Likelihood of winning against UKPC

jellyroad5

Hi everyone,

I have been getting all sorts of those threats from UKPC / their silly little debt collecting companies regarding a parking charge from about 4 years ago and received yet another one today- a “notice of debt recovery letter” from DCBL.

For context I was parked up and went into McDonald’s late at night and I think I was there around 3 hours (an after work debrief). 

I received letters for like 2 years and have read the newbies thread which was super helpful and has got rid of any doubt about whether I should just pay it or keep ignoring them like I have done up until now.
i just wanted to see if I could get a little advice as In the thread it says to contact the restaurant owner etc who can get it lifted, but with it being 4 years ago I’m not sure that is an option. Also the thread talks about defending the charge, which is the main reason I wanted to make a post as I’m unsure how likely it would be for me to defend my case. 

I personally think having a parking time limit at a restaurant is stupid as they shouldn’t be able to tell us we have a certain amount of time to eat in! This is the only McDonald’s I’ve ever been to in my area that has the parking limit! But I was there for ~3 hours which is clearly over whatever their maximum stay is (I still don’t know). I was thinking of going back to the McDonalds and looking at how clear their signage is - especially late at night- as I have seen a lot of people saying UKPC signage is very inadequate.

For reference I never appealed it in the beginning and just continued to ignore it, this is the first I’ve heard of it in about 2 years too. 

Any advice would be super appreciated, I just don’t want to let it get as far as defending my case and then not stand a chance! Sorry if there are obvious answers:/

Thank you in advance!

Umkomaas

Other than via a landowner cancellation (and I don't expect McDs to be particularly helpful) defending a court claim is the best way to get shot of this. UKPC do almost all their litigation through DCB Legal, and almost all those that are defended robustly - following MSE forum guidance - end in discontinuance. Read the following thread (not all of it, just the first few posts, then dip in and out of it and sample a few other posts in it - there are almost 600 to be getting on with!

If you receive a Letter Of/Before Claim from DCB Legal, or a County Court Claim via the Northampton CNBC, come back to this thread for further advice. 

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6377263/dcb-legal-record-of-private-parking-court-claim-discontinuations/p1 

fisherjim

As above but for background most stand alone McD's I have been to have a 90minute parking limit their whole business model is about fast footfall to maximise profit it's their site their decision.

UKPC is not the usual PPC that Mc Donald's use, they usually use MET Parking, was this a shopping site rather than a stand alone?

Most UKPC signage is inadequate and usually unlit.

jellyroad5

fisherjim said:

As above but for background most stand alone McD's I have been to have a 90minute parking limit their whole business model is about fast footfall to maximise profit it's their site their decision.

UKPC is not the usual PPC that UKPC use, they usually use MET Parking, was this a shopping site rather than a stand alone?

Most UKPC signage is inadequate and usually unlit.

Neither of my local McDonalds have a limit, this is the first one I’ve seen and was only there as it was closest to my work at the time. It was definitely a stand alone with its own car park but is around a couple of other pubs and stuff so maybe UKPC is the one they all use? Thanks for your reply