UK Parking Control Ltd @ Mcdonalds!!!!

motty31

This has really made my blood boil!!!!!!

The other week I stopped at a McDonalds (Holywell, off the A55, North Wales) for some breakfast, and to take advantage of thier free wi-fi. Having purchased a Sausage and Egg Mcmuffin meal, I sat down and surfed the net to my hearts content.

I was in the restaurant for just over 2 hours before I returned to my car and drove off. A couple of weeks later I received a Parking Charge Notice for £75 from UK Parking Control Ltd. Incensed at this ridiculous charge, I went back to read the notices at the Mcdonalds car park, and discovered that the time limit was one and a half hours!!!!!

I find this really galling, Mcdonalds, in cahoots with UK Parking Control Ltd essentially telling me I can only use their restaurant for one and a half hours!!!! They encourage customers to use their free wi-fi service, then penalise them for (gasp) wanting to stay there for a few hours, buying their product!!! The car park was less than half empty, and it's one of the Mcdonlads situated off a dual carrigeway, in the middle of nowhere, so it's not like you can mosey on down there by foot!!!!

I was thinking of writing to Watchdog, as I feel McDonalds need to realise that if they offer free wi-fi, they shouldn't penalise customers who want to take advantage of this service.

I phoned McDonalds helpline to compain, and got the usual awful service. I have the option to appeal this, as set out in the letter UK Parking Control Ltd sent, but do I have a leg to stand on? Any advice would be fantastic. Any legal Eagles out there who could shed some light on what I could do?

:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

Idiophreak

I'm not sure how much success you'll have getting off this - they signposted the time limit, you stayed longer...seems fairly black and white...

The topic in general is a tough one...MaccyDs do offer the free wifi, but they don't want people to go in in the morning, buy a cup of coffee, then sit there all day with it...To be honest, though, I think this should be monitored by staff - they can ask people to move along or buy something else...don't see any need for a limit on the carpark...

FlameCloud

Private parking tickets are essentially uneforcable, if you push the company hard enough. There are better people than me however on here for this sort of thing, would recomened visiting https://www.pepipoo.com for alot more info.

uktim29

motty31 wrote: »

buying their product!!!

Come on, it doesn't take 2 hours to eat a McDonalds! If you were to sit there continuously eating for two hours I could understand your argument. But if you buy a meal and thats it then your taking the !!!! using the "buying their product" argument if you stayed there for two hours.

They won't be making any more money out of you once you've eaten the original meal so why would they want you there for two hours?

mpython

motty31 wrote: »

.................... I have the option to appeal this, as set out in the letter UK Parking Control Ltd sent, but do I have a leg to stand on? .......

As flamecloud said, have a look at www.pepipoo.com. You don't have to pay the charge (its not a fine), nor appeal as its not legally enforable unless you want to pay it.

sarahg1969

You have NOT been fined.

There IS no appeals procedure. Don't waste a stamp.

Read all about the scam on www.pepipoo.com.

They can't fine you, they can't affect your credit rating, they cannot send the bailiffs round.

There are plenty other threads on here about the private parking scammers.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=786983&highlight=excel+parking

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=269814&highlight=excel+parking

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=115690&highlight=excel+parking

motty31

sarahg1969, mpython, Idiophreak, FlameCloud, massive thanks to you guys, you have eased my mind, and I'm a natural worrier to boot :j :A

More power to your elbow:beer:

Lip_Stick

Tesco do this near me, they have a £75 fine if you stay more than 2 hours, and this is a Tesco Extra. :eek:

I do my shop generally on a Saturday morning. I get a lift from my folks who do theirs at the same time, and I have my baby with me. Now, by the time I've finished the shop, it's time to get ds something to eat so use the cafe, and as everyone knows, babies don't eat quickly. Then there's using the toilets and changing the lo, add to that my dad being disabled and having a bad leg, the weekly shop can take a lot longer than 2 hours. Also, if you want to look at getting something specific, as well as your main shop, like a fridge, you'd have to get your skates on! Two hours in a place like that is ridiculous imo.
Nothing should come between me and my shopping! :mad:

sarahg1969

Lip_Stick wrote: »

Tesco do this near me, they have a £75 fine if you stay more than 2 hours, and this is a Tesco Extra. :eek:

I do my shop generally on a Saturday morning. I get a lift from my folks who do theirs at the same time, and I have my baby with me. Now, by the time I've finished the shop, it's time to get ds something to eat so use the cafe, and as everyone knows, babies don't eat quickly. Then there's using the toilets and changing the lo, add to that my dad being disabled and having a bad leg, the weekly shop can take a lot longer than 2 hours. Also, if you want to look at getting something specific, as well as your main shop, like a fridge, you'd have to get your skates on! Two hours in a place like that is ridiculous imo.
Nothing should come between me and my shopping! :mad:

Lip-Stick - read everything carefully.

They have NO authority to fine anyone!!!

Do not be foooled by them!!!

dangeroussports

The sausage and egg mcmuffin part of the posters vent was the most interesting.

You should write to the manager of the store, a Mr Ronald. His email address usually ends in @mcdonalds.co.uk i think but dont quote me.


I think them fining you £75 is just plain wrong. They are behaving like ham'burglars.

You should mcfight this all the way to the mccourt. Their mcparking mcfines are mcawful and overmcczealous.

mcmcmmcmcmcmcmc

Lip_Stick

sarahg1969 wrote: »

Lip-Stick - read everything carefully.

They have NO authority to fine anyone!!!

Do not be foooled by them!!!

Thanks, I shall pass that info on to my Dad. I'm sure he'll be pleased to know that, and hopefully it'll stop him stressing out because he thinks I'm taking too long.