MET Parking - lost the original letter :-/

vurted

Hi,
Need a little advice having lost the original letter received from MET parking about an 11 minute over stay at McDonalds car park three weeks ago.
Is it best to contact MET and ask for a copy of the original letter or wait for a next letter?
Many thanks

Umkomaas

You need to get an appeal in to them to secure a POPLA code to get this quashed at POPLA. Try the MET website first just using your VRM to see if this brings up your details. You'll be looking there for a MET reference number in order to appeal to them - but this may be a long shot.

If so write to them asking for a duplicate Notice to Keeper (do not phone them!). But don't expect them to be rushing to accommodate you.

You have 28 days to appeal to MET, if you don't make that deadline, obtaining a POPLA code from them will be an uphill task.

vurted

Thanks for the response.
Giving we are probably 21 days in writing to them will probably not get a response.
Why should we not phone?
Thanks

vurted

Follow up:
As far as I can see there is no way to gain the MET reference number just with the VRM :-(

Umkomaas

vurted wrote: »

Thanks for the response.
Giving we are probably 21 days in writing to them will probably not get a response.
Why should we not phone?
Thanks

The chances are you won't get through, but if you do they are likely to put you under pressure to either pay up there and then, or they will try to extract from you the name of the driver. It is unlikely to be a pleasant phone call.

But as you're in a potentially legal situation you need to have everything in writing.

Why not just send them the blue text initial appeal from the NEWBIES FAQ sticky, post #1, just using your VRM, your name and address (as if you've simply forgotten to include the MET reference number) and see if you can fish out your POPLA code that way.

They don't want to give out POPLA codes (as they can cost them serious lost revenue), so if they can time you out of the 28-day turn around date, they can claim you are too late to receive a POPLA code.

vurted

Thanks for the replies again!

Just to be clear, do you mean the letter I pasted in below, and just leave the PCN number out.

There is no way I can send this via the online appeal form as you need the PCN to submit.
Can this be sent to info@metparking.com or is it better to post it.
If posting should this be sent by registered or special delivery?

Thanks again!

(I still cannot believe these firms exist....)

===================================================
Dear Sirs

Re: PCN No. ....................

I challenge this 'PCN' as keeper of the car.

I believe that your signs fail the test of 'large lettering' and prominence, as established in ParkingEye Ltd v Beavis. Your unremarkable and obscure signs were not seen by the driver, are in very small print and the terms are not readable to drivers.

There will be no admissions as to who was driving and no assumptions can be drawn. You must either rely on the POFA 2012 and offer me a POPLA code, or cancel the charge.

Should you obtain the registered keeper's data from the DVLA without reasonable cause, please take this as formal notice that I reserve the right to sue your company and the landowner/principal, for a sum not less than £250 for any Data Protection Act breach. Your aggressive business practice and unwarranted threat of court for the ordinary matter of a driver using my car without causing any obstruction nor offence, has caused significant distress to me.

I do not give you consent to process data relating to me or this vehicle. I deny liability for any sum at all and you must consider this letter a Section 10 Notice under the DPA. You are required to respond within 21 days. I have kept proof of submission of this appeal and look forward to your reply.

Yours faithfully,
===================================================

vurted

ps, having tried to phone you were right, office hours 10-4, but the office is currently closed at 10:30am....

nosferatu1001

They must have a way of accepting postal appeals, so I would use that

Send it FIRST CLASS, from a post office, and get FREE PROOF OF POSTING. Never ever use recorded or special.

Coupon-mad

And obviously give your name, address and the car VRN and location of parking event.