren't really much help. So i'm annoyed.

1. I'm a member of that gym
2. I visit the gym usually 5 days a week. There only about 2 guys who do these checks, so I'm sure they've seen my car before, every damn evening with the sign up.
3. They marked my number plate WRONG on the ticket. I'm not just talking one of two letters. Pretty much all of it. The only thing that resembles my car, is that it says BMW.

Ok my fault for not sticking up my sign (i've tapped it up now, even though it is overly sized). But if they've got my REG wrong, shall I just leave this?! they say pictures will be up in 72 hours...but surely this can't come back to me with much now can they...anyone can take pics of my car, but they've served me something incorrect.

I just feel like ignoring it. Any one had something similar happen?

[Agent]

http://www.parkingcowboys.co.uk/mcdo...arking-ticket/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/arti...n-private-land

The main one you want: http://www.pepipoo.com/

They rarely result in any action, but they can try to take you to court. Only the court can decide on if the 'fine' is valid or not.

Given the registration being wrong, it can't see them getting far with it. If you want to go through the process - that's your call.

They have no power. They are not the police, nor a court.

[Gerrard]

When I got a new car, I forgot to put my parking permit in it for the car park at my flats. I received a ticket, but after a bit of investigation online (particular Money Saving Expert), I ignored it. I found the types of letters I would get (parking company, debt collector 1, debt collector 2 with the same signature but different gender as debt company 1!) and received them as such. After about 6 months and them lowering the costs each time towards the end, they stopped.

IANAL, but the fact that it is private land and is issued by a private company means you can usually safely ignore them most of the time, but there are certainly exceptions. However, in your case there are two things that will mean nothing will come of it.

1. No money lost. I believe this is one of the key things when trying to go to court. The fact you have a permit means that the private land owner has no costs and therefore wouldn't be able to chase you for anything.
2. If they've recorded the wrong Reg Number, they'll get the wrong address from the DVLA (which costs them money everytime they make an address enquiry, so you can feel smug about them losing money!), so you won't get any letters anyway.

[TeePee]

Ignoring is no longer the best advice! Check the latest on pepipoo for the best way to handle it. Obviously, don't pay the con men.

On my most recent trip to the UK I acquired a one from the ParkingEye scammers. It would have been fine, except it was a rental car. Hertz paid them without my authorization and in breach of the rental agreement, and tagged on 50GBP in a second breach (They pay the scammers so they can profit though this charge). Naturally, my credit card company swiftly reversed the charge. Research, get on top of it, and make sure it costs them money through POPLA! Never pay a private parking scam, and don't use Hertz for rentals!

[HSK]

Thanks for the replies guys.

in this case, i will ignore it - due to MET parking being pretty incompetent.

The evidence is online now, and its not even my car (mine is parked next to it, i can see from the alloy wheel)

He's just gone and slapped it on mine and wrote BMW on the ticket also.

Confused.com

[Macman]

Yup. Ignore it.

I've had Parking Fine for parking in a disabled bay (I know I know...) was in abd out 5 mins and ticket on my windscreen.

Like others, checked Money Saving Expert, most folk who rec'd ticket in a Tesco, Asda or Sainsburys car park pretty much ignored it as they cant enforce it.

Pretty much same idea, only those that can are Council enforced, for Scotland anyways. Police can force your car to be removed i.e. if its an obstruction but thats in rare cases.

[abaxas]

Yup. Ignore it.

I've had Parking Fine for parking in a disabled bay (I know I know...) was in abd out 5 mins and ticket on my windscreen.

Like others, checked Money Saving Expert, most folk who rec'd ticket in a Tesco, Asda or Sainsburys car park pretty much ignored it as they cant enforce it.

Pretty much same idea, only those that can are Council enforced, for Scotland anyways. Police can force your car to be removed i.e. if its an obstruction but thats in rare cases.

Parking in disabled bays isn't really a problem if it's a council operated car park. Just write back citing discrimination and they'll never bother you again.

[Disturbedguy]

Parking in disabled bays isn't really a problem if it's a council operated car park. Just write back citing discrimination and they'll never bother you again.

Or you know, just not park in the disabled bay, its for those with disabilities. Thats one of the things that really, really grinds my gears :@.

[MaddAussie]

Parking in disabled bays isn't really a problem if it's a council operated car park. Just write back citing discrimination and they'll never bother you again.

I'm with Guy on this, thats the lowest of the low things to do. Disabled bays are there to allow people with disabilities easier access to amenities, not lazy idiots who cant be arsed walk 5 meters more.

[pp05]

If you really breached it just send them a letter with £2 stuck to it with cellotape to cover any costs they incurred sending you a letter. In the letter ask for a breakdown of the costs they incurred that warrants a £100 fine. That should usually be the end of it.

[Millennium]

What would happen if they are clamping your car (as happened to me in a Sheperds Bush Housing Association park), or threatening to (as happened to me in a McDonalds car park)?

not that I have a car any more, but I'd far rather be paying the local council my money than a bunch of script clamp cowboys with van(s)

[HalloweenJack]

they are not `fines` if the invoice you received says the word fine then its very illegal on police employed traffic wardens (non exist now) can issue a fine

[abaxas]

I'm with Guy on this, thats the lowest of the low things to do. Disabled bays are there to allow people with disabilities easier access to amenities, not lazy idiots who cant be arsed walk 5 meters more.

There are over 2.5 million blue badge holders in the UK. Are you seriously telling me that 4% of all humans are disabled?

[KeyboardDemon]

There are over 2.5 million blue badge holders in the UK. Are you seriously telling me that 4% of all humans are disabled?

Not everyone with a disability holds a blue badge, some people simply don't apply, or don't have access to a car so have no need or are simply not eligible for some reason, so I would expect the actual figure to be somewhat higher. However that's irrelevant to me, the one blue badge holder that matters most to me is my mother and if someone parks in an inconsiderate way that causes additional pain and discomfort to my mother I would want them to have their car towed and stuck in a pound, wheel clamps are just letting people off too lightly and do nothing to help a blue badge holder get into the illegally occupied parking space.

[Zak33]

AND I will stand in front of the car as it attempts to park in the disabled space and argue until they back off or fight me


You HAVE to experience the hell of shopping for a disabled person to know why EVERY SPACE IS VITAL... and you must NEVER EVER park in a disabled space if you're not disabled.


ever......

for some disabled, just getting to the car, with shopping bags, driving to the shops and getting out takes DAYS OF PLANNING... Imagibe the terror of driving to the shops for the one chance this fortnight... and not being able to shop and having to drive home with nothing.. and spending ther next 3 hours getting back indoors.


Think I'm making it up?

I'm not....it's hell.

Park as FAR from the door as you can, and walk.. it'll do you good.. AND you get to see if my other theory in right.. that people park near you no matter where you park

[BobF64]

you must NEVER EVER park in a disabled space if you're not disabled.

And must not leave the badge holder in the car if you do park in one.