UKPC parking ticket when I WAS a customer!

InaPickle

Hi all,

I've just received a private parking ticket from UKPC for parking in a McDonald's. I actually bought and ate my lunch there, except I have no receipt as the girl didn't give me one (after asking me if I wanted one as well, but then she didn't give me one and I didn't think too much about it as I was hardly going to bring it back as faulty goods in 6 months, right?). I also paid in cash (d'oh!). I can't remember how long you were allowed to park there, so I'm not sure whether or not I exceeded a time limit, but I definitely WAS a customer, although I have no proof. I haven't logged onto the website or contacted them in any other way.

I've seen the sticky about letters I am likely to receive. I'm likely to receive a second letter from the company before they pass it on to anyone else. What then? If they do pass it onto baliffs and then a solicitor, what are the chances of it going to court, and will it result in a bad strike on my credit score? I'll have a bit more of a look on the other threads, but just wanted to check.

Thanks for your help. :T

trisontana

Just ignore them, simple as that. It won't go to court.

InaPickle

trisontana wrote: »

Just ignore them, simple as that. It won't go to court.

Thanks. The only thing is that I live at home and I can well imagine my mum having kittens when the letters start arriving as - especially ones with the word 'baliff' on them!

I parked on the site, and I did leave it after my lunch, and I've seen some people say that constitutes breaking a contract. I'm going to go back to the car park to see what the sign says exactly, and take a photo. The CCTV inside the McDonald's could easily prove that I was there and ate my lunch, but I bet they wouldn't give it to me. Would it be worth ringing them up and providing them with the date/time I would be there, then asking for the CCTV footage? I mean, they aren't the ones issuing the fine and they aren't likely to tip off the company, are they? And the baliffs won't actually call to collect the debt, will they? (I'm more worried about my mum than me.) There's nothing that can go against my credit record/criminal record unless I fail to pay a court-imposed fine, right?

Thanks for the help! :T

Mister_Carson

On the same thoughts as me the sign I had pictures of said "the site" but no definition of what said "site" is.

giraffe69

No bailiff can arrive unless you
a. are taken to court
b. having a finding against you
c. refuse to pay the amount the court sets

Take the advice on here and completely ignore them.

trisontana

You are correct regarding credit records only being damaged if the case goes to court (very unlikely), you lose (very, very unlikely) and then you refuse to pay whatever the judge orders within 28 days.

Keep ignoring them, that way they have no idea of the identity of the driver. If you want to write to someone then direct your letters to McDonald's complaining in the very strongest terms about the treatment of one of their customers.

InaPickle

Mister_Carson wrote: »

On the same thoughts as me the sign I had pictures of said "the site" but no definition of what said "site" is.

Ooh, thanks for that - nice point! :cool:

InaPickle

trisontana wrote: »

You are correct regarding credit records only being damaged if the case goes to court (very unlikely), you lose (very, very unlikely) and then you refuse to pay whatever the judge orders within 28 days.

Keep ignoring them, that way they have no idea of the identity of the driver. If you want to write to someone then direct your letters to McDonald's complaining in the very strongest terms about the treatment of one of their customers.

Not a bad idea. I'm assuming that if I do it now that it can't impact on the case itself in terms of admitting liability? Or rather, that McD's are unlikely give it to the company?

I might wait a while just to be sure.

The irony in all this is that I don't even like McDonalds and was only eating there out of desperation! :rotfl:

pogofish

InaPickle wrote: »

Thanks. The only thing is that I live at home and I can well imagine my mum having kittens when the letters start arriving as - especially ones with the word 'baliff' on them!

There's nothing that can go against my credit record/criminal record unless I fail to pay a court-imposed fine, right?

You are going to get them, so you should bring your ma on here to educate her about the scam. In fact you should inform and educate as many folk as you can.

Yup - To get the attention of a legit bailiff or affect your credit score, you would need to fail in court and fail to pay the court's judgement. However, the chances of this actually happening are miniscule and you won't get a criminal record at all as this is a civil matter. This won't happen - Look-up the letter chain thread for examples of the free toilet paper you are about to get.

Don't waste your time complaining to the store or trying to get footage out of them - If you complain to anyone, try emailing McD's senior management about their using cowboys who try to rip-off customers.

InaPickle

Guys, I LOVE you all - thanks for the help! :lovethoug:D :rotfl:

trisontana

InaPickle wrote: »

Guys, I LOVE you all - thanks for the help! :lovethoug:D :rotfl:

Spread the word to everyone you know about the true facts regarding private parking "tickets". The more people who know the situation, the less money these companies will scam off people.