Parking Charge Notice whilst at McDonalds

Jivesterr

Someone recommended this site and I've found so much info but would just like clarification/reassurance over the following:

I've received a PCN from MET parking, I overstayed the free 75 mins at Mcdonalds by 40 mins, I never realised that it was time limited but returning yes there are 4 signs with lines and lines of writing and yes it clearly says 75 mins free stay.

My car was photographed entering at 20:50 and leaving at 22:38 so it was dark and I never noticed the dark green signs. So I have until the 28th to pay £50 or £100 afterwards. Do I just ignore this PCN? I've re-read the notice and it states they may instruct a debt collection, may obtain a court order, may affect my credit rating.

I'm pretty narked as I was actually using the McDonalds all that time as I had been at work all day and just wanted to relax with a burger so didn't rush.

What is the best way to respond? Should I do as most say ignore it, or do I write back and do what I was gonna do and pay (I was gonna write a cheque for £2.50) what I feel is a reasonable charge for overstaying in error?

Any help would be appreciated

sarahg1969

Ignore it.

Valli

I believe you can ignore it if it was on private land.

Don't phone,
don't write, and someone with more information than me will be along shortly. Don't even part pay it!


But it is FAST food -

Jivesterr

Pity they are slow at serving it

Sir_Roger_deLodger

It's not a PCN, only councils issue those. What you have is a speculative invoice which you are free to ignore.
Do not contact them, and do not send them £2.50 or any other amount. You owe them nothing.

By all means complain to McDonalds.

taffy056

That must have been some burger you had, don't think i've spent 115 minutes of my life in one

Still just ignore the ticket completely, and complain to the franchise and head office mcdonalds.

Coupon-mad

Watchdog on private parking tickets:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAIcdi9niHA

The Watchdog legal expert's bogus ticket example was, let me think...oh yes it was MET parking with a camera in a McDonalds Car park. Sounds like a game of Cluedo - or snap!

Jivesterr have we shown you enough to know you can safely ignore this trash? Not quite? How about a complete pictorial preview of the not-so-scary letters MET send out in liaison with their pet 'debt collector':

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2214803

And finally, how about seeing how common your thread is, did you know the entire board is full of people like you ignoring this scam? All these threads on this next link below are about private tickets (apart from the odd Council case) and every single person is ignoring a series of letters, which isn't too hard to do. It's just like deleting a series of phishing emails. Read some other threads here:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=163

Have a read of threads, watch the Watchdog clip. You get that it's all a scam now I hope? Spread the word, make sure your friends and family are NEVER taken in by such a scam.

boliston

I'm wondering if there is any way you could have a bit of "fun" with these clowns and "bait" them a bit? (A bit like the way some people bait the 419 scammers)

taffy056

boliston wrote: »

I'm wondering if there is any way you could have a bit of "fun" with these clowns and "bait" them a bit? (A bit like the way some people bait the 419 scammers)

I would but LBS refuse to send me letters, I was thinking about emailing them asking where my threatograms were though euro are much more accomodating lol

Bob_the_Saver

Jivesterr wrote: »

Someone recommended this site and I've found so much info but would just like clarification/reassurance over the following:

I've received a PCN from MET parking, I overstayed the free 75 mins at Mcdonalds by 40 mins, I never realised that it was time limited but returning yes there are 4 signs with lines and lines of writing and yes it clearly says 75 mins free stay.

My car was photographed entering at 20:50 and leaving at 22:38 so it was dark and I never noticed the dark green signs. So I have until the 28th to pay £50 or £100 afterwards. Do I just ignore this PCN? I've re-read the notice and it states they may instruct a debt collection, may obtain a court order, may affect my credit rating.

I'm pretty narked as I was actually using the McDonalds all that time as I had been at work all day and just wanted to relax with a burger so didn't rush.

What is the best way to respond? Should I do as most say ignore it, or do I write back and do what I was gonna do and pay (I was gonna write a cheque for £2.50) what I feel is a reasonable charge for overstaying in error?

Any help would be appreciated

I just wondered how anyone can spend 115 mins in a fast food burger joint.

DaveF327

Were the signs illuminated? If not, it wouldn't be reasonable for anyone to be able to read them in the dark from the wheel of a motor vehicle. so you could not possibly have entered into any contract.

Like others have said, ignore until they send you real stamped N1 court claim forms. At that point, your defence is my first point above.