MET at Virgin Active

NaughtyNan

Hi everyone,
I am new year, hope everyone is having a good Easter.
Two days ago I had a parking charge notice from MET for parking in disabled bay at the club for £60 if paid within two weeks going up to £100 afterwards.
I actually didn't park in the bay I only waited there for like 5 minutes. Let me explain briefly:
My son and I are both members at Virgin Active in West London and almost %99 of times I go with my son, on occasions %1 on my own. He is 20years old, has developmental delay and I am his full time carer. He used to have blue badge years ago when he was younger and couldn't walk now he can so they stopped his blue badge. Anyway I never park in disable bay, I always part in normal parking areas of the gym's parking and never have problems. I am also quite sensitive for disabled bays to be used properly. Last Wednesday 5th, I came out of the changing room my son who normally either waits for me in reception or comes out so we go out together. As I was a bit earlier this time, about 10 minutes to 10 pm at night and the lights is sometimes turned early near closing time and puts parking area in pitch black darkness, which my son hates and gets upset and anxious. I got the car and brought it near the reception entrance which is a bit lighter from lights of the reception, where the disabled bays are. There was hardly any car there and no disabled driver waiting to use the space so I wasn't robbing a genuine disabled badge holder of a space. It was 10 pm now and I couldn't see my son coming out, I got worried thinking he might have gone to the caf! to look for me and get more anxious. So thinking it was near closing time, no one there I pop in and get my son. We come out and go home nothing out of ordinary till two days ago when I got the fine.
The parking attendant has taken photo of my car 'parked' in disable bay and the letter says I have broken the terms and conditions so I must pay. I lodged my appeal, explained this circumstances, even attached letters of my son's disability benefit and my carer's allowance. I said I was picking up a vulnerable person. The first photo taken by the attendant was 21:48:45 and last one at 21:54:44.
I also emailed the manager at the gym on the 12th (same day I got the fine and same day I filled Met's online form) and explained everything as I have done here to him as well. He was concerned at the behaviour of the staff and said to provide the notice number so he can sort it for me.
Today I had an email from MET and my appeal has been rejected, again reiterating that I disregarded their terms and condition at the car park. I have looked at the car park signage but I haven't got a photograph, I might go in today and take a photo of it but frankly the times are not really mentioned, I can post it on here later on if it helps and might help my case.
Anyway way they have given me a popla code as their email says that the appeal is now closed and I have to pay them either £60 or £100 after two weeks and if I don't pay it they take me to court. I phoned the club but the manager is not in today and its Easter holidays so he might not be back until Tuesday but hoping he gets in touch because I left a message and emailed him.
Now I apologize it got very long there but I thought it would be helpful. What should I do now? wait for the manager to see what he says? Does he have the power to intervene? He said in his original email that he was going to speak to the company as he didn't like the behaviour of the MET staff.
What is the experience of people on here regarding MET and these popla appeals? Do I have a chance to win?
I appreciate any help.

Coupon-mad

MET don't take anyone to court.

POPLA time! So read post #3 of the NEWBIES thread and yes, you can wait 28 days to see if the Manager cancels this first because the code lasts for a month.

What is the experience of people on here regarding MET and these popla appeals? Do I have a chance to win?

Never seen one lost v MET. Six minutes to pick up a person from the gym means that MET have failed to allow any grace period, so you will find some recent great POPLA appeal examples by searching:

'POPLA Grace period Kelvin Reynolds'.

You will win, but do show is the draft by the end of the month, so we can help make it stronger (but I would expect the Manager to cancel).

standuptobullies

I've had one from MET - they recorded the wrong number by speech recognition then gave me a parking ticket and are claiming that they are entitled to get paid for this as well!

Coupon-mad

standuptobullies wrote: »

I've had one from MET - they recorded the wrong number by speech recognition then gave me a parking ticket and are claiming that they are entitled to get paid for this as well!

Have you got your POPLA code yet and were you careful not to imply who parked?

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5625622

Update your thread at POPLA stage.