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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To use (a bit of) free parking slot to sit in car and eat

212 replies

HungryPerson · 16/01/2023 14:14

Genuinely don't know if IABU or not 😆

I have several appointments today so I'm somewhat rushing around, with a couple of gaps. I drove to one appointment (in town centre, no dedicated parking for the place I'm going to) and parked in a town centre car park. The car park has a number of spaces that are free for one hour, so I used one of those.

My appointment only took ten minutes so I took the opportunity to go and buy a sandwich, went back to my car and sat there to eat it. So as not to drip feed, I'm pregnant and hungry! Don't know if that matters. It's also freezing, so although there was a bench outside, I didn't want to sit there.

While eating a woman knocked on my window. I opened the door and she asked me to move. I looked around and there were no more free spaces, and she was waiting for mine. I apologised (bc British 😆) and said I'd be done in a minute.

She then said "absolutely ridiculous." I said, "pardon?" and she ranted at me for a minute or two, the gist being that I'm selfish and entitled. I didn't say anything, just gave her a look and shut the door on her, and then I left. I was sitting in the car for maybe ten minutes max.

Altogether I only used the space for 25 minutes ish. And if I'd sat on the bench to eat I still would have been occupying the space. But I'm questioning myself now!

Was I unreasonable?

OP posts:
wordler · 16/01/2023 17:11

I'm so passive aggressive that if she'd indicated the problem was that I was eating in the car instead of leaving - I'd have got out, locked the car - walked a few yards away and eaten my sandwich while staring at her.

Sparklingbrook · 16/01/2023 17:11

Megifer · 16/01/2023 17:04

I'd have told her to piss off tbh but appreciate that might be a bit controversial. Maybe gesture vaguely at the other empty spaces or just say "ok thanks for the feedback" and then sit there for the full hour looking at funny cat videos on YouTube or even just staring out the windscreen 😂

I definitely wouldn't have moved!!

The OP said I looked around and there were no more free spaces. That's presumably why the woman wanted theirs.

Taillighttoobright · 16/01/2023 17:16

wordler · 16/01/2023 17:11

I'm so passive aggressive that if she'd indicated the problem was that I was eating in the car instead of leaving - I'd have got out, locked the car - walked a few yards away and eaten my sandwich while staring at her.

You are my queen.

toocold54 · 16/01/2023 17:20

I can see why she was annoyed.

She could have had an important appointment or interview and you’re there taking up a space you don’t need.

If you’re doing it you can believe others would be doing it too.

But I wouldn’t have said anything as I’ve waited in the car a few times for my passenger.

lieselotte · 16/01/2023 17:20

wordler · 16/01/2023 17:11

I'm so passive aggressive that if she'd indicated the problem was that I was eating in the car instead of leaving - I'd have got out, locked the car - walked a few yards away and eaten my sandwich while staring at her.

Grin

You did nothing wrong OP. A car park is for cars. It's irrelevant what the drivers/occupants of those cars are doing, unless the car park is specifically for certain outlets (in which case the cameras will find out and you'll get a ticket in the post but that wasn't the case here).

lieselotte · 16/01/2023 17:21

She could have had an important appointment or interview and you’re there taking up a space you don’t need

But the OP did need it.

And if the other woman was so desperate she could have paid for a space.

toocold54 · 16/01/2023 17:21

Maybe gesture vaguely at the other empty spaces

There was no empty spaces that was the issue.

toocold54 · 16/01/2023 17:22

But the OP did need it.

No she didn’t she left after she finished her sandwich.

Itloggedmeoutagain · 16/01/2023 17:26

Spaces are for people who need to park
You needed to park
You did nothing wrong.
I might have got out of the car and walked away just to be arsey

wordler · 16/01/2023 17:29

toocold54 · 16/01/2023 17:21

Maybe gesture vaguely at the other empty spaces

There was no empty spaces that was the issue.

There were no 1-hour free spaces - there were plenty of paying places available.

The OP had not gone over her allotted hour at that point, so why should she move?

I also think it's annoying that some car parks prevent you sharing your ticket with another car by making you add your licence plate in. My view is it's x amount to 'rent' the space for x amount of time. If I've already paid 3 pounds for two hours and have only used one hour - why shouldn't another car use my remaining free hour, it's already been paid for.

Muu · 16/01/2023 17:31

You did nothing wrong, she sounds like an arsehole.

lieselotte · 16/01/2023 17:39

toocold54 · 16/01/2023 17:22

But the OP did need it.

No she didn’t she left after she finished her sandwich.

She needed it for the first 25 minutes and then she left. The fact that someone else came along at eg 20 minutes is irrelevant.

lieselotte · 16/01/2023 17:41

I also think it's annoying that some car parks prevent you sharing your ticket with another car by making you add your licence plate in. My view is it's x amount to 'rent' the space for x amount of time. If I've already paid 3 pounds for two hours and have only used one hour - why shouldn't another car use my remaining free hour, it's already been paid for

I totally agree with this.

Megifer · 16/01/2023 18:20

"But there were plenty of paying spaces, and it's only 20p for an hour."

These are the empty spaces i was referring to.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 16/01/2023 18:21

toocold54 · 16/01/2023 17:22

But the OP did need it.

No she didn’t she left after she finished her sandwich.

She needed it to eat her sandwich

Megifer · 16/01/2023 18:21

Megifer · 16/01/2023 18:20

"But there were plenty of paying spaces, and it's only 20p for an hour."

These are the empty spaces i was referring to.

Empty/free/whatever

ButterCrackers · 16/01/2023 18:23

What a cheek. I’d have told her to call the police if she thought I was wrongly parked. I had my lunch in the car yesterday in a parking place. Nothing wrong with that. I sometimes sit in the passenger seat as there’s more space and no one can ask me to move the car.

gravyriceandchips · 16/01/2023 18:25

I'd of took my shoes off, put my feet on the dash and sat there for the full hour.

gravyriceandchips · 16/01/2023 18:27

Anyway, the proper British etiquette is to pull up and mouth "are you going" and then wait if they say yes and thumbs up drive off if they aren't.

whynotwhatknot · 16/01/2023 18:28

i do this all the time if someone getsures am i leaving i just say no and they drive off

youre entitled to be there whther your in the car or not

gravyriceandchips · 16/01/2023 18:29

wordler · 16/01/2023 17:11

I'm so passive aggressive that if she'd indicated the problem was that I was eating in the car instead of leaving - I'd have got out, locked the car - walked a few yards away and eaten my sandwich while staring at her.

I love that lol

whynotwhatknot · 16/01/2023 18:30

wordler · 16/01/2023 17:29

There were no 1-hour free spaces - there were plenty of paying places available.

The OP had not gone over her allotted hour at that point, so why should she move?

I also think it's annoying that some car parks prevent you sharing your ticket with another car by making you add your licence plate in. My view is it's x amount to 'rent' the space for x amount of time. If I've already paid 3 pounds for two hours and have only used one hour - why shouldn't another car use my remaining free hour, it's already been paid for.

Show quote history

i agree i always pased on my ticket if ileft early and same was done to me-just money grabbing companies

gravyriceandchips · 16/01/2023 18:33

Laiste · 16/01/2023 15:51

YANBU

except that you've made me want a sandwich!
<low carbing>

@Laiste

Have you tried lo dough? They are like wraps that taste of nothing. I use these when low carbing.

Have a look at their website they have some good recipes with them like pasties etc.
the enchiladas recipe is really nice.

If you want me to send you a pack to try you can message me I have one in the cupboard going spare and I am not low carbing at the min. I'm a new veggie so getting to grips with that.

WhereIsMumHiding3 · 16/01/2023 18:36

toocold54 · 16/01/2023 17:20

I can see why she was annoyed.

She could have had an important appointment or interview and you’re there taking up a space you don’t need.

If you’re doing it you can believe others would be doing it too.

But I wouldn’t have said anything as I’ve waited in the car a few times for my passenger.

She did need it
She was cold standing outside tired and pregnant and hungry and wanted to eat her sandwich (to get her blood sugars up before she set off driving)

You know what... outrageous though it is sometimes I want use my inhalers before setting off driving... or make myself comfortable or whatever it takes before I vacate a parking space that I have parked in legally and still have time before I leave. Nobody else is more entitled to that parking space if they have an appointment (& also could pay 20p to park in any other slot where ours are available which also isn't relevant) the parking space was not free as it was being used

I never begrudge especially a pregnant woman time to eat something and get herself comfy before setting off it ain't my space ..!

Daughtersandbristolian · 16/01/2023 18:37

She sounds entitled - you sound like you need to be a little more braver! Cheek of the woman! I’d have stayed even longer but I’m petty !😂