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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Covid fine refunds

104 replies

girlmom21 · 14/01/2022 08:27

AIBU to think that people asking for their covid fines to be refunded are being ridiculous?

They still breached the rules.
Everyone who attended the government parties should also be fined but anyone who got fined at the time knew what the were doing.

People don't ask for their drink driving fines to be paid back because famous people are caught doing that too.

OP posts:
Mrsjayy · 14/01/2022 08:31

Downing street was like a private members club they love a party whilst telling everyone that they could kill a pleb person if they had people in their garden or strayed too far from home, no wonder people are angry !

Mrsjayy · 14/01/2022 08:33

Do you honestly think someone who was fined for having friends in their house is the same as a drink driving offence?

BooksAndGin · 14/01/2022 08:34

YABU.

We was only allowed one person in a garden to meet up with, yet Downing Street had over a 100.

Therefore the virus couldn't be as bad as they made out, and they weren't worried about passing it on. So yes they should be refunded as it's obviously been blown way out of portion.

Also the police won't chase the government for fines - so again YABU. Why should Bob down the street be fined but not Boris and his coke head mates?

BooksAndGin · 14/01/2022 08:34

@Mrsjayy

Do you honestly think someone who was fined for having friends in their house is the same as a drink driving offence?
^ Also this.
Original poster
girlmom21 · 14/01/2022 08:35

@Mrsjayy

Do you honestly think someone who was fined for having friends in their house is the same as a drink driving offence?
I think both fines are given to people breaking the law.
OP posts:
Wankerchief · 14/01/2022 08:36

Remember the two women fined for drinking coffee on a bench?

Yeah….that was fair and just.

The met police were quick to fine women but not the entire fucking party of gammon that was at a place where officers stand outside of all day

whataballbag · 14/01/2022 08:36

@girlmom21

AIBU to think that people asking for their covid fines to be refunded are being ridiculous?

They still breached the rules.
Everyone who attended the government parties should also be fined but anyone who got fined at the time knew what the were doing.

People don't ask for their drink driving fines to be paid back because famous people are caught doing that too.

There's a difference between 'famous people' and the people who were constantly telling us to follow the rules so blatantly disregarding them.

And drink driving is nowhere near the same league as having a few friends over in your garden ffs

Original poster
girlmom21 · 14/01/2022 08:37

@BooksAndGin

YABU.

We was only allowed one person in a garden to meet up with, yet Downing Street had over a 100.

Therefore the virus couldn't be as bad as they made out, and they weren't worried about passing it on. So yes they should be refunded as it's obviously been blown way out of portion.

Also the police won't chase the government for fines - so again YABU. Why should Bob down the street be fined but not Boris and his coke head mates?

When did I say Boris shouldn't be fined? I specifically said I think everyone at those parties should be fined as well.

You make a fair point about the fact they should be refunded if the rules were out of proportion, but then should we somehow compensate everyone who did follow the rules because they were inconvenienced unnecessarily?

OP posts:
AlexaShutUp · 14/01/2022 08:37

I see their point. The people who were making the rules that caused them to be fined weren't actually following those rules themselves. I'd be fucking furious tbh.

Don't get me wrong, I followed the rules myself and think that they needed to be enforced. But I cannot blame anyone for challenging a law that has been so unequally applied.

Canigooutyet · 14/01/2022 08:37

If people were incorrectly fined for not wearing a mask of course they should be refunded. Just like if you are incorrectly fined for anything you should be able to ask for a refund, it happens quite a lot with parking for example.

RunningFromInsanity · 14/01/2022 08:38

YANBU but understandable why people are pissed.

However just because someone broke the law doesn’t excuse everyone else from breaking the same law.

AlexaShutUp · 14/01/2022 08:38

The point is that Boris has made an absolute mockery of the rules. Fining him now is hardly going to fix that.

Original poster
girlmom21 · 14/01/2022 08:40

Oh I completely understand why people are pissed off that they've been fined while the Tories have made a complete and utter mockery of all of us

OP posts:
AlexaShutUp · 14/01/2022 08:44

@girlmom21

Oh I completely understand why people are pissed off that they've been fined while the Tories have made a complete and utter mockery of all of us
Yes, and demanding that their fines be repaid is simply an expression of that anger. I totally get the point that they're making, even though I think they were wrong to break the rules in the first place.
Mrsjayy · 14/01/2022 08:45

UK governments made laws and regulations that "we" had to follow that "they" stuck their fingers up at yes I think people should get their fines refunded. I mean the latest is 2 bloody parties in the same house

Mrsjayy · 14/01/2022 08:47

The point is that Boris has made an absolute mockery of the rules. Fining him now is hardly going to fix that.

Him and his staff are not fit for purpose they should all be fired !

Joined4this · 14/01/2022 08:49

Surely the point is not one of those privileged people who attended the many “work events “ is going to get fined and the police have already confirmed this, having “not noticed” multiple get togethers.

greenlynx · 14/01/2022 08:58

People are angry about the difference in applying rules. It’s their way of raising the issue.

canigooutyet · 14/01/2022 09:11

I do laugh though at people frothing about BJ lying and now not fit for office. It's not like he was exactly honest before he won the election.

And how the police didn't notice beforehand is beyond me considering there are police constantly there. Or are number 10 suggesting that everyone was jumping over the back wall?

Howshouldibehave · 14/01/2022 09:16

People don't ask for their drink driving fines to be paid back because famous people are caught doing that too.

I would expect that the rich and famous caught speeding would be fined as well.

The difference here is it’s looking increasingly like the plebs are being fined for wrongdoing but the rich and famous are getting off scot free. If that is the case, then I completely agree, those previous fines should be reimbursed.

Obviously the best solution to this mess would be for the Met Police (who presumably have lists of everyone at every party) to sack and fine everyone who was at the parties, but if that doesn’t happen, then why should everyone else have to be punished?

AlexaShutUp · 14/01/2022 09:21

@canigooutyet

I do laugh though at people frothing about BJ lying and now not fit for office. It's not like he was exactly honest before he won the election.

And how the police didn't notice beforehand is beyond me considering there are police constantly there. Or are number 10 suggesting that everyone was jumping over the back wall?

I agree that there is an irony in the fact that people are angry for Boris for behaviour that is not remotely surprising given what we have known about his character for a very long time. In many ways, this is exactly what the electorate voted for.

However, it is better late than never. If people now see him for what he is, then that is progress. I will never understand why they didn't see it before, but we can't change the past.

And yes, there are clearly issues for the police to answer here. They seem to have turned a blind eye to all that was going on while merrily fining the public for much less serious breaches.

Aderyn21 · 14/01/2022 09:27

The 'crime' of having someone in your garden is not comparable to drink driving.

The govt aren't comparable to famous people who break the law - the govt made that law.

If the govt cba to adhere to the law, no one else should have been penalised for breaches.

The police refusal to prosecute the govt is indicative of the corruption that runs through the police service (esp the Met) and it needs to be halted right now. Cressida Dick has been kept in place by this government- there's no impartiality or accountability. Said police were quick to break up a vigil held for a woman murdered by a serving met officer but these parties were allowed to go ahead. Rotten to the core and the objection over fines is part of this bigger picture.

Theunamedcat · 14/01/2022 09:30

Wasn't it in Scotland where a family was filmed being dealt with aggressively by the police for collecting there suicidal daughter from hospital? They were accused of having "extra people" in the house?

Our government is a shite show

Ikona · 14/01/2022 09:31

I don't think their fines should be refunded, but Boris and co should also be fined, possibly even more given his status.
It's people who broke the law being annoyed at other people who broke the law - none should get away with it imo, but the ones who haven't been held accountable should be, ASAP.

DdraigGoch · 14/01/2022 09:35

@Mrsjayy

Do you honestly think someone who was fined for having friends in their house is the same as a drink driving offence?
The principle is the same.