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Main site > Forums > Household & Travel > Motoring > Parking Tickets, Fines & Parking > Met Parking Services
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    • By Kittenribbons 13th Nov 19, 8:07 PM
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      What's this?

    Kittenribbons
    Met Parking Services
    • #1
    • 13th Nov 19, 8:07 PM
    Met Parking Services 13th Nov 19 at 8:07 PM
    Hi there,



    I am new here and really need some help. Situation is:



    - Keeper received a Parking Charge Notice from Met Parking Services for parking in elec bay at Asda. Keeper was not the driver but did not notify the driver. (Long story: Keeper had moved out three weeks prior and driver was ex partner.)
    - Keeper has now received follow up notice that debt passed to a recovery agency 'Debt Recovery Plus' who have doubled the charge. They say they will recommend Met Parking take court action if unpaid.



    Keeper and Driver on good terms but neither wish to pay if avoidable. Driver parked for 20 minutes whilst using baby changing facilities as car par packed, and rows of empty electric bays. both are regular store customers.



    Really want to avoid this going to court or further fees!



    Thanks in advance

    Sorry!

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    • By Coupon-mad 14th Nov 19, 1:09 AM
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      What's this?

    Coupon-mad
    • #2
    • 14th Nov 19, 1:09 AM
    • #2
    • 14th Nov 19, 1:09 AM
    Complain to the retail park owner/management, by Googling the name of the place.

    MET do not do court, and if they start trying, we win 99% of defended cases here with no CCJ risk for anyone, so there is nothing to fear.

    If the keeper wants to name the driver because the driver is the more robust person and on this forum(?) then do that now, so the person who won't fold and pay the scam, is the one getting the letters. If that is the keeper than don't name the driver!
    “
    'Debt Recovery Plus'
    ”
    Please now read post #4 of the NEWBIES thread and ignore DRP & Zenith letters.
    PRIVATE 'PCN'? DON'T PAY BUT DON'T IGNORE IT UNLESS IN SCOTLAND OR NI
    TWO Clicks needed Look up, top of the page:
    Main site>>Forums>Household & Travel>Motoring>Parking Tickets Fines & Parking - read the NEWBIES THREAD

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    • By Kittenribbons 14th Nov 19, 6:42 AM
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      What's this?

    Kittenribbons
    • #3
    • 14th Nov 19, 6:42 AM
    • #3
    • 14th Nov 19, 6:42 AM
    Thank you so much for the reply. This is really worrying me alot so I do appreciate the reassurance.



    The driver is on this forum. The driver has better credit than the keeper which is the only consideration - both are robust but if it came to a court situation, the driver would attned. I don't know if this means this should be made clearer now.



    The thing is, neither the driver nor the keeper have responded to any correspondence or made any appeals so far. Does this put them in a difficult position at all? At this stage both have ignored everything and there are concerns that if it does go to court, their position will be weakened because of it. Should they really just ignore everything hereon?


    In the complaint to the retail park manager, should it be made explicit who was the keeper/ driver. Can they help with having the fee waived?



    Again, thank you so much for all your advice so far.

    Sorry!

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    • By The Deep 14th Nov 19, 9:12 AM
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      What's this?

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    • #4
    • 14th Nov 19, 9:12 AM
    • #4
    • 14th Nov 19, 9:12 AM
    In the unlikely event thst this does go to court, whom would be the better person to defend, you or the driver? If the latter , then give the PPC his/her name.

    Nine times out of ten these tickets are scams, so consider complaining to your MP after the election, it can cause the scammer extra costs and work.

    Parliament is well aware of the MO of these private parking companies, many of whom are former clampers, and on 15th March 2019 a Bill was enacted to curb the excesses of these shysters. Codes of Practice are being drawn up, an independent appeals service will be set up, and access to the DVLA's date base more rigorously policed, persistent offenders denied access to the DVLA database and unable to operate.

    Hopefully life will become impossible for the worst of these scammers, but until this is done you should still complain to your MP, citing the new legislation.

    http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2019/8/contents/enacted

    Just as the clampers were finally closed down, so hopefully will many of these Private Parking Companies.
    You never know how far you can go until you go too far.

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    • By Ralph-y 14th Nov 19, 10:21 AM
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      What's this?

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    • #5
    • 14th Nov 19, 10:21 AM
    • #5
    • 14th Nov 19, 10:21 AM
    " Keeper received a Parking Charge Notice from Met Parking Services for parking in elec bay at Asda."


    can you please confirm this as Asda don't use Met a lot



    if it is Asda then complaints to the store manager ... not customer services. and the CEO



    Ralph

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    • By Kittenribbons 14th Nov 19, 12:32 PM
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      What's this?

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    • #6
    • 14th Nov 19, 12:32 PM
    • #6
    • 14th Nov 19, 12:32 PM
    Thank you very much for these responses. confirming this was Met Parking, via Asda car park.



    So my steps are:



    1. Write to Asda Manager and CEO. Question: should they be asked to ask Met to stop the action? (sorry, just not sure what they can do)

    2. Write to MP as per above.

    3. Write to Met and give them the name of the driver. What else to say?



    Other questions:

    Should driver/keeper write to Met and ask them to revoke the ticket, or just go via Asda? Are there any templates for letters such as these. concerns are that as no correspondence has been sent by driver/ keeper so far, there is no record of any 'defence' and if this goes to court there will be no recoerd (or does this make it harder?!) The defence is that there were no other parking spaces and it was urgent, and the costs have escalated and are wholly disproportionate. Should driver/keeper write to Met and make this defence now or leave it?



    THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO ALL WHO HAVE RESPONDED!



    Sorry. so many questions!



    Thank you

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    • By KeithP 14th Nov 19, 12:37 PM
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      What's this?

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    • #7
    • 14th Nov 19, 12:37 PM
    • #7
    • 14th Nov 19, 12:37 PM
    “
    Should they really just ignore everything hereon?
    Originally posted by Kittenribbons ”
    No, and that was not the advice given.

    The guidance was to ignore debt collectors letters - as described in post #4 of the NEWBIES thread.

    Do not ignore a Letter of Claim or official court correspondence.


    “
    In the complaint to the retail park manager, should it be made explicit who was the keeper/ driver. Can they help with having the fee waived?
    Originally posted by Kittenribbons ”
    Yes they can. Why not go to the Asda store and ask to speak to the manager? Tell him that 'we' - use the word 'we' - visited the store. Tell him that 'we' shop here regularly, show him receipts or bank statements, but will have to reconsider our options now that we have found out about the £100 surcharge. Remind him that other supermarkets are available.
    Last edited by KeithP; 14-11-2019 at 12:40 PM.
    .

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    • By Coupon-mad 14th Nov 19, 12:43 PM
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      What's this?

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    • #8
    • 14th Nov 19, 12:43 PM
    • #8
    • 14th Nov 19, 12:43 PM
    “
    In the complaint to the retail park manager, should it be made explicit who was the keeper/ driver. Can they help with having the fee waived?
    ”
    How can any newbie ask that, given the VERY CLEAR and massively long and regularly updated thread linked in the NEWBIES thread, called:

    SUCCESSFUL COMPLAINTS ABOUT PPCS

    ...which is choc-full of posts happily reporting that retailers have cancelled scam PCNs.

    Not sure why I bother to post it if people don't read it and use it.
    PRIVATE 'PCN'? DON'T PAY BUT DON'T IGNORE IT UNLESS IN SCOTLAND OR NI
    TWO Clicks needed Look up, top of the page:
    Main site>>Forums>Household & Travel>Motoring>Parking Tickets Fines & Parking - read the NEWBIES THREAD

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    • By Kittenribbons 14th Nov 19, 7:52 PM
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      What's this?

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    • #9
    • 14th Nov 19, 7:52 PM
    • #9
    • 14th Nov 19, 7:52 PM
    Keith - thank you very much for that helpful advice. They will speak to the manager and see how that goes.



    They were confused about the Debt Collector part as there is conflicting advice on the Newbies thread on this (whether to ignore vs respond robustly).

    Sorry!

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    • By Kittenribbons 14th Nov 19, 7:59 PM
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      What's this?

    Kittenribbons
    Hi Coupon, I'm afraid it is so long that it took some time to find the part that fit this query.



    This is their plan:

    1. speak to Asda manager. Write to Asda manager.

    2. Write to Met and challenge (its out of date, but worth a shot)

    3. Ignore debt collector.

    4. Attempt out of date POPLA appeal.



    They have to admit to being worried enough to consider just paying it at this point!



    Question: Are judges any more likely to grant in favour of Met due to the nature of the alleged contravention, ie parking in elec bay? ie if governments incentivise this, are they more likely to uphold complaints which contravene this?



    <<<Never wanted to be a parking expert.

    Sorry!

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    • By Coupon-mad 14th Nov 19, 11:04 PM
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      What's this?

    Coupon-mad
    “
    I'm afraid it is so long that it took some time to find the part that fit this query.
    ”
    You know you can search a thread? How about 'dear sirs' as your search term.
    PRIVATE 'PCN'? DON'T PAY BUT DON'T IGNORE IT UNLESS IN SCOTLAND OR NI
    TWO Clicks needed Look up, top of the page:
    Main site>>Forums>Household & Travel>Motoring>Parking Tickets Fines & Parking - read the NEWBIES THREAD

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    • By Kittenribbons 15th Nov 19, 5:33 AM
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      What's this?

    Kittenribbons
    Hi Coupon,



    That specific search did not work, but already went through the thread. It took some time to find the specific instructions for persons who were too late to appeal and had not corresponded so far. There is some conflicting advice (eg do not respond to debt collectors vs respond robustly with cease and desist language), but enough to (hopefully) make a good and informed plan.

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    • By Redx 15th Nov 19, 10:02 AM
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      What's this?

    Redx
    If MET fail to issue a popla code then there is zero chance of appealing to popla , no code equals no appeal

    For the 6.5 years I have been coming here we have been telling everyone to ignore the debt collectors , never to respond to debt collectors , it's that simple

    The debt can be denied to the scammer PPC , robustly , as they have the power to cancel the PCN , ditto for the landowner

    The parking is controlled by Asda head office in Leeds , so write a complaint on their website , raise a complaint option , you will get a complaint logged reference number

    They have the power to cancel the PCN , although Parking Eye are their main contractor , not MET , but they do operate a few contractors with legacy agreements

    Your points 1 and 2 and 3 are valid
    Point 4 is only valid if MET actually issue a popla code
    Newbies !!
    Private Parking ticket? check the 2 sticky threads by coupon-mad and crabman in the Parking Tickets, Fines & Parking Board forum for the latest advice or maybe try pepipoo or C.A.G. or legal beagles forums if you need legal advice as well because this parking forum is not about debt collectors or legal matters per se

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    • By Coupon-mad 15th Nov 19, 5:26 PM
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      What's this?

    Coupon-mad
    “
    Hi Coupon,



    That specific search did not work, but already went through the thread.

    It took some time to find the specific instructions for persons who were too late to appeal and had not corresponded so far. There is some conflicting advice (eg do not respond to debt collectors vs respond robustly with cease and desist language), but enough to (hopefully) make a good and informed plan.
    Originally posted by Kittenribbons ”
    I don't understand.

    What you describe there is the NEWBIES thread, not the one I mentioned.
    PRIVATE 'PCN'? DON'T PAY BUT DON'T IGNORE IT UNLESS IN SCOTLAND OR NI
    TWO Clicks needed Look up, top of the page:
    Main site>>Forums>Household & Travel>Motoring>Parking Tickets Fines & Parking - read the NEWBIES THREAD

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    • By Kittenribbons 18th Nov 19, 4:16 PM
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      What's this?

    Kittenribbons
    Hi everyone


    I tried to speak with the store manager. He claims that the land is owened by another company (its a retail park) so he can't help. I can try to contact them but frankly I have no idea who they are and don't hold out much hope, given they dont have a big recognisable brand.



    I wrote a draft to Met Parking, first asking for proof and then the right to appeal, on the basis that the correspondence was not passed to the recipient until months later (he had moved out). FYI I think they do have 'proof' at least photos that the car was where they said it was.



    I decided not to engage with the Debt Recovery Agent for now, based on advice.

    Sorry!

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    • By Coupon-mad 18th Nov 19, 4:18 PM
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      What's this?

    Coupon-mad
    Does the retail park have a name but no website or 'contact us' that you can find?
    PRIVATE 'PCN'? DON'T PAY BUT DON'T IGNORE IT UNLESS IN SCOTLAND OR NI
    TWO Clicks needed Look up, top of the page:
    Main site>>Forums>Household & Travel>Motoring>Parking Tickets Fines & Parking - read the NEWBIES THREAD

    Sorry!

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    • By Kittenribbons 18th Nov 19, 9:50 PM
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      What's this?

    Kittenribbons
    Remarkably not. It is not a branded retail park. I visited the store again today in person and was redirected to the site management which I also visited in person today. The car park is available to all customers for the seven or so outlets nearby (restaurants, cinema etc.)



    It is managed by a known letting agent who hold the contract with Met Parking. So there is the landowner, who hands over the management of the car park to a letting agent, who hire Met Parking. Ugh.



    However the sign post for the car park clearly says 'Asda car park' which seems very misleading. You could absolutely assume you are entering a car park owned by Asda.

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    • By KeithP 18th Nov 19, 9:57 PM
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      What's this?

    KeithP
    Where is this car park?
    .

    Sorry!

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    • By Coupon-mad 18th Nov 19, 10:42 PM
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      What's this?

    Coupon-mad
    The complaint goes to the letting agent, in writing. Has that been tried yet, saying how your family would have spent a four figure sum between them at those outlets this Christmas, New Year and including the January sales in the stores, but this horrendous, threatening fine from MET parking has shocked you all...so much so that you are frightened and angry and are planning not to dare to return if this is how genuine customers are treated.
    PRIVATE 'PCN'? DON'T PAY BUT DON'T IGNORE IT UNLESS IN SCOTLAND OR NI
    TWO Clicks needed Look up, top of the page:
    Main site>>Forums>Household & Travel>Motoring>Parking Tickets Fines & Parking - read the NEWBIES THREAD

    Sorry!

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    • By Kittenribbons 26th Nov 19, 7:31 PM
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      What's this?

    Kittenribbons
    No letter to the letting agent yet. There has been no response from the representative as yet (who said it would be looked into and followed up with a call.)



    So far letters have gone to:

    Asda branch and CEO
    Met Parking
    Debt Recovery Service.



    No responses to any as of yet.



    Next step will be letter to the letting agent.



    Thank you very much for the advice!

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