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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Asking for half of parking ticket

129 replies

ellie09 · 19/12/2023 11:31

So, messy night out.

Ended up going home accidentally with someone else's coat. Everyone was drunk may I add.

Their wallet, keys etc were in the coat and said person had parked their car in the town that night then was planning to get the car in the morning.

I got coat to them by 12.

Message today to say they got a parking ticket. Asked me to pay half the ticket.

I have paid half as didnt want to get in an argument.

AIBU to think its a little bit cheeky considering it wasnt my decision for them to park their car there or is the other person reasonable for asking?

OP posts:
MasterBeth · 19/12/2023 12:09

PhulNana · 19/12/2023 11:36

If 'everyone' was drunk, you saved them from potentially being breathalysed and banned, or at least prevented some drunk driving. Would you pay that fine because you didn't take their coat? Tell them to take a running jump.

No. You've read it wrong. The driver wasn't planning to drive while drunk, but to move the car in the morning (and they could have got someone else to drive the car.)

FrankieStein403 · 19/12/2023 12:12

Doesn't everyone have two sets of keys for their car?

Plus if people were drunk enough to take wrong coats on a late night i'd have suspected they'd be still over the limit at 0800 the next day - ie couldn't have picked up the car before parking started?

Mumof2teens79 · 19/12/2023 12:13

ellie09 · 19/12/2023 12:06

Update

Thanks everyone, on further reflection I can see the hassle it can cause someone and if it was me I would have been pretty pissed off.

I sent the FULL amount (sent the other half after sending the first half) and let them know I have sent them the full amount to pay as it was my fault 100% that the mistake was made and I didnt want them to be out of pocket based on my error.

It was a bit annoying to me that there wasnt really a need for the car to be there anyhow (boss offered to pay everyone's taxis) and that I had spent money on a couple rounds drinks that night that weren't reciprocated but lessons learned about not getting so drunk you take the wrong coat in the future!

I also dont want any hostile or damaged work relationships so its a small price to pay.

Taxis both ways? They would have needed a taxi home regardless.
Did they have to drop anything off or pick up on the way?

Original poster
ellie09 · 19/12/2023 12:15

FrankieStein403 · 19/12/2023 12:12

Doesn't everyone have two sets of keys for their car?

Plus if people were drunk enough to take wrong coats on a late night i'd have suspected they'd be still over the limit at 0800 the next day - ie couldn't have picked up the car before parking started?

Perhaps so, but even if he was over the limit and wanted to drive it wasnt exactly my place to stop him.

I went home around 12am and the next day I felt uncomfortable driving so I got a lift down to bring down the coat to him. As far as I am aware the rest stayed out until 4am?!

I know most have two sets of keys (I know I do) but I am aware that some maybe don't.

Anyhow, disaster adverted because its all sorted now. Would rather just pay it and the issue is dealt with.

OP posts:
Original poster
ellie09 · 19/12/2023 12:16

Mumof2teens79 · 19/12/2023 12:13

Taxis both ways? They would have needed a taxi home regardless.
Did they have to drop anything off or pick up on the way?

Show quote history

Yes, boss had said he would cover taxis there and home.

OP posts:
NuffSaidSam · 19/12/2023 12:16

FrankieStein403 · 19/12/2023 12:12

Doesn't everyone have two sets of keys for their car?

Plus if people were drunk enough to take wrong coats on a late night i'd have suspected they'd be still over the limit at 0800 the next day - ie couldn't have picked up the car before parking started?

The driver wasn't so drunk they took the wrong coat, the OP was.

And who knows what their plans were for the following day....maybe their partner was going to pick it up. We don't know and it doesn't matter. It's not like it's ok to take someone's keys because they should have two sets of keys/their plans for them morning weren't made clear to you.

The OP took the keys. She's done the right thing in paying for the fine that came as a result of her taking the keys.

Mumof2teens79 · 19/12/2023 12:17

FrankieStein403 · 19/12/2023 12:12

Doesn't everyone have two sets of keys for their car?

Plus if people were drunk enough to take wrong coats on a late night i'd have suspected they'd be still over the limit at 0800 the next day - ie couldn't have picked up the car before parking started?

We don't know that the other person was that drunk.
For all we know they went to look for their coat and found OP had already taken it...spent all night trying to work out who had taken it.
Maybe the lost the spare (I did) maybe it was in another town?

For instance I work 40 miles from home. I have driven to work on day of party and booked a hotel or stay with a friend, planning to drive back next day as no public transport options. How would I get my spare key from home without a very expensive round trip in a uber?

PhulNana · 19/12/2023 12:17

FrankieStein403 · 19/12/2023 12:12

Doesn't everyone have two sets of keys for their car?

Plus if people were drunk enough to take wrong coats on a late night i'd have suspected they'd be still over the limit at 0800 the next day - ie couldn't have picked up the car before parking started?

Well, exactly.

NuffSaidSam · 19/12/2023 12:19

PhulNana · 19/12/2023 12:17

Well, exactly.

Show quote history

Exactly what?!

It's of no relevance what happened to this person's spare set of car keys!

Original poster
ellie09 · 19/12/2023 12:20

To clarify, everybody was drunk. He even said he was very drunk and the night got very messy even after I had left.

I honestly dont know if he was planning to drive the car back that night or get it the following morning after being out until 4am. However, it isnt really any of my business what he was planning to do.

It was 100% my fault for having the keys and the choice was therefore taken away.

OP posts:
autienotnaughty · 19/12/2023 12:20

I'd have paid half as you took their cost. They could have collected their cost from you if it was urgent tho.

Gillypie23 · 19/12/2023 12:21

Yes it's reasonable. It's your fault they couldn't pick it up

Deadringer · 19/12/2023 12:21

Yabu for being so bloody reasonable! Well done op, though you cheated folk on here from lots and lots of arguing and sarky comments.

NuffSaidSam · 19/12/2023 12:23

ellie09 · 19/12/2023 12:20

To clarify, everybody was drunk. He even said he was very drunk and the night got very messy even after I had left.

I honestly dont know if he was planning to drive the car back that night or get it the following morning after being out until 4am. However, it isnt really any of my business what he was planning to do.

It was 100% my fault for having the keys and the choice was therefore taken away.

Out of interest, when did you realise you had it and inform him? I think that would be a key part of it for me.

Original poster
ellie09 · 19/12/2023 12:24

autienotnaughty · 19/12/2023 12:20

I'd have paid half as you took their cost. They could have collected their cost from you if it was urgent tho.

I originally paid half as that was what was asked, and I had also paid around half of the remaining that night on drinks for him (I become overly generous when I am drunk)

But upon reflection, it still doesnt stop the fact it probably caused a lot of hassle, so I paid the remaining half and told him the couple of drinks I paid that night was compensation and that I will buy him lunch next time in office.

He is grand, he said its no problem and everything is good.

I just didnt want to NOT pay anything at all, or half and have people saying anything. For the sake of maintaining good working relationship I thought it was worth it.

OP posts:
fingerguns · 19/12/2023 12:25

This is why second sets exist, surely?

Could he have used RingGo or another similar app to pay for parking remotely? There are many ways around this, i think he's B slightly U.

Original poster
ellie09 · 19/12/2023 12:25

Deadringer · 19/12/2023 12:21

Yabu for being so bloody reasonable! Well done op, though you cheated folk on here from lots and lots of arguing and sarky comments.

I felt bad about it! Just wondered what others would do!

OP posts:
Original poster
ellie09 · 19/12/2023 12:26

fingerguns · 19/12/2023 12:25

This is why second sets exist, surely?

Could he have used RingGo or another similar app to pay for parking remotely? There are many ways around this, i think he's B slightly U.

Yeah as far as I am aware its app based now but you'd need the location ID which I dont know if you'd know it on the house. I know I'd have just paid the parking for a full day afterwards to be safe but not everyone has the same hindsight lol

OP posts:
Original poster
ellie09 · 19/12/2023 12:28

NuffSaidSam · 19/12/2023 12:23

Out of interest, when did you realise you had it and inform him? I think that would be a key part of it for me.

Show quote history

Our coats are VERY similar and I didnt notice until the following morning. Even my boyfriend who picked me up didnt notice until he went down and looked at the coat more closely.

OP posts:
JassyRadlett · 19/12/2023 12:28

I'm going to be the dissenting voice, yes OP caused the original problem but this guy didn't sound like he was going to be able to drive his car first thing anyway, and regardless why the hell didn't he pay for parking when he knew his car was going to be there after 8am or whenever parking starts?

OP caused the original problem but the car owner really sealed the deal.

AgnesX · 19/12/2023 12:30

I do think it was stupid of the car owner to leave their keys and wallet in their coat pocket to begin with. That aside, half seems fair.

KrisAkabusi · 19/12/2023 12:32

Perhaps so, but even if he was over the limit and wanted to drive it wasnt exactly my place to stop him.

Bollocks to that. Having had to deal with the aftermath of a fatal drink-driving collision, it is absolutely your place (and everyone else's) to stop someone from drunk driving.

NuffSaidSam · 19/12/2023 12:32

ellie09 · 19/12/2023 12:28

Our coats are VERY similar and I didnt notice until the following morning. Even my boyfriend who picked me up didnt notice until he went down and looked at the coat more closely.

Show quote history

Yeah, see I think this is the issue.

He had to deal with thinking he'd been robbed between midnight and the next morning. He's probably more focussed on cancelling his bank cards, reporting the theft, calling the venue, worrying that his car has been stolen etc. etc.

He probably wasn't in the frame of mind to think 'I'll pop on to Ringo and sort some parking out'. I don't think many people would tbh.

It would be different if you'd realised and told him straight away.

fingerguns · 19/12/2023 12:33

ellie09 · 19/12/2023 12:26

Yeah as far as I am aware its app based now but you'd need the location ID which I dont know if you'd know it on the house. I know I'd have just paid the parking for a full day afterwards to be safe but not everyone has the same hindsight lol

Show quote history

You should ask him if he paid via an app for the day of the party. If he says yes, he'll have the location code. Then you should ask for your money back as that's 100% on him 😂

NuffSaidSam · 19/12/2023 12:34

JassyRadlett · 19/12/2023 12:28

I'm going to be the dissenting voice, yes OP caused the original problem but this guy didn't sound like he was going to be able to drive his car first thing anyway, and regardless why the hell didn't he pay for parking when he knew his car was going to be there after 8am or whenever parking starts?

OP caused the original problem but the car owner really sealed the deal.

There's no evidence to suggest he was going to drive over the limit.

He was dealing with his coat being stolen, he probably had other things on his mind (cancelling bank cards etc.) to worry about the parking issue.