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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:
Birdcar · 21/12/2023 10:19

I love this thread.

You asked if you were unreasonable. The answer was a resounding Yes. You reflected on it and agreed.

That is such a rare and mature response on AIBU.

Well done you.

DoDoDoD · 21/12/2023 10:22

You did the right thing - it all sounds like an unlucky accident due to a messy night out. Anyone saying he shouldn't have planned to move his car next day or shouldn't have had his car keys in his coat pocket is being way too pedantic. It could have been much worse - the poor guy may not have been able to get into his house if he lived alone or pay for groceries or whatever... Well done OP, it's better to be generous to smooth things over sometimes and I'm glad you can both laugh about it.

BowlOfNoodles · 21/12/2023 10:33

No you are the cheeky one

IClaudine · 21/12/2023 10:43

BowlOfNoodles · 21/12/2023 10:33

No you are the cheeky one

Did you read all of OP's responses? Not cheeky at all.

Theunamedcat · 21/12/2023 10:52

Am I the only person who has two car keys two coats and cash for a taxi at home?

bohemianmullet · 21/12/2023 10:54

I think it was fair to pay half. I don't think the other person was saying you needed to pay in full and I think half is fair. Mistakes get made, these things are not cut and dried. You took the coat but he didn't message until too late and wasn't going to make it in time anyway by the looks of it. You didn't know you had the coat and you didn't know the ticket was an issue. If the other person was so drunk as to lose their coat and not notice, they also have to bear some responsibility. Sounds like you are both amicable about it and they would have been happy with going halves. I very much hope they weren't thinking of driving drunk. It seems unfair to keep mentioning this possibility as there is no reason to think so and this would have been a clear crime.

housethatbuiltme · 21/12/2023 11:10

Is it a private ticket or a council fine?

The first I would not pay anything until its been appealed, having your keys stolen so you physically cannot move the car is a valid appeal.

Hayliebells · 21/12/2023 11:12

Obviously you should pay for the entire cost of the parking ticket. I can't believe you haven't apologised profusely, and offered that immediately. I'd be so embarrassed if I did that!

Hayliebells · 21/12/2023 11:15

Ah sorry, just seen you have paid it. As you were.

Kwasi · 21/12/2023 11:35

Do they not have a second car key? Sounds to me like they're using you taking their coat as an excuse for them not getting out of bed with a hangover.

Hont1986 · 21/12/2023 11:56

Parking tickets usually reduce the fine by 50% if you pay within 14 days, maybe you paid for the whole thing already then sent them a little Christmas bonus on top.

15PiecesOfFlair · 21/12/2023 11:58

You caused the problem by stealing his car keys, driving his car drunk, smashing it then going home and ignoring his calls.

You should definitely pay for a new car OP. And change jobs and call 101 to report yourself. Cancel the cheque too.

<just joining in this fantastic new trend of not reading the OP and piling on regardless>

DoDoDoD · 21/12/2023 12:01

Hont1986 · 21/12/2023 11:56

Parking tickets usually reduce the fine by 50% if you pay within 14 days, maybe you paid for the whole thing already then sent them a little Christmas bonus on top.

Paranoid much?

MaybeSmaller · 21/12/2023 12:52

The only reasonable thing to do in this situation is to pay the full amount of the ticket and I'm glad you saw sense in that.

Chalk this one up to experience.

CandyLeBonBon · 21/12/2023 13:10

15PiecesOfFlair · 21/12/2023 11:58

You caused the problem by stealing his car keys, driving his car drunk, smashing it then going home and ignoring his calls.

You should definitely pay for a new car OP. And change jobs and call 101 to report yourself. Cancel the cheque too.

<just joining in this fantastic new trend of not reading the OP and piling on regardless>

😂

CandyLeBonBon · 21/12/2023 13:14

housethatbuiltme · 21/12/2023 11:10

Is it a private ticket or a council fine?

The first I would not pay anything until its been appealed, having your keys stolen so you physically cannot move the car is a valid appeal.

Nobody stole anything though!

housethatbuiltme · 21/12/2023 13:55

CandyLeBonBon · 21/12/2023 13:14

Nobody stole anything though!

Show quote history

The person keys where taken without permission... what do you think the definition of 'stole' is?

Returning a mistakenly stolen item speaks to good character but it doesn't change the fact it was stolen.

The car owner has a case to get the charge cancelled, its stupid to pay anything before appealing as thats an admission of guilt.

CandyLeBonBon · 21/12/2023 14:30

Oh give over @housethatbuiltme the keys weren't stolen. Talk about dramatic!

AvenueCornelius · 21/12/2023 14:34

Birdcar · 21/12/2023 10:19

I love this thread.

You asked if you were unreasonable. The answer was a resounding Yes. You reflected on it and agreed.

That is such a rare and mature response on AIBU.

Well done you.

The OP wasn't unreasonable - she just caved in under the pile on.

shockthemonkey · 21/12/2023 15:36

C'mon @housethatbuiltme , how good is your grasp of English?

To steal means to purposely deprive someone of their property without their consent. Notice the qualifier "purposely"? ... meaning there was intent in the action.

OP took the coat accidentally - there was no intention on her part to deprive anyone of anything.

Simples.

archerzz · 21/12/2023 16:05

Enjoy your good karma - you did the right thing :)

AuntMarch · 21/12/2023 23:04

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.

We don't know if they had a partner at home who'd have collected it first thing

Maggiethecat · 21/12/2023 23:20

GrumpyPanda · 19/12/2023 11:39

OP specifically stated the owner had planned on picking the car up the next morning, just in time to avoid charges.* *

Show quote history

Feel your pain!

PollyPut · 21/12/2023 23:58

You took their keys. You should be paying the whole fine.

CandyLeBonBon · 22/12/2023 00:56

PollyPut · 21/12/2023 23:58

You took their keys. You should be paying the whole fine.

Hmmmm. Have you thought of maybe reading the whole thread? Just an idea?

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