Legal parking fine?

Kiddo85

Hi guys,
Can see this forum gets a fair amount of these but thought I would ask anyways.
I've received a parking fine from MET Parking Services, I parked in the Gatwick McDonalds for according to their footage 73 minutes. I wasn't aware there was a limited stay while eating while eating in, I must have missed the signs. Even so £50 before 14 days seems quite high for over staying by 13 measly minutes.
Should I just pay the fine? I'm in the initial process of looking for my first house and am worried court proceedings if I don't pay could harm my credit rating.
Sorry for the ramble.
Many thanks, John

forgotmyname

Have you seen the huge parking fine board at the top of the motoring section?

Tried specsavers?

You cannot harm your credit rating from court procedings. You can only do that if you dont pay what a court instructs you to.

Private company wont bother. New laws and new complaints procedure etc etc.. Costs them too much.

spacey2012

Who is the registered keeper ?

Kiddo85

I am the registered keeper.
Sorry I didn't see the post at the top, just googled Met parking services and an old forum post from here came up.

spacey2012

Then Ignore them and download the letter chain so you can see what to expect from them in way of silly letters.
We see around 10-20 of these a day, everyone is told the same IGNORE and nobody has ever been back to say they carried out any of the threats.

Kiddo85

Really even though there were signs there (albeit not the easiest to read)? Where would I download this letter chain?
Thank you for your help:money:

pogofish

Look at the "Letter Chain" threads in the Parking Forum!

And yes, MET and indeed all Private Parking Companies (PPCs) are effectively scammers, who use a veil of legalese and outright threats to try and scare people into paying them.

The best and fastest resolving option in most situations is to IGNORE them completely - any contact only prolongs the attempts to scam you.

arcon5

Perhaps write to McDonald's complaining about it, I though McDonald's allowed 90 mins free though...

Kiddo85

I can't say for sure, but the letter says 60 minutes free stay. What should I write and say to McDonald's ? I'm just concerned that as this McDonald's is adjourned to Gatwick airport I could get a follow up? I understand MET services are an approved operator from BPA.
-John

sunshinetours

Then follow the BPA approved operator link in the article mentioned

pogofish

Kiddo85 wrote: »

I understand MET services are an approved operator from BPA.
-John

This is as meaningless as the rest of the rubbish they spout.

BPA have no authority whatsoever, they are simply a trade body for the scammers.