Debt recovery plus over stay charge, I did not overstay!

Whatshouldidonext

So yesterday I got home from work to a debt recovery plus letter stating that I owe £170 for overstaying in a McDonald’s on 4/09/21 and it’s too late to appeal as I’ve not responded to the first 2 letters sent. 

1. this is the first letter I’ve received from them, not had any previously 
2. I’ve not parked in a McDonald’s car park for at least 2 years!! 

I spoke to them yesterday and they said the camera had picked me up and I’d been in the car park for 7 hours… obviously I haven’t their is a good chance I’d been twice in the same day. 

He said I’ve 2 options, first is pay the fine, second is seek legal advice. 

If I don’t pay will it have a negative affect on my credit rating? 

Any advice would be much appreciated.  

cajef

You need to post this in the correct forum.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/parking-tickets-fines-parking

Ectophile

If I don’t pay will it have a negative affect on my credit rating?

Only if they take you to court, and win the case.  And only then if you don't pay up within the time the court allows you.

TELLIT01

Tell them you want photographic evidence that you were in the car park.  Number plate readers can, and do, mis-read.

neilmcl

Whatshouldidonext said:

So yesterday I got home from work to a debt recovery plus letter stating that I owe £170 for overstaying in a McDonald’s on 4/09/21 and it’s too late to appeal as I’ve not responded to the first 2 letters sent. 

1. this is the first letter I’ve received from them, not had any previously 
2. I’ve not parked in a McDonald’s car park for at least 2 years!! 

I spoke to them yesterday and they said the camera had picked me up and I’d been in the car park for 7 hours… obviously I haven’t their is a good chance I’d been twice in the same day. 

He said I’ve 2 options, first is pay the fine, second is seek legal advice. 

If I don’t pay will it have a negative affect on my credit rating? 

Any advice would be much appreciated.  

So which is it, you can't have both.

Whatshouldidonext

neilmcl said:

Whatshouldidonext said:

So yesterday I got home from work to a debt recovery plus letter stating that I owe £170 for overstaying in a McDonald’s on 4/09/21 and it’s too late to appeal as I’ve not responded to the first 2 letters sent. 

1. this is the first letter I’ve received from them, not had any previously 
2. I’ve not parked in a McDonald’s car park for at least 2 years!! 

I spoke to them yesterday and they said the camera had picked me up and I’d been in the car park for 7 hours… obviously I haven’t their is a good chance I’d been twice in the same day. 

He said I’ve 2 options, first is pay the fine, second is seek legal advice. 

If I don’t pay will it have a negative affect on my credit rating? 

Any advice would be much appreciated.  

So which is it, you can't have both.

A good chance I went to the stated McDonald’s on the stated day. Good chance I went twice in the same day but only through the drive through and did not park 

TadleyBaggie

So can you see two transactions on your credit/debit card for that day for that particular McDonalds (assuming you didn't use cash...who would at at drive through?).

Ergates

neilmcl said:

Whatshouldidonext said:

So yesterday I got home from work to a debt recovery plus letter stating that I owe £170 for overstaying in a McDonald’s on 4/09/21 and it’s too late to appeal as I’ve not responded to the first 2 letters sent. 

1. this is the first letter I’ve received from them, not had any previously 
2. I’ve not parked in a McDonald’s car park for at least 2 years!! 

I spoke to them yesterday and they said the camera had picked me up and I’d been in the car park for 7 hours… obviously I haven’t their is a good chance I’d been twice in the same day. 

He said I’ve 2 options, first is pay the fine, second is seek legal advice. 

If I don’t pay will it have a negative affect on my credit rating? 

Any advice would be much appreciated.  

So which is it, you can't have both.

You don't need to park at McDonalds to go to McDonalds.