UKPC didn't appeal Debt Recovery Plus, please help!

imfromyorks

I have a parking charge from UKPC for parking over the allowed time which I haven't got any clue before that the place only allows 90 minutes (McDonald's) and I am a regular customer there that sometimes I took some work to do in there.
I felt so bad and thought it is very unfair. I normally went there to do some work, buy something eat and drink and the place was always quiet, not very busy as I normally avoided the peak time, i.e. lunch time.
I received a letter from UKPC instructing me to pay £100 or £50 if I pay within a period of time. I came to search here and read the old thread where there's suggestion to ignore them.
I received 2 more letters from UKPC and still ignored them without taking action on the appeal.
Today I received a letter from Debt Recovery Plus saying they have been hired by UKPC and they instructed me to pay £149.

Please can anyone advise how to defend myself at this stage? I don't have enough money to pay them besides I think it is very unfair and I always thought McDonald's is a very friendly place where I can take some work to do and enjoy nice food and coffee.
I am very upset now.
:(:(:(

tykesi

You need to read the NEWBIES thread at the top of the parking board or just do a forum seach for debt recovery plus.

bazster

Complain to McDonalds. Ignore UKPC and DRP except in the vanishingly small eventuality of you receiving actual court papers. UKPC doesn't do court.

Are you sure it was McDonald's, only you said something about "nice food"?

fisherjim

Go and make a big fuss at Mc Donald's tell them you are a regular customer, don't get fobbed off with its not their problem its not their car park etc.
UKPC are useless so are Debt Recovery Plus and so are zenith who will pretend all sorts of Armageddon will unfold if you don't pay up. But you would have known all this had you actually read the forum more closely;)

imfromyorks

I've read old threads. There are lots. Some suggested not to contact anyone. So I just ignored. Now, should I contact McDonald's?
I like their food and coffee. They provide free wifi so it's a good place for work & thinking especially when it's quiet.
Please anyone confirm I should go to McDonald's? Don't McDonald's hire these people?
I went back to look if there is any notice about parking. There are two, one at the entrance and the other one at the bottom. But I didn't really see them to be honest. If I saw theses notices I wouldn't park longer than 90 minutes.
P.S. They caught me from CCTV.

Fruitcake

Two of the regulars on this site have told you to go to MaDonalds. You have also been advised to read the Sticky thread for Newbies.
You have asked for help and been given most excellent advice. Please take that advice and then come back here if you need more help.

You say you have read old threads and therefore have old information. The law changed in 2012 with the introduction of the POFA and advice on here changed accordingly. Please now read the new advice.

Umkomaas

Why read old threads over current threads? You'd have to have gone back over 15 months to find any thread that tells anyone to ignore any PPC in England or Wales.

Why are you doubting what both bazster and fisherjim have advised? Both are experienced advisers; if you continue to ask for double/triple confirmation like this, most people will say 'I'm out'.

You were not caught by CCTV - your number plate was recorded by ANPR - totally different kettle of Big Mac!

Tykesi has also given you advice and I can confirm that this again is correct advice for you to follow.

Redx

so you did all that reading of old threads for nothing

all you had to do was read one thread, the top one , by coupon-mad, tells you everything you need to know AND is up to date

just do as everyone here has told you, and dont assume, nobody gets caught by cctv , its either anpr fixed cameras (as in this case) , or by mobile camera cars using the same anpr (like JLA) or idiots parking in company cars or vans or hiding behind the bins and taking photos using digital cameras (like at B&M stockport or in Haworth) , usually of you walking off site ot no valid permit or its slipped down the dash or fluttered out the door

so read and follow the NEWBIES sticky thread, the one every newbie should read and not old or out of date threads that nobody reads as its ancient history and usually no longer relevant

imfromyorks

Ok I will do. Please don't get mad of me. I was a bit confused. I'm going to talk to McDonald's manager with all the letters I have and come back to let you know.
Thank you.
P.S. Please forgive me. I don't know who's the regular users here.

Btw I read old threads from google. I didn't come straight to browse in here. I'm new to the forum and only knew about this place from google.
Also, I believe it was CCTV or kind of camera because they sent me the pictures of my car at the time I arrived and left McDonald's and it was quite correct.

Umkomaas

OK - you need also to read (a few times) the NEWBIES sticky, especially the debt collector section (post #4).

This was written by one of the foremost experts in the country on private parking issues (Coupon-mad), so please don't come back asking if it's correct!

You get a good idea about how experienced posters are on this forum by checking their post counts, which show in the block under their forum name to the left-hand side of their posts. Not infallible, but a pretty good guide.

2010Simbababy

Hi All,
Can you help, being new to this site (today) i am looking for advice on the above companies, i received a parking ticket at Wrightington hospital in Wigan, i was not parked in a bay as there were none available, i parked at the side of one of the buildings where i have parked many times before without getting a ticket, i also had my wifes disabled badges on view, i never paid the fine and ignored any further letters from Legion Parking, now i have received one from DRP, not knowing rules had changed i never contacted Legion to appeal, i have spoken to DRP to tell them i won't be paying the fine.
Where do i stand, will they follow up the threats of court action & ccj's. Any help is appreciated.