MET parking thieves
Discussion
I'll try and keep this short. I received one of these parking fines back in April. Short story is;
Entered the car park one evening and left 20 minutes later. Following day I entered the car park and left 20 minutes later. The camera picked me up entering the first time but not leaving. It then didn't pick me up entering the second time but it did leaving. I asked MET to check their cameras but now they want evidence of my story such as vehicle tracking! F-ing vehicle tracking!!?? They say a bird may have flown in front of the camera and they tell me the technology isn't perfect. Cheers!
This car park is near stansted airport. McDonald's and Starbucks are located here. I am partial to both but not enough to spend 24 hours at them.
Anyone have any ideas?
Entered the car park one evening and left 20 minutes later. Following day I entered the car park and left 20 minutes later. The camera picked me up entering the first time but not leaving. It then didn't pick me up entering the second time but it did leaving. I asked MET to check their cameras but now they want evidence of my story such as vehicle tracking! F-ing vehicle tracking!!?? They say a bird may have flown in front of the camera and they tell me the technology isn't perfect. Cheers!
This car park is near stansted airport. McDonald's and Starbucks are located here. I am partial to both but not enough to spend 24 hours at them.
Anyone have any ideas?
Yup, tell them to show you the camera proof first. If they don't/can't, then tell them to get stuffed.
I work at Stansted, and won a POPLA claim against MET at that exact same services last year, albeit under different circumstances. Tbh the appeal could've gone either way, but they didn't even bother entering any evidence so I won regardless. They have no interest in fighting cases at all that I can see, especially not where they're not 100% in the right. If they were then they'd be able to prove it easily.
I work at Stansted, and won a POPLA claim against MET at that exact same services last year, albeit under different circumstances. Tbh the appeal could've gone either way, but they didn't even bother entering any evidence so I won regardless. They have no interest in fighting cases at all that I can see, especially not where they're not 100% in the right. If they were then they'd be able to prove it easily.
MorganP104 said:
Write them a nice letter, along the lines of "your technology may not be perfect, but my lawyer is", with a request they cease and desist immediately, writing off any fines they may have issued in respect of this alleged event.
The alternative being you'll see them in court.
This. The alternative being you'll see them in court.
In the unlikely event that they are stupid enough to take this to Court the onus is on them to prove that you were in the car park all that time. If it came to it I'm sure you could provide evidence that you were at work or whatever for some of the time between visits. No need to waste time doing that at this stage though.
Advise them to Foxtrot Oscar.
Jamesgt said:
I've already got their evidence. Photos of my car entering one day and leaving the next day.
Is there any way you can prove your car was elsewhere in the intervening period? Works car park CCTV? CCTV in or around your street? Dashcam footage? Train station car park CCTV (if you commute)? Shop/shopping centre CCTV? Customer/supplier car park CCTV (if you drive for work)?If you can, present it alongside your nice (but ultimately threatening) letter. That should make their balls shrivel up nicely.
MorganP104 said:
Is there any way you can prove your car was elsewhere in the intervening period? Works car park CCTV? CCTV in or around your street? Dashcam footage? Train station car park CCTV (if you commute)? Shop/shopping centre CCTV? Customer/supplier car park CCTV (if you drive for work)?
If you can, present it alongside your nice (but ultimately threatening) letter. That should make their balls shrivel up nicely.
Just tell them you have evidence the car was elsewhere. I wouldn't go to the trouble of producing such evidence now.If you can, present it alongside your nice (but ultimately threatening) letter. That should make their balls shrivel up nicely.
Ekona said:
I work at Stansted, and won a POPLA claim against MET at that exact same services last year, albeit under different circumstances.
They are a hateful bunch at this airport. I spoke to the guy in the parking enforce car one morning. He took great pleasure in booking anyone who stopped for a second on the roads around the airport. "ANPR double dipping" - the technology is fundamentally flawed for many reasons, but clearly it is in the PPC interest not to make a deal about it - many people still prefer to pay up and make the problem go away, rather than properly challenge them. It's like throwing chips to seagulls - it only encourages them to continue their immoral acts of extortion.
It is also how I ended up taking on the role in the company I work for - I was double caught at a motorway service station, but luckily I did have vehicle tracking, and also Google Location set up on my phone that proved I made two separate visits 8 hours apart. Initially they suggested that this wasn't sufficient proof, but POPLA disagreed.
Since then I have treated every PPC with equal contempt and scorn, and actively enjoy taunting and defeating them.
It is also how I ended up taking on the role in the company I work for - I was double caught at a motorway service station, but luckily I did have vehicle tracking, and also Google Location set up on my phone that proved I made two separate visits 8 hours apart. Initially they suggested that this wasn't sufficient proof, but POPLA disagreed.
Since then I have treated every PPC with equal contempt and scorn, and actively enjoy taunting and defeating them.
Jamesgt said:
I did actually check into a local hotel not long after my first visit to that car park. I may see if they have any info. I'm there every week so it's no bother to ask reception.
If you're a regular customer, they may well be willing to help you out. Parking records (with your registration), date-stamped CCTV footage, that sort of thing.When you tell them you want to fight some parking enforcement attack dogs, they might even be more keen than they usually would to help get you some justice.
PurpleMoonlight said:
And a new found vocation. 
How would you combat selfish drivers if you were a landowner though? Let's assume you cannot put a physical barrier in place.
By being as difficult as possible with them. How would you combat selfish drivers if you were a landowner though? Let's assume you cannot put a physical barrier in place.
A strategically placed van works great. Especially when the driver asks if someone can move it. "nah mate - dunno who the driver is, but every idiot and dog just leaves their cars here, so nowt I can do. You'll just have to wait for them to turn up again."
Realistically though, some form of barrier can be installed pretty much anywhere at a cost, which needs to be balanced against the scale of the perceived problem. Which is why we have a barrier here at our building - it wasn't cheap, but it has solved the problem.
What I do know is that the current "contractual" business model does not work. More and more KADOE requests are being made, so the problem clearly isn't being solved by issuing contract based tickets.
S11Steve said:
By being as difficult as possible with them.
A strategically placed van works great. Especially when the driver asks if someone can move it. "nah mate - dunno who the driver is, but every idiot and dog just leaves their cars here, so nowt I can do. You'll just have to wait for them to turn up again."
Realistically though, some form of barrier can be installed pretty much anywhere at a cost, which needs to be balanced against the scale of the perceived problem. Which is why we have a barrier here at our building - it wasn't cheap, but it has solved the problem.
What I do know is that the current "contractual" business model does not work. More and more KADOE requests are being made, so the problem clearly isn't being solved by issuing contract based tickets.
Needs to be based on simple trespass to me, with a legislative fixed penalty that landowners and operators can impose.A strategically placed van works great. Especially when the driver asks if someone can move it. "nah mate - dunno who the driver is, but every idiot and dog just leaves their cars here, so nowt I can do. You'll just have to wait for them to turn up again."
Realistically though, some form of barrier can be installed pretty much anywhere at a cost, which needs to be balanced against the scale of the perceived problem. Which is why we have a barrier here at our building - it wasn't cheap, but it has solved the problem.
What I do know is that the current "contractual" business model does not work. More and more KADOE requests are being made, so the problem clearly isn't being solved by issuing contract based tickets.
singlecoil said:
Problem is, there's more voters looking for somewhere to park than there is landowners trying to keep other people's cars off their property.
Overall it's a relatively small proportion of drivers that are so selfish and think it's okay to park on someone elses private property. I doubt any Government would lose anything meaningful.The problem with this particular car park and the petrol station next door is it is FULL of private hire drivers. It's frustrating when you want food from either of the three and you can't find anywhere to park due to cabs. The cameras don't combat this problem.
If it goes as far as court how does this work? I've been sent a final demand for £100 despite me contesting. If they just hound me with fines when do I get go to court?
If it goes as far as court how does this work? I've been sent a final demand for £100 despite me contesting. If they just hound me with fines when do I get go to court?
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