Car Parking Fine

[AnotherOne4]

Any advice on this will be greatly appreciated :)

I've been issued with a £100 parking fine from MET Parking Services, for visiting a McDonalds drive through twice in a 90 minute period.

Short story:
Entering Visit 1 - Picture of me entering McDonalds car park/drive through captured on camera
Exiting Visit 1 - No evidence of this provided
Entering Visit 2 - No evidence of this provided
Exiting Visit 2 - Picture of me exiting McDonalds Car park/drive through captured on camera.

I visited the drive through twice within a 90 minute period. I know I never actually parked there, as I never ever park in there. I have disputed the fine, but MET have come back stating that there is no video of me leaving (the first time) and entering (the second time)

When I first disputed this, they said they would respond within 10 working days. They took 24 days.

I remember the events of the day in question, and I know 100% that I never parked there.

I have tried to go to POPLA with the dispute, but MET have not given me a verification code.

MET Parking Services have requested I supply them with evidence to prove my case, but I don't have any.

Any advice on what to do now?

[LaurieFairyCake]

Where did you go? Buy anything somewhere else? Go home? Your phone will say where you were on location services

[LaurieFairyCake]

Just to say this is one ticket I would never pay.

They would have to play the entire cctv film for that 90 minutes to a court - and you would see your car on there leaving. Clearly, they're not actively looking for your car to leave. But you would.

[SoupDragon]

They must have proof of the 1st exit and 2nd entrance to know you visited twice in 90 mins.

[SoupDragon]

Or are they trying to fine you for being there too long? I.e. not leaving and returning?

[AnotherOne4]

They claim I was parked on the premises from 10.45am till 12.43pm.

I went through the drive through at 10.45am for coffee's and left.
Went to my parents house.
I returned to the drive through, at approx 12.35pm and ordered lunch, and left.

They claim they don't have me exiting (the first time) and entering (the second time)

[dementedpixie]

How did you pay for both?

[AnotherOne4]

Cash :(

[StealthPolarBear]

Did you go anywhere else in between? Buy fuel?

[Windydaysuponus]

Get your dps to write a statement, signed, saying you were there.

[AthollPlace]

So you’re not actually being fined for visiting twice. You’re being fined for overstaying the 90 minute time limit because they think you were there for two hours. When in actual fact you left and came back.

I’d ask them to prove that you were parked there for the duration and didn’t leave. Definitely don’t pay the fine. Do you have any evidence you were elsewhere between the two visits? Or receipts that prove you visited twice?

[AnotherOne4]

In between the visits I went to my parents house, and my house. I didn't purchase anything, or go anywhere that will have footage of me.

MET Parking want me to provide evidence, but I don't have any.

I writen to MacDonalds asking if they keep evidence/vechicle information of cars that go through the drive through, but they've not gotten back to me.

Windydaysuponus - what is dps?

[StealthPolarBear]

Even if she's got receipts though they just show she bought stuff twice. Which isn't in doubt.

[AnotherOne4]

AthollPlace - Yes, that is correct. I've not paid the fine, and don't intend too. I'm just really annoyed that the camera's having picked me up leaving and re-entering. I know for 100% that I was never parked there. It's a really small car park and parking is a nightmare. I never, ever park in there.

[DoorbellsSleighbellsSchnitzel]

DPs = Dear Parents

[AnotherOne4]

Would they take that as evidence though? (a signed letter from my parents)

[abitoflight]

Is there a location log on your phone? I think that I've seen such a thing on my iPhone in the past but can't see it atm
Someone will know more about this than me hopefully

[Mummy2one2016]

Do you have your receipts from the purchases? They will have timings on them. It might also say drive thru.

[AnotherOne4]

There is a location log on my phone, but it's not accurate and never has been.
I feel so dumb for not having any evidence. My car usually has a dashcam too, but that wasn't on either as the clip broke on it.

[Windydaysuponus]

If it went on court your dps would be credible witnesses.
*Unless they live a life of crime!!

[SoupDragon]

I have tried to go to POPLA with the dispute, but MET have not given me a verification code.

There must be a way to do this without a code or everyone would just refuse to give the code to avoid POPLA getting involved. You might need to use something other than an online form to do so though.

[SoupDragon]

You say the location on your phone is inaccurate but it doesn't have to be totally accurate, just show that you were somewhere else (a drive away, obviously!) during that 90 minutes.

[MarieG10]

Go on Facebook page "Private Parking Tickets- help and advice". The administrators on there are experts on this rip off and will give you advice

[SleepyKat]

It’s known as a double dip.

The fb group “fight your private parking invoice “ is very good. Tony the admin will do your appeal if you want for £10. Or people will give you lots of advice for free on how to do it yourself.

Don’t pay. It’s an invoice not a fine. Doesn’t matter how scary the letters get you can’t get a CCJ or baliffs unless there’s a court order against you which means going to actual court. The firm will send you solicitor Letters which are quite intimidating but it’s just their solicitor/legal firm trying to put the pressure on. I think you would win something like this if it got as far as court and it’s unlikely to.

I’m still getting letters from a similar incident 5 years ago and I keep telling them I’m looking forward to a day out in court and the sooner we go the better. They’ve gone quiet for the last six months....they run out of time after six years and I suspect it will never go to court. But some firms do take people to court. If you ever get a letter which says letter before claim/letter of claim never ignore one of those.

[SleepyKat]

And the court would take a very dim view of them not providing a popla code. Which is something I’ve had. I’ve never been able to do a popla appeal as they ignored all requests for a code. Save any emails/letters you’ve sent asking for this.

[OhioOhioOhio]

Different saga but I was recently in contact with the police.

They said that if they filmed someone shoplifting in a supermarket and it was obvious they had the stolen item, if someone walked in front of the thief and blocked the view of the camera for one second, the court would not accept the video footage as evidence. The one second would create doubt.

Don't pay.