Met Parking - Request for receipt at Starbucks?

southgate_park

The basis of my appeal is that I was told to use McDonalds car park at Stanstead 
basically so I could wait for a relatives arrival. My wife had done this on several occasions with no problem. I enclose 2 google photos which pretty much illustrates what I say on the day. 1. The sign saying 1 hours free parking (McDonalds) so I’m in the right place, never been here before. 2. The car park was full, but I could see there were spaces further down the road from where I entered. I parked up! I considered buying some food from McD’s but the wireless was playing up on my phone, I decided to go over to McD’s - again took a while to get my order sorted via app on phone.
Received call from relative and left. Starbucks significance didn’t even register but MET have sent me 45 signs with Starbucks on! They want a Starbucks receipt because apparently I’d parked in an SB car park !!!!!!?
so I have 14 days ? Do I get evidence for McD’s ? This is absurd.

Coupon-mad

Yes but it's not a new scam: surely you've read all the posts about this place and found Joe Lycett's video?!

southgate_park

Seen the video, but I’m not sure how to proceed I can send a copy of a bank statement to show I was at McDonalds that’s pretty much my defence. 

southgate_park

I actually wrote to Met Parking thinking the following was my appeal …. I am writing as the registered keeper of vehicle XXXXX to dispute the validity of Parking Charge Notice XXXXX

I deny any liability or contractual agreement. No admission is made as to who was driving, and you must not assume the driver’s identity.

Your PCN is vague and fails to clearly explain the allegation. It states that the vehicle remained on site for 50 minutes “being longer than the period of parking that had been paid for or without authorisation.” This wording is unclear. Was a payment made? What duration of stay was permitted? What signage supports this?

I require the following in order to understand your position:

A clear close-up image of the signage at 346 Southgate Park, as it appeared on 12th XXX 2025, including terms and conditions.

A full explanation of the alleged breach.

If the site uses a Pay & Display machine, the payment log showing partial VRNs and the amount paid on that date.

If the charge is based on overstay, provide the grace period allowed by the landowner, as required by the British Parking Association Code of Practice.

Until this information is provided, no liability is accepted. If this appeal is rejected, I require a POPLA code so the matter may be referred for independent adjudication.

Sincerely,

M 

Registered Keeper

yet they ask in order to consider my appeal they want a Starbucks receipt ? I didn’t go to SB because I assumed I was in McDonalds car park. So I send them evidence of what? That I went to McDonalds it’s ridiculous!?

Gr1pr

Ridiculous or not, it's a well known scam site,  treated as 2 separate car parks,  for 2 different competing businesses

If you parked in the Starbucks customer section,  they want proof of patronage,  ergo a receipt from a purchase made at that business  !  Not from a different competing business.

I suggest that you watch the Joe Lycett video again 

southgate_park

It gets worse every time I see it, still looking for my body double : )

southgate_park

I’ve 14 days to reply and to prove I was a Starbucks customer? 1. I didn’t know I was a customer of anybody let alone Starbucks, 2. I did think I was in McDonalds CP and I had an hour free. I was going to tell them I went in McD’s but why bother as the alleged offence is that I parked illegally because I have no receipt? 

Gr1pr

There was no offence committed,  just an alleged breach of the parking contract on that private property 

Definitely not parked illegally either,  no motoring laws were broken 

The allegation will be that the driver parked in the section reserved for Starbucks customers only,  but then left that site and entered the neighbouring site to go to the competing business

Each business will probably have an IPAD or something similar in order to register for free car parking in their designated section. They want proof of purchase at Starbucks in lieu of not registering the VRM in Starbucks due to parking in the Starbucks customers section 

Your NTK PCN will tell you what the alleged breach was

southgate_park

I left after 50 minutes but I should have put my reg into their system ! 

This is on sign they sent me of, along with the 45 others.

MAXIMUM FREE STAY IS 60 MINUTES, YOU MAY EXTEND YOUR STAY UP TO A TOTAL OF 3 HOURS BY USING THE PAY BY PHONE SERVICE, IF YOU WISH TO PARK HERE WHILE YOU VISIT LOCATIONS NOT IN SOUTHGATE PARK, SUCH AS MCDONALD'S, YOU MUST PAY FROM YOUR VEHICLE ENTERS THE CAR PARK.

Gr1pr

Yeah, it's a well known issue,  as seen in the following threads from last year 

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6507793/challanging-parking-ticket-issed-by-med-parking-in-stansted-mcdonalds-starbucks-southgate-park

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6578300/stansted-starbucks-met-parking-fine

Copy and paste the exact details of the alleged breach shown on the parking charge notice , probably similar to these case examples below

https://www.ftla.uk/private-parking-tickets/met-parking-services-southgate-park-stansted-airport-starbucksmcdonalds-notice-t/

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6543440/met-parking-stansted-southgate-park

southgate_park

Thankyou 🤙