Parking at McDonalds

[Wroot rhino]

Hi,

I am looking for some help.

The time limit is 90 mins. I got a fine for being there for two hours. I locked my car keys and two meals in the boot and had to get my wife to drive 11/2 hours to bring the spare key.

I dont dispute the times or that it was my car and me driving. I just think it is unfair and unreasonable. I appealed to POPLA and they rejected my appeal on the basis that I made a contracct with the parking company when I parked the car.

The parking company have sent me a letter saying pay or the will put the matter in the hands of a debt recovery company.

I don't think any County Court would back up the parking company in this circumstance. How do I go about the next steps?

If anyone can offer any advice it would be much appreciated.

Thanks

[996Type]

I managed to get a ticket at the one near Silverstone some time ago, a meeting I had there ran over.

I contacted the manager and he was kind enough to waive the fine, which surprised me as the parking was sub contracted out.

We were part of a large construction group though that used them for lunch and we’d probably have gone elsewhere in principle if they had upheld for future meetings, so maybe worth speaking to the manager about your circumstances?

[Cats_pyjamas]

The are some good groups on Facebook. Never admit who the driver is. Being private, you could just ignore it and wait for a possible court summons, hopefully you have a sympathetic judge. However if you lost you may be liable for costs.

Edited by Cats_pyjamas on Monday 3rd June 06:19

[Rough101]

Nest time, speak to the manager, they need to input the registrations of staff members etc. and can just log on for you.

[bad company]

Cats_pyjamas said:

The are some good groups on Facebook. Never admit who the driver is. Being private, you could just ignore it and wait for a possible court summons, hopefully you have a sympathetic judge. However if you lost you may be liable for costs.

Edited by Cats_pyjamas on Monday 3rd June 06:19

No. The op wouldn’t be responsible for the other side’s costs even if he lost as it’d be a small claim.

[EddieSteadyGo]

Rough101 said:

Nest time, speak to the manager, they need to input the registrations of staff members etc. and can just log on for you.

This advice doesn't just apply to next time, but this time too.

I would call in, ask to speak to the manager, explain what happened, and let them speak to the parking company on your behalf. Highly likely they will just cancel the fine. There isn't much point speaking to the parking company, as they have no interest in maintaining 'good-will'.

If the store manager won't help, get their name, and then get the details of someone in Head Office you can speak with.

[Wroot rhino]

Hello,

Thanks for everyones input.

I did speak with the manager at the time. He noteddown my reg number and said it would not be a problem but I got the pcn a couple of weeks later. I have since contacted McDonalds customer service but they have washed their hands of it and simply say there is nothing they can do it is up to the parking company and POPLA.

I should have included this info in the original post.

Thanks

[996Type]

In that case certainly now back to the manager to determine how he will have this cancelled, haven given his word initially you were ok, don’t drop it and concede…

[Zeeky]

bad company said:

Cats_pyjamas said:

The are some good groups on Facebook. Never admit who the driver is. Being private, you could just ignore it and wait for a possible court summons, hopefully you have a sympathetic judge. However if you lost you may be liable for costs.

Edited by Cats_pyjamas on Monday 3rd June 06:19

No. The op wouldn’t be responsible for the other side’s costs even if he lost as it’d be a small claim.

Ordinarily liable for fixed costs but not representation at court.

[OutInTheShed]

Wroot rhino said:

Hi,

I am looking for some help.

The time limit is 90 mins. I got a fine for being there for two hours. I locked my car keys and two meals in the boot and had to get my wife to drive 11/2 hours to bring the spare key.

I dont dispute the times or that it was my car and me driving. I just think it is unfair and unreasonable. I appealed to POPLA and they rejected my appeal on the basis that I made a contracct with the parking company when I parked the car.

The parking company have sent me a letter saying pay or the will put the matter in the hands of a debt recovery company.

I don't think any County Court would back up the parking company in this circumstance. How do I go about the next steps?

If anyone can offer any advice it would be much appreciated.

Thanks

What we need to know is how many burgers did you eat while you were waiting?
And did you eat the cold ones from the boot?

[bad company]

Zeeky said:

bad company said:

Cats_pyjamas said:

The are some good groups on Facebook. Never admit who the driver is. Being private, you could just ignore it and wait for a possible court summons, hopefully you have a sympathetic judge. However if you lost you may be liable for costs.

Edited by Cats_pyjamas on Monday 3rd June 06:19

No. The op wouldn’t be responsible for the other side’s costs even if he lost as it’d be a small claim.

Ordinarily liable for fixed costs but not representation at court.

Fixed costs being just the Court fee.

If I were the op I’d decline to pay, invite them to sue and take my chances in Court if they do. There’s a good chance they’ll just huff, puff & threaten then go away.

[anonymous-user]

Sadly its harsh but true; despite your issues you stayed longer than the 90 mins allow so just pay up and move on.

It's just how it is

[EddieSteadyGo]

lord trumpton said:

Sadly its harsh but true; despite your issues you stayed longer than the 90 mins allow so just pay up and move on.

It's just how it is

The only way the OP will have to pay this fine is if he is too lazy to find the right person in McDonalds to speak with. He spoke with the manager at the time, the mitigating circumstances are obvious, and he even explained it to the manager at the time and effectively gained their permission.

There is no need to waste time talking about court cases, or speaking to a call centre. Just go and find the manager, and escalate it up the hierarchy from there until you find the person who can fix this.

[Chrisgr31]

Finding the same manager at McDonalds will be a nightmare and theres every chance they have changed by now.

It depends what the OP wants to do. Choices are to pay up or wait to see what happens

[Jimjimhim]

Chrisgr31 said:

Finding the same manager at McDonalds will be a nightmare and theres every chance they have changed by now.

It depends what the OP wants to do. Choices are to pay up or wait to see what happens

He has 3 choices not 2, choice 3 is to go in and speak to someone in the McDonald's restaurant.

[Wroot rhino]

I will call in at McDonald’s but as this happened in October 2023 I don’t hold out much hope of getting the same manager. I’ve tried contacting Mc Donald’s but after 3 attempts with customer services I gave up.

This was their response:
Harry (McDonald’s Customer Services)
11 Dec 2023, 16:34 GMT

Dear William,

Thank you for getting back in touch further following the parking ticket you received during a visit to one of our restaurants.

I regret that when a parking contravention has occurred, we are unable to deal with any specifics or cases on an individual basis. As mentioned, if a customer contravenes the clearly displayed parking regulations, they will receive a ticket.

I have once again reviewed all the information produced, but whilst I do appreciate your further comments, our position on this matter has not changed. I can therefore only refer you back to our previous email.

If you have not already appealed to the parking company, this would be an advisable step to take first. As a further action after this point, POPLA are an independent body who rule on such matters. They can be contacted via www.popla.co.uk

Thank you for contacting us again and I am sorry that we can be of no further assistance on this matter.

Kind regards,
Harry
Customer Services Team

[EddieSteadyGo]

I now think this thread is a wind-up.

Parking enforcement companies don't wait 9 months to issue a penalty notice. It would be well out of time.

And the 'email' is a copy from one previously posted on MSE.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/64...

[Yellow Lizud]

EddieSteadyGo said:

The only way the OP will have to pay this fine is if he is too lazy to find the right person in McDonalds to speak with. He spoke with the manager at the time, the mitigating circumstances are obvious, and he even explained it to the manager at the time and effectively gained their permission.

There is no need to waste time talking about court cases, or speaking to a call centre. Just go and find the manager, and escalate it up the hierarchy from there until you find the person who can fix this.

There is no 'right person' as the OP has already found out, and the 'mitigating circumstances' will join a long list of excuses heard every day.

Last time I looked, McDonalds sold burgers, they are not car park attendants. They don't give a st about the car park (or their customers), that's why they employ private parking companies to do the job for them.

Of course if you have a few months to spare and don't mind bashing your head against a wall every one of those days then you might, just might, get the fine cancelled. OR you can just call it a stupidity tax, pay what they want and don't lock your keys in the car again.

[EddieSteadyGo]

Yellow Lizud said:

There is no 'right person' as the OP has already found out....

The OP is on a wind up. Brand new poster. Email history copied straight from MSE. Supposedly waited 9 months before receiving a penalty notice. But you crack on believing every word.....

[Wroot rhino]

I am not trying to wind anyone up.

The email is not copied from anywhere. It took two weeks for the pin to arrive and 7 months to follow the appeal process. First appeal to the parking company and then to Popla

I just think the parking company are being unreasonable and it annoys me.

Any more advice much appreciated.

Thanks