Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask for a contribution to a parking fine?

274 replies

Zenana · 20/05/2023 10:11

I met a friend for drinks a fortnight ago who suggested a pub I was unfamiliar with. There was a car park behind. I received a £100 demand for parking where apparently shouldn't. Admittedly I didn't look at signs but as my friend lived nearby I took their word for it.

I picked up the friend from home and drove them back too. What do you think?

OP posts:
Original poster
Zenana · 20/05/2023 15:31

Shiningstar80 · 20/05/2023 15:22

Huh?? You don’t need to be a lawyer to know that this is absolutely ridiculous and completely unreasonable. OP won’t even answer anyone about what her friend said about the parking.
it’s OP’s responsibility and that’s it.

Show quote history

Try reading my answers and you'll find what you're looking for.

OP posts:
Original poster
Zenana · 20/05/2023 15:33

Shiningstar80 · 20/05/2023 15:30

She didn’t have to accept to give her a lift!! She could have refused like an adult can, just as an adult takes responsibility for their own actions/decisions.
Im sure that her friend has most likely done the same for her.

Show quote history

You're sure of nothing because you don't know me or my friend. Why are you so angry about something that isn't your problem? Get outside and get some vitamin D, it's a lovely day.

OP posts:
Shiningstar80 · 20/05/2023 15:36

slipsand · 20/05/2023 13:18

Exactly :)

Show quote history

You do realise that conversations don’t go from one extreme to another as you seem to think?
it’s OP’s fine, no one else’s. Some people seem to think it’s easier to partially or completely blame someone else for their own actions.
Thankfully most adults know that life doesn’t work that way, otherwise imagine how things would turn out with adults not taking responsibility for their decisions/actions

Shiningstar80 · 20/05/2023 15:41

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Shiningstar80 · 20/05/2023 15:45

rookiemere · 20/05/2023 14:41

Yeah as the non driver, friend gets all the benefits in this situation including saving on a return bus fare or taxi ride.

I have a friend who only have one car between them as a family, as a result- and as I live a bit further out of town - I end up doing most of the driving. I'd like to think in that scenario she might offer me something towards the fine.Having said that I am quite particular about these things and would have read the sign myself.

Her friend lived nearby so probably could have walked, however, the OP didn’t have to take her.
Same as me, I would have read the signs as I don’t trust anything unless I’ve seen it for myself.

ChocChipHandbag · 20/05/2023 15:45

It was free, she just didn't know it stopped being free after 2 hours. The signs are usually quite prominently displayed, you were both a bit unobservant not to see them.

I've been there though (taking ages over my shopping in Tesco and not realising there was a time limit on the parking, I just didn't pay attention to the signs).

Usually they halve the fine if you pay quickly, is there no discount for prompt payment?

I'd say that it might be nice for her to offer to contribute, but it's not clear cut.

Shiningstar80 · 20/05/2023 15:49

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

queenMab99 · 20/05/2023 15:57

Have you checked with the pub, we had this happen, and when we checked with the pub, they said they would sort it. They had a notebook behind the bar with pages of fines to be cancelled with the parking company, it was a common occurrence, due to the notices not being visible in the dark.

Original poster
Zenana · 20/05/2023 16:04

queenMab99 · 20/05/2023 15:57

Have you checked with the pub, we had this happen, and when we checked with the pub, they said they would sort it. They had a notebook behind the bar with pages of fines to be cancelled with the parking company, it was a common occurrence, due to the notices not being visible in the dark.

No, but I will, thanks.

OP posts:
SmudgeButt · 20/05/2023 16:06

Chances are it's not a fine but a parking charge notice. Normally they say £60 and then up it to £100 if not paid within X days. Basically it's a scam run by scums who are after easy money. Don't fall for it. First off ask the pub to get it cancelled explaining you didn't realise. If that doesn't work submit a notice to the PCN company to tell them that you don't admit liability and don't think they have a legal claim against you. They'll likely reject that and possibly up the ££ they want. And then you wait for it to be sent to court by a collection agency who will lose in court.

All the details you need to get it sorted are available on the MSE motoring forum.

arethereanyleftatall · 20/05/2023 16:13

A friend kindly picked me up for an event the other day, and drove us both there. I offered her petrol money but she said not to worry. We got to the car park. I got my purse out to walk over to the ticket machine to check if we needed a ticket. We did so I bought one. Surely, surely that's only fair?

I am genuinely staggered that so many people on this thread, would clearly accept a lift, then just sit back whilst the other person drove, and not even consider the parking costs.

I am intrigued, if the op had got out and looked and saw there was a charge, would you all continue to sit there, considering the parking her responsibility too as she drove so she has to absorb 100% of the costs?

I don't think anyone has said that the op should 'expect' the money, just that if they were the friend they would absolutely be offering.

Original poster
Zenana · 20/05/2023 16:23

@arethereanyleftatall Some of the replies have gobsmacked me. I'm not trying to evade responsibility or blame my friend but to have a discussion. One individual has accused me of failing to answer questions and implied I'm lying. I don't understand the anger and over investment that comes across in some of their answers tbh.

Each time I meet this friend I always drive don't drink and don't ask for petrol contributions. On this occasion (as always, actually) I picked up my friend who suggested we go to this pub somewhere I'd never heard of or been to before, I was directed where to park. I've never heard of pubs having paid for car parking before, but this place isn't one of those.

OP posts:
Bunnichick · 20/05/2023 16:28

I would ordinarily say no as you are the driver but if you asked about parking and she said you can park there, and you relied on that because you didn't know and you believed she did, then it's a bit unfair for you to be saddled with a fine when you've been good enough to drive.

Could you message her a photo of the letter (I'm assuming it came by letter rather than left on the car when she was there so she doesn't know about it?) saying something like "It turns out we were only supposed to be parked there for 2 hours!" with a photo and see what she says?

Zonder · 20/05/2023 16:33

@Zenana I don't know if you saw my post and the one I quoted but do try calling the pub and assuring them you were a customer. I've been to a few pubs with a car park you have to register at now or you get a fine.

ChocChipHandbag · 20/05/2023 16:35

SmudgeButt · 20/05/2023 16:06

Chances are it's not a fine but a parking charge notice. Normally they say £60 and then up it to £100 if not paid within X days. Basically it's a scam run by scums who are after easy money. Don't fall for it. First off ask the pub to get it cancelled explaining you didn't realise. If that doesn't work submit a notice to the PCN company to tell them that you don't admit liability and don't think they have a legal claim against you. They'll likely reject that and possibly up the ££ they want. And then you wait for it to be sent to court by a collection agency who will lose in court.

All the details you need to get it sorted are available on the MSE motoring forum.

That advice is completely wrong. Follow that and you'll end up with a CCJ in your credit file OP. There was a Supreme Court case that held they were enforceable- Google Parking Eye.

The only bit that is potentially worth following is seeing if the pub can get the company to withdraw it as they know you were there the whole time.

ChocChipHandbag · 20/05/2023 16:38

And they aren't a scam at all. Places like pubs and supermarkets use the parking companies to stop people using their car parks as a place to park for free while they go off and do other stuff. It's a perfectly legitimate thing to want to prevent.

weirdoboelady · 20/05/2023 16:43

Zenana · 20/05/2023 16:23

@arethereanyleftatall Some of the replies have gobsmacked me. I'm not trying to evade responsibility or blame my friend but to have a discussion. One individual has accused me of failing to answer questions and implied I'm lying. I don't understand the anger and over investment that comes across in some of their answers tbh.

Each time I meet this friend I always drive don't drink and don't ask for petrol contributions. On this occasion (as always, actually) I picked up my friend who suggested we go to this pub somewhere I'd never heard of or been to before, I was directed where to park. I've never heard of pubs having paid for car parking before, but this place isn't one of those.

I think the problem is that everyone is short of money and very grasping nowadays, so places like pubs are enforcing rules that maybe they didn't bother with before. Having said that, I would reinforce my advice to appeal - you could try the pub direct, but do consider those lovely folk at pepipoo. (No benefit to me, in case you were wondering - I'm just a satisfied user of the site)

Shiningstar80 · 20/05/2023 16:46

arethereanyleftatall · 20/05/2023 16:13

A friend kindly picked me up for an event the other day, and drove us both there. I offered her petrol money but she said not to worry. We got to the car park. I got my purse out to walk over to the ticket machine to check if we needed a ticket. We did so I bought one. Surely, surely that's only fair?

I am genuinely staggered that so many people on this thread, would clearly accept a lift, then just sit back whilst the other person drove, and not even consider the parking costs.

I am intrigued, if the op had got out and looked and saw there was a charge, would you all continue to sit there, considering the parking her responsibility too as she drove so she has to absorb 100% of the costs?

I don't think anyone has said that the op should 'expect' the money, just that if they were the friend they would absolutely be offering.

But it wasn’t parking charges. It was a fine. If she had parked in the car park and the there was a charge to park there and the friend didn’t offer to help towards the cost of the fee then that’s a different matter entirely.
It seem from what has been said that friend had said about parking there and the OP said she didn’t read the signs that you had to pay and she was fined.
As the owner of the car and the one who is responsible to check, it’s up to her to make sure and it’s not fair to ask the friend to pay half of it

HeidiWhole · 20/05/2023 16:47

I think I probably need my hard hat but here goes.
It's pretty rare that these companies actually follow up so it's pretty unlikely anything will happen if you don't pay it. The best thing is not to engage at all.
If they give you a court date, pay the fine. Until then, forget it!

How did they know you'd gone over your time, was it a camera?

Shiningstar80 · 20/05/2023 16:48

SmudgeButt · 20/05/2023 16:06

Chances are it's not a fine but a parking charge notice. Normally they say £60 and then up it to £100 if not paid within X days. Basically it's a scam run by scums who are after easy money. Don't fall for it. First off ask the pub to get it cancelled explaining you didn't realise. If that doesn't work submit a notice to the PCN company to tell them that you don't admit liability and don't think they have a legal claim against you. They'll likely reject that and possibly up the ££ they want. And then you wait for it to be sent to court by a collection agency who will lose in court.

All the details you need to get it sorted are available on the MSE motoring forum.

That’s the worst advice to give her. They aren’t scams. OP could end up in even more trouble and a larger fine as well as a judgement against her

arethereanyleftatall · 20/05/2023 16:57

@Shiningstar80
My point was that as a passenger getting a lift, I would absolutely consider it my responsibility to get the parking as its the only contribution I can make. Everything else is related to the car itself. Paying for the parking is completely independent of who's driving. (Which is why the speeding analogy below is such nonsense).

So. The friend kind of did this as she thought it was free, and told the op this.

jc12689 · 20/05/2023 16:58

rookiemere · 20/05/2023 10:27

It's £100 as clearly stated in OP.
I'd mention it and never give her a lift again unless she offered me something towards it.

Show quote history

Haha. You'd never hear from me again.

Original poster
Zenana · 20/05/2023 17:01

Bunnichick · 20/05/2023 16:28

I would ordinarily say no as you are the driver but if you asked about parking and she said you can park there, and you relied on that because you didn't know and you believed she did, then it's a bit unfair for you to be saddled with a fine when you've been good enough to drive.

Could you message her a photo of the letter (I'm assuming it came by letter rather than left on the car when she was there so she doesn't know about it?) saying something like "It turns out we were only supposed to be parked there for 2 hours!" with a photo and see what she says?

It came through the post this morning and I'm showing it to my friend tomorrow.

OP posts:
shammalammadingdong · 20/05/2023 17:08

arethereanyleftatall · 20/05/2023 12:02

Wow!! There are a lot of not very good friends on here.
If I had a friend who had given me a lift, I would have had my hand in my purse as she pulled in to the car park ready to check for payment required and would absolutely be paying the car park from the outset, given that she's been kind enough to drive.

There are some absolutely cheeky fuckers on this thread.

Tell her op. See what she offers. If she doesn't offer at least half, there's a simple solution, don't drive her any where again.

Sod off. You drive you car and park it, and get a fine, that is no business of mine.

I'm an excellent friend, I have excellent friends, I would not offer money in this instance and would never expect anyone else to offer me money. Nor would I take it if they did.

The cheeky fucker here is YOU expecting your friends to pay your fines for your poor choices and bad parking! The nerve of you.

familyissues12345 · 20/05/2023 17:10

My son recently drove himself and 3 mates to a city break, parking his car somewhere that turned out to be unsuitable Hmm, £100 fine later and he and his friends shared the cost of it.

I'd always offer if my friend had done me a favour

Swipe left for the next trending thread