Parking Fine - worth contesting?
Discussion
Hi folks
So, very annoyingly I’ve received a letter detailing a parking fine.
I didn’t see the signs but it’s a newer car park/location (few years or so I’d guess) so I’m sure they will have signs up but it’s just visual noise now and I didn’t notice, appreciate not an excuse and guess I’ve only got myself to blame there.
With that said, what makes it more frustrating for is that it was a McDonald’s car park that we went in with the kids. Spent a decent amount and then they played on the tablets/did colouring in etc etc and we were just in no rush. We had time to kill as waiting to pick someone up from the hospital.
Anyway, we get the call to pick them up and that person also now wants some food too. So we buy even more food as we leave.
So galling that spent money the whole time we were there, when we arrived and when we left.
I’m clearly over their allowed time but very annoying that we were paying customers and got ‘done’ by these owners of a block of tarmac that is the official McDonalds car park, that we were there to use/purchase. Not like we parked there n went off to work all day.
Anyway, is it even worth contesting showing purchase timings via my bank app to ‘prove’ it was a legit use of the car park/facilities or is it really just not worth it and I’m best to just roll over and pay and chalk it up as a (painful and expensive) lesson learned?
Anyone have any experience or advice please?
gggrrr
So, very annoyingly I’ve received a letter detailing a parking fine.
I didn’t see the signs but it’s a newer car park/location (few years or so I’d guess) so I’m sure they will have signs up but it’s just visual noise now and I didn’t notice, appreciate not an excuse and guess I’ve only got myself to blame there.
With that said, what makes it more frustrating for is that it was a McDonald’s car park that we went in with the kids. Spent a decent amount and then they played on the tablets/did colouring in etc etc and we were just in no rush. We had time to kill as waiting to pick someone up from the hospital.
Anyway, we get the call to pick them up and that person also now wants some food too. So we buy even more food as we leave.
So galling that spent money the whole time we were there, when we arrived and when we left.
I’m clearly over their allowed time but very annoying that we were paying customers and got ‘done’ by these owners of a block of tarmac that is the official McDonalds car park, that we were there to use/purchase. Not like we parked there n went off to work all day.
Anyway, is it even worth contesting showing purchase timings via my bank app to ‘prove’ it was a legit use of the car park/facilities or is it really just not worth it and I’m best to just roll over and pay and chalk it up as a (painful and expensive) lesson learned?
Anyone have any experience or advice please?
gggrrr
I work as a mortgage broker and you wouldn't believe the number of times I've seen County Court Judgements on peoples credit histories for parking fines. They've certainly become more prevalent over the last couple of years. I was at a mortgage lender meeting recently and they detailed that the majority of credit issues they see nowadays are either mobile phone ( non ) payments due to direct debit issues, or parking fines.
I have some clients who decided to contest the fines and in the interim period the parking company filed a CCJ, once it's on your record it stays there for six years and from my experience you'll either never get it removed or in the very small chance that you do it'll take so long to get to that point you'll wish you'd just paid it in the first place !
We got a penalty recently for parking in the multi storey adjoining Doncaster railway station , the parking has been taken over by an awful company called "Parking eye" ( google them - every review is absolutely atrocious ) and when we came to pay, WE had to detail how long we'd been there ! - and were 29 minutes out. Based on the detail above we just paid the penalty- it's daylight robbery but just not worth the hassle !
I have some clients who decided to contest the fines and in the interim period the parking company filed a CCJ, once it's on your record it stays there for six years and from my experience you'll either never get it removed or in the very small chance that you do it'll take so long to get to that point you'll wish you'd just paid it in the first place !
We got a penalty recently for parking in the multi storey adjoining Doncaster railway station , the parking has been taken over by an awful company called "Parking eye" ( google them - every review is absolutely atrocious ) and when we came to pay, WE had to detail how long we'd been there ! - and were 29 minutes out. Based on the detail above we just paid the penalty- it's daylight robbery but just not worth the hassle !
Ha thanks all
Was leaning towards rolling over and just paying and helps to hear others experiences.
Not worth having ‘official’ on my file so to speak for nominal amount. Well, robbery and a lot on top of a fast food meal lol but in the grand scheme of things…
Can’t believe the cheek of that company getting you to detail the information and do their work for them. Crazy.
Crooks, crooks the lot of them I say hahaha
Was leaning towards rolling over and just paying and helps to hear others experiences.
Not worth having ‘official’ on my file so to speak for nominal amount. Well, robbery and a lot on top of a fast food meal lol but in the grand scheme of things…
Can’t believe the cheek of that company getting you to detail the information and do their work for them. Crazy.
Crooks, crooks the lot of them I say hahaha
Monty1502 said:
I work as a mortgage broker and you wouldn't believe the number of times I've seen County Court Judgements on peoples credit histories for parking fines. They've certainly become more prevalent over the last couple of years. I was at a mortgage lender meeting recently and they detailed that the majority of credit issues they see nowadays are either mobile phone ( non ) payments due to direct debit issues, or parking fines.
I have some clients who decided to contest the fines and in the interim period the parking company filed a CCJ, once it's on your record it stays there for six years and from my experience you'll either never get it removed or in the very small chance that you do it'll take so long to get to that point you'll wish you'd just paid it in the first place !
Apparently there's a strategy now where parking firms wait until near the end of the time the debt expires then issue proceedings, hoping the debtor has moved or otherwise won't bother to respond, so they get a CCJ by default. It sits there until they need a mortgage then they can't settle it fast enough, not realising that it still stays on their record anyway.I have some clients who decided to contest the fines and in the interim period the parking company filed a CCJ, once it's on your record it stays there for six years and from my experience you'll either never get it removed or in the very small chance that you do it'll take so long to get to that point you'll wish you'd just paid it in the first place !
monsieurblack said:
Ha thanks all
Was leaning towards rolling over and just paying and helps to hear others experiences.
Not worth having official on my file so to speak for nominal amount. Well, robbery and a lot on top of a fast food meal lol but in the grand scheme of things
Can t believe the cheek of that company getting you to detail the information and do their work for them. Crazy.
Crooks, crooks the lot of them I say hahaha
As another poster mentioned, you could ask the manager to get it cancelled but I've seen a couple of threads on other forums where people say McD agreed, but then did nothing, or maybe they don't have the capability, despite being chased.Was leaning towards rolling over and just paying and helps to hear others experiences.
Not worth having official on my file so to speak for nominal amount. Well, robbery and a lot on top of a fast food meal lol but in the grand scheme of things
Can t believe the cheek of that company getting you to detail the information and do their work for them. Crazy.
Crooks, crooks the lot of them I say hahaha
One of my daughters works in a place where the landlord won't accept any representations - it's causing them a nightmare with clients.
Yeah I can imagine if I rocked back up in person and spoke to them. Explained we were there paying for food for the duration that they’d likely sympathise and ‘side’ with us but like you say, can also see them then not actually doing anything as people just don’t want to get involved and have any ‘hassle’ or drama.
Will just settle, forget about it and move on. Despite the absolute hatred I have for these car park crooks lol
Will just settle, forget about it and move on. Despite the absolute hatred I have for these car park crooks lol
My daughter got caught exactly the same way. Went to a deserted McDonald's car park, spent lots, socialised with friends, left a smudge over the maximum allowed from a still empty car park.
Told her to pay and get the discount.
Never set foot in a McDonalds from that day to this, nor me and this was about 10 years ago. Their loss.
Told her to pay and get the discount.
Never set foot in a McDonalds from that day to this, nor me and this was about 10 years ago. Their loss.
Monty1502 said:
We got a penalty recently for parking in the multi storey adjoining Doncaster railway station , the parking has been taken over by an awful company called "Parking eye" ( google them - every review is absolutely atrocious ) and when we came to pay, WE had to detail how long we'd been there ! - and were 29 minutes out. Based on the detail above we just paid the penalty- it's daylight robbery but just not worth the hassle !
I had two invoices cancelled by Parking Eye, they do listen to reason.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff