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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Parking ticket

64 replies

TrainsandDiggers · 31/08/2018 13:05

I have been fined £100 for parking in a pay and display car park for less than THREE MINUTES - as corroborated by their own photographic evidence. I have just lost my appeal.

Technically, I know I should have paid for ‘up to one hour’ parking. Really though, does this not seem incredibly unreasonable? There were other spaces available and by the time I had bought a ticket I could have been on my way.

I know I’m technically wrong but AIBU to be just a little bit peeved about this? My husband thinks I am. I just think there’s no good will in the world any more.

OP posts:
HollyBollyBooBoo · 31/08/2018 13:10

It's ridiculous but the rules were there and you chose to risk it and annoyingly failed.

austenozzy · 31/08/2018 13:13

You either parked or you didn’t. They’re providing a service on their land for a fee. But I get what you’re saying, it’s annoying.

NancyDonahue · 31/08/2018 13:14

Why did you park for 3 minutes?

Sorry but I'd never risk not buying a ticket even for a very short length of time. The fines are just too high to risk it.

But I agree it's shit.

austenozzy · 31/08/2018 13:15

I know someone who pulled off the road into a car park to take a phone call safely, for 3 minutes, and got a £100 fine for her trouble. Didn’t pull into a space, just in past the entrance then back out. That would be annoying!

KatieMarieJ · 31/08/2018 13:15

Something doesn't add up there. Which company? There's supposed to be a grace period when you enter the car park to decide you don't want to pay.

PersianCatLady · 31/08/2018 13:15

You knew the rules and you chose to break them.

I bet you won't do it again.

ballsarefun · 31/08/2018 13:17

I once pulled in to a car park, passed over cash for someone to pay for parking, drove out. I got a fine and lost the appeal

Bestseller · 31/08/2018 13:19

I think it's very unusual in three minutes. As PP said there usually a period of time for turning round etc.

In any case, although I've never tried it, my local FB is adamant that these fines on private land are unenforceable and should be ignored.

inquiquotiokixul · 31/08/2018 13:19

Did you actually leave the car? If you stayed behind the steering wheel and were just picking up/dropping off someone or something then you weren't "parked" but if you left the car in a parking space locked up for any length of time then you were parked and need to cough up. It's not nice but I don't think it's wrong. In a similar situation I would be trying to find a way to avoid leaving the car.

Original poster
TrainsandDiggers · 31/08/2018 13:20

I parked outside a shop to return something. Took less than three minutes and then I was gone.

OP posts:
Bestseller · 31/08/2018 13:21

I don't think that applies with a lot of the modern technology. It's all don't by number plate recognition, but the machine doesn't know of you were in the car or not.

My parents always used to leave someone in the car so they weren't "parked" for short errands but it doesn't work anymore

ballsarefun · 31/08/2018 13:22

I never left my car. Didn't get out once. Sat engine running the whole time. It was an ncp car park

Nicola345 · 31/08/2018 13:22

Rules are rules.
Parking around our area is free but still have to display a ticket.

Poodletip · 31/08/2018 13:22

It does sound incredibly jobsworth, and you were rather unlucky, but you can't really argue with it.

CocoCharlie83 · 31/08/2018 13:24

YANBU to be a little peeved but you did use the parking without paying so they were within their rights to fine you.

If you say 3 minutes is ok then surely 5 minutes would be ok but what about 10 minutes etc.

KatieMarieJ · 31/08/2018 13:24

Which company has issued the ticket? Have you been to POPLA or the other one I can't remember right now?

They very much are enforceable in England & Wales since they outlawed clamping and brought in keeper liability.

thebeesknees123 · 31/08/2018 13:25

It does seem petty. What if you were at the ticket machine?

I've appealed before and lost for parking on the road in a 1 hr space on Easter Monday. The roads were empty and caused no pressure on the town. I even got my mp involved and she wrote to them.

Parking people are known for their intransigence

Giraffey1 · 31/08/2018 13:25

You took the risk by parking in a pay and display space and choosing not to pay. It’s an expensive mistake ... but I fear you’ve no one else to blame but yourself. Sorry ....

Dilemmacentral · 31/08/2018 13:27

If you pay in certain period it will be significantly less than £100

No point appealing.

Original poster
TrainsandDiggers · 31/08/2018 13:30

It will be £60 if I pay within a certain period so still a considerable sum and I think was worth my appeal for less than three minutes.

This sort of stuff kills off the high street in my opinion. I will shop online for that store from now on.

OP posts:
ThisMustBeMyDream · 31/08/2018 13:36

If they fined after 3 minutes, how does one pay for parking???!

Dilemmacentral · 31/08/2018 13:40

The op parked illegally
There wasn’t an option to buy a ticket because it wasn’t a space

Gersemi · 31/08/2018 13:41

Are you sure about the three minutes? It seems a bit optimistic for going into a shop and returning something.

Dilemmacentral · 31/08/2018 13:41

Or just park up properly and take a stroll there?

diddl · 31/08/2018 13:41

So you went into a pay & display with no intention of paying?

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