Stopping in a no stopping area

[foxbody-87]

I've had a ticket through from a private parking company, for stopping in a car park. I had bought something from a McDonald's drive-through and on the way out of the drive through I briefly pulled into one of three spaces belonging to the NFU before driving away. I've now had this notice through the post with a £60 charge for stopping. I've been back and to be fair there is a sign, albeit not visible if you drive forward into the space. Do I have much of a case to contest this? I'll try and post up a photo tomorrow. Map to follow.

Edited by foxbody-87 on Monday 16th March 17:59

[foxbody-87]

Here's the aerial view. I pulled out of the McDonald's but before joining the main road I pulled into a space on that grey patch immediately left of the little compass thing.

[Alextodrive]

It's not a ticket, although I'm sure it's meant to look like one.

It's basically an invoice, because they made some rules on their own private property, you broke one and they decided they want to invoice you £60 for doing so.

I'd reply with what you've already said. I pulled over briefly and left shortly after without even exciting my vehicle. If they reject it, go to adjudication (which they probably wont even bother with) and you'd likely be sided with.

Those are my two cents. But see what everyone else has to say obviously!

[whirlybird]

My sister once got a 'ticket' like yours, she rolled it into a tube, and put a postit note on it saying
Shove this up your ar*e.
never heard anymore.

[4rephill]

Alextodrive said:

.....I'd reply with what you've already said. I pulled over briefly and left shortly after without even exciting my vehicle......

I must admit, I've managed to unsettle a vehicle or two whilst driving over the years, but I've never managed to get a vehicle excited - Especially when parked!

[MB140]

Tell them you were reading there terms and conditions which was why you stopped. I believe you have a grace period to read them and then leave if you don’t accept them.

I’m not an expert. S11steve will no doubt be along in a while. Follow his instructions. He fights these invoices for a living pretty much.

Edited by MB140 on Saturday 14th March 16:16

[silverfoxcc]

Yes

AS the above post BUT BUT BUT DO NOT say who was driving.In ANY correspondence with the PPC and i would suggest keeping it to a minimum ALWAYS refers to whoever was in the car as 'THE DRIVER, as in THE DRIVER saw this, the Driver did that

I take it this was a letter through the post?

Who is it from? and post up a redacted copy both sides but leave out anything that can identify you
They may well have fouled up on the POFA Act of 2012 and the wording that has to be shown

EXACTLY how long did you park there and be honest

Does the letter give times, if so what are they

.Was there a notice stating all the conditions easily visible? if at night was it easily read under the existing lighting?

If there was,as suggested if it was less that 5mins ( 10mins at a push) you can rebut the letter by telling them THE DRIVER was reading their notice of contract and cdecided not to accept the conditions and left

WAs it ANPR photos of you enrtering and exiting the premiseS. If so that just proves that you past the camera at those times it does not prove parking

Take 5 mins answer the questions honestly do not comntact the PPC until we say it it ok,We might be able to keep that 60,.00 in your pocket

Ignore all the holier than thou on her e that tell you different, there could be a legal get out on this whatever you do dont lie, and remeber it is always THE DRIVER not I my wife, my son myu neightbour the dof..just THE DRIVER
Jus because your name is on the V5 doesn't automatically mean you were the driver..so don' tell them

Wait for pavarotti and SteveS11 to comment as well

[foxbody-87]

Thank you for the replies so far. I'll post up a copy of the PCN tomorrow with more details.

[Alextodrive]

4rephill said:

Alextodrive said:

.....I'd reply with what you've already said. I pulled over briefly and left shortly after without even exciting my vehicle......

I must admit, I've managed to unsettle a vehicle or two whilst driving over the years, but I've never managed to get a vehicle excited - Especially when parked!

You're clearly not trying hard enough.

[blueg33]

foxbody-87 said:

Thank you for the replies so far. I'll post up a copy of the PCN tomorrow with more details.

Redact it if you do. Parking companies have been known to read these threads and they will see this thread as an admission that you parked to sort your coffee out.

[foxbody-87]

Thanks for your patience, I am going to upload the photos of the ticket but will have to do it from my phone as my work laptop doesn't seem to like the upload function on here.
Just a bit more info, I used the McDonald's on a Sunday morning when the car park owner was closed and all the spaces empty. I stopped for no more than 10 minutes and didn't exit the car.
The camera which snapped me caught the back of my car with brake lights on, there is a sign with parking T&Cs but you would certainly not stop to read it either driving in or out of McDonalds. The spaces are between the McDonalds exit and main road so unfortunately quite a handy pull-in for drivers.

Photos now added!

Edited by foxbody-87 on Monday 16th March 18:04

[silverfoxcc]

foxbody

What was the date of the parking, and what date was the letter sent?

It is slightly different as they are not working under POFA 2012

Have asked for cvomments and will get back.

In the meantime DO NOT in any way shape or form contact IAS

[foxbody-87]

Hi, date they snapped me was 23rd Feb and they sent the letter on the 10th of March.

[silverfoxcc]

foxbody

OK

We can build something up here.

Can 'the driver' remember seeing any signs when they parked, and if so can they revisit and take some pictures?

Also does 'he driver' recall EXACTLY for how long they were stationary,

that picture proves nothing. You could have driving into that spot applied the brakes and reverse gear and then left 15 sec at most!!

Both would be nice to send a letter that puts this to bed and saves you 60.00, but the amount of time is really paramount, and no fibs

The Driver has be totally honest over 5 mins? over 10 mins? it really is that important

I notice that instead of ANPR is mentions MNPR ( MANUAL Number Plate Recognition) and therefore the area was manned. Wonder why they did not affix a windscreen notice, but it is much easier to hide and take a picture!!

Send me a pm if you want with details

[foxbody-87]

pm sent
Thanks

[MB140]

That all looks very amateurish to me. I would be tempted to just ignore it until the court summons comes through. Which I would bet it won’t.

Only then would I devote time to dealing with it.

[foxbody-87]

An interesting development - having reviewed the signs on site and with the benefit of hindsight they are pretty clear. However I have found a news article on the subject and a number of disgruntled drivers have stated they don't believe the signs were erected until after the date of the notice I received. The only issue is proving this - is it worth my time submitting an FOI request or are they likely to simply lie?

Edited by foxbody-87 on Sunday 15th March 21:10

[Jazoli]

The owners of the land where you parked got sick and tired of people using their carpark as an overflow for McDonalds and a free car park for the train station, they had no option as politely asking people to move and not block their spaces was met with abuse usually, so they employed a PPC, and you got a ticket, for doing precisely what everyone else had been doing, I guess you are not local to the area so will be unaware of the issues, its up to you whether you pay or not, appealing probably won't get you anywhere though.

[foxbody-87]

I am local to the area, my beef isn't with the NFU and I understand them taking action against antisocial parking, but look at it this way - their PPC has potentially been issuing fines to people (including myself) without displaying adequate signage. If true it isn't just extremely sloppy, it's against the law. Now if said signs were in place and they were deliberately contravened, that's fair enough, but you can't just slap fines on people for infractions against rules they can't be reasonably expected to be aware of.

Edited by foxbody-87 on Sunday 15th March 21:49

[Jazoli]

foxbody-87 said:

I am local to the area and am well aware of the traffic issues at McDonalds, my beef isn't with the NFU and I understand them

Fair enough, I think if you were there only 5 minutes then a ticket isn't really justifiable but you know what PPC's are like, we allow people 10 mins grace in our carpark that is also plagued with nuisance parking, the PPC we have engaged wanted to make it 5 mins but we aren't unreasonable, if you can prove the signs were not there when you parked you have every reason not to pay.