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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have given the woman my parking ticket?

153 replies

Whereareyougoingmouse · 28/10/2017 17:43

I went to a car park today and put 4 hours on the car. we only ended up staying 45 mins as my DD had a major melt down which couldn't be tamed so we decided to head home.

As I was exiting the car park I saw a young mother with a small baby rifling through her purse stood at the ticket machine. I drove up to her and asked if she would like my ticket as it still had 3 hours 15 mins left on it and shame to go to waste. As I was saying this an elderly lady walked past and shouted "That's illegal". I said pardon and she said "You stupid cow what you are doing is illegal" and walked off. The young mother shouted after saying how rude she was but the woman carried on walking laughing and shaking her head.

I was genuinely shocked by this. I've never heard it's illegal to give someone your ticket and I've been given countless tickets in my 15 years of driving. I looked at the board and it said nothing about it.

WIBU to offer the lady my ticket?

OP posts:
disahsterdahling · 29/10/2017 18:00

We got a ticket stuck to a machine in Whitby this week - and it said on the machine that the tickets WERE transferable - I was surprised, but pleased

Hurrah for Whitby.

And I repeat, this is NOT illegal. It is not a criminal offence.

It may be against the car park's terms and conditions, or the council's by-laws, but that is very different

I don't think the council would fine the recipient of the ticket, as they have a valid ticket. The reason some councils get you to input your reg no is because they can't otherwise enforce their stupid and mean-minded rule.

One of my favourite things about our town is that it's common practice to stick parking tickets with time left on them onto the ticket machine for others to use

yes I've done this too

Italiangreyhound · 29/10/2017 18:01

PS I am not defending this rule, I think it is super mean. But having had a fair few parking tickets I now try and avoid them at all costs!

chocolateworshipper · 29/10/2017 18:04

That's the kind of situation that brings out the worst in me. I would be so tempted to say something like "Your attitude must be breaking some kind of law"

Creamswirls · 29/10/2017 18:09

It seems many people on this thread don’t know what illegal actually means...

Kewcumber · 29/10/2017 18:11

Staplescorner we're onto something, I tell ya. I am going to start saying to people "that's a tort on my person and I could bring a civil action against you if I can prove some loss as a result".

(when appropriate obviously or I will look like a loon)

Kewcumber · 29/10/2017 18:12

And obviously not in this case as it wouldn;t be a tort but a breach of contract or now that we have ascertained it is a local council maybe some breach of a local bye-law.

GerdaLovesLili · 29/10/2017 18:14

If I have change, I always buy the most time-ticket on our local car-park. I always pass it on because there's always someone who can't get the machine to accept their change. I've paid for the time and I don't see why someone else shouldn't benefit from it.

It's good karma.

OlennasWimple · 29/10/2017 18:25

StaplesCorner - did you know that there is a town in Massachusetts called Staples Corner?

StaplesCorner · 29/10/2017 18:28

I'm so happy!!

StaplesCorner · 29/10/2017 18:29

Although I am named after Staples Corner retail park in Brent Cross. Off the North Circular doncherknow.

Knusper · 29/10/2017 18:30

I give tickets away whenever possible and had no idea that it's not allowed. Don't understand the logic either Confused .

If I buy a bottle of Coke and drink half I can give the rest away. If I pay for four hours parking and only use half I still 'own' the remaining two hours, surely? How weird.

Rachie1973 · 29/10/2017 18:30

I know you're not supposed to do it, but our local hospital charges £3 for 3 hours, and if you're visiting you often don't use it so we leave it on the machine.

StaplesCorner · 29/10/2017 18:30

Kewcumber I think I love you, get yer coat.

Ellisandra · 29/10/2017 18:33

I'll prepare to be shot down now Grin

Car parks are run by the council or private entities. It's their land - they can charge what they want, you can accept it or not. We all accept that if we sometimes pay for 4 hours and for whatever reason use 1, there'll be no refund. Most people I imagine don't use the full stay as you're careful to give yourself plenty of time, or they go up in bands that don't fit your exact need. Such is life.

When the car park owner works out the return they want from that car park, and what the market will take, they allow for all that double or triple paid for space, from people leaving early. They also allow for tickets being transferred - until such time as they move over to car reg machines to stop it!

In my opinion, it's not a con and they're perfectly entitled to run their business that way.

However - I still give my tickets, or stick them to the machine.

And I think the woman calling out was a busy body.

gamerwidow · 29/10/2017 18:34

It’s against the rules of service but it’s not a criminal offence. I’ve both given and received parking tickets in this way before. The parking company has received payment for a car to be there for 4 hours what does it matter which car that is as long as there is only one car using the ticket at any given time? They aren’t losing money, it’s a racket.

Ellisandra · 29/10/2017 18:34

And yes yes yes to the people taking the time to explain what illegal actually means!

Ellisandra · 29/10/2017 18:37

gamerwidow they are losing money because they can sell spaces more than once.

You can agree with their policy or not, but you can't say they're not losing money. A percentage of their takings is spaces left early.

If I were a car park owner I'd be monitoring the average usage times and setting prices around that. e.g. If the average time was 1 hr 20 mins, I would offer 1 hour and 2 hour tickets, and never 90 minutes.

StealthPolarBear · 29/10/2017 18:41

" why on earth should it be, except the council wants as much money as it can get?"
In fairness most councils need all the money they can get.
Which I suppose makes me a hypocrite as I do this too. But many councils are struggling.

Sarahjconnor · 29/10/2017 18:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FaveNumberIs2 · 29/10/2017 18:49

Yes, it’s illegal. As stated on tickets and on the pricing board, tickets are not transferable. This is why lots of car parks now require you to put your registration in the machine, which then gets printed in the ticket.

But, I urge you all to READ THE SMALL PRINT because, where I live, you can pay £3.00 in the council machine for an all day ticket, and then use that same ticket in any council owned car park. Which is great for us being near the sea, as I can quite easily use four car parks in one full day.

Nicknacky · 29/10/2017 18:51

fave what criminal offence is being committed? I asked this previously and no one answered apart from repeating "it's illegal"!

FaveNumberIs2 · 29/10/2017 18:51

You pay to park. Regardless of how long you are parked there, why should you pay for you AND another person to park?

manicmij · 29/10/2017 18:55

It is illegal. Should check the notice at machine or sometimes on ticket "not transferable"
I do though pass mine on discreetly and have accepted when offered by someone.

limitedperiodonly · 29/10/2017 18:56

Or we could tut loudly stating "That is a civil offence, and as such you'll have to bring a private prosecution", or "Have a care for the Sale of Goods Act!". I like to go round parks and gardens referring people for a judicial review.(I haven't had ANY wine at all today promise)

staplescorner and kewcumber Grin

Liiinoo · 29/10/2017 19:02

I always do this. As a law abiding, white bread, scaredy cat, middle class liberal, this is my only way of sticking it to the man. I also used to give my one day travel card away when I had finished with it but Oyster Cards have put paid to that.