Parking charge for overstaying at petrol station services

Joedavis

Recently parked at a petrol station near Gatwick at which there is a Pret A Manger attached. I ordered two coffees and pastries and we ate in. I later recieved a parking charge notice for staying too long. We stayed 30 minutes. In this time we consumed food and drink and used the bathrooms. The fine is from Group Nexus. I’ve appealed the fine and the company that manages the site said they won’t do anything about it because we didn’t purchase ‘hot food’.

Is it worth arguing with them or would it be best to ignore? I can’t believe we’ve been fined for this. Seems like a very reasonable amount of time to stay there and this seems like customer harassment. 

James_Poisson

There is no "fine" it's a speculative invoice from a bunch of chancers have you read the newbies thread yet, no one pays these greedy scammers! 

In any case is this the new one at the BP garage North Terminal that just opened in January, the new parking rules according to the Joint COP need a bedding in period and extra signage for up to four months.

Joedavis

I have read the newbies thread and it’s very helpful! Unfortunately, it’s my fathers car and he’s not someone who will ignore letters asking for money. I would have completely ignored the letter but perhaps foolishly, I appealed as I thought the station would quash it. They haven’t and so I’m wondering if I should persist or just leave them to send letters. 

Car1980

So tell them they you were the driver, provide your address and instruct them to ERASE all detail they hold for your father.

Doesn't matter if your address is the same as your father's. He'll still be removed from the equation and letters would have your name on.

prowla

Didn't purchase hot food - that's a load of rubbish!

Le_Kirk

You write that YOU received a PCN but later that it is your father's car.  How did YOU receive a PCN; is it in your name or your father's name as keeper?  You should complain to the petrol station and demand that they get it cancelled as you were a paying customer.  Did the signs say only customers buying hot food could park up and eat it?

Coupon-mad

I'd report this to your MP and ask them to complain. There's no rule about whether your eat-in food is hot or cold. Ludicrous scam.

You will never pay this at any stage.

Joedavis

I complained to BP about this charge. They referred me to MFG, the company who manage the service station site. I complained to them and they’ve told me to take it up with Euro Car Parks. I can’t use their form because the charge was issued by Group Nexus. 

I can’t have the letters of claim etc going to my fathers address as he’ll get angry and will panic. 

I am well aware that I’m being scammed here but I don’t see a way to stop it other than paying. 

Jame4ters

Who are the letters addressed to? Who is the registered keeper?

Joedavis

They are addressed to my father. It’s his car. I haven’t said who was driving. 

kryten3000

Get your father to read the MSE guide (link below) and the website in my signature.  If he still doesn't understand the scam, he can name you as the driver and provide an address for service to discharge any liability.

Or you can leave it in his name and "run" the case on his behalf.  The only thing he would need to do is attend a hearing, but the chances of this are pretty small since Euro Car Parks claims are managed by DCB Legal and these single PCN claims get discontinued.  We even have a thread about these, currently over 750 in the last 2 and a bit years, roughly one per day. 

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/private-parking-tickets/