Excess time @ McDonalds

[clubshot 22]

Be care you do not spend to long in McDonalds Car Parks

 

As it seems they are using the Services of Met Parking Services

To enforce a current 75 Minute Visit time

 

Stay long and it could cost you a £50.00 Fine / Clamping or being Towed Away

 

Got caught @ one in Enfield North London earlier this month

 

On return visit - noticed signs and camers......

 

McDonalds stated brought in due to limited Car Park spaces...........

 

It is Legal ..........

 

BOB/R

Edited April 24, 2009 by clubshot

[swamper 11]

some have been like that for a good while now.......i work on there sites now and again ans we have to e-mail our van reg of to them so we dont get done

[Rainmaker 7]

You haven't paid yet, have you? They're civil enforcement companies, meaning it's a private matter governed by contract law NOT an official (read: Council) parking ticket. Are you sure you can remember who was driving? The contract (even if it was legitimate, which is unlikely) is between the company and the DRIVER not the registered keeper. If you can't remember who was driving that day (they have no powers to ask or otherwise find out) then just write back saying you have no idea what they're on about and refute the ticket.

 

There are ways and means around this, speak to the Consumer Action Group (Google their forum) and they'll sort you out. They may threaten blue murder - debt collection companies, court etc, but they can't do anything because there's no debt and no written contract. Your credit record can't be affected because you're not the driver involved in the contract, remember?

 

Ignore them and they'll go away in the end. But like I said, do seek advice. I'm not a lawyer, but I do play with these companies all the time.

ATB.

[Rainmaker 7]

Here's the Parking Section of the CAG Forums. You'll find letter templates and all the info you need in there. If you've already paid there'll likely be little you can do, but it's still worth posting to ask. If nothing else this might help others.

 

Cheers.

 

EDIT: Sorry, I'm juggling a few things here, but really should have added a couple of things... Unlike with LA (Local Authority/Council) tickets, private 'tickets' are merely invoices for services rendered. That is, the driver (note this doesn't have to be the registered keeper or owner, who could be three different people!) is being invoiced for the use of land for the purposes of parking as allegedly agreed by entering said land in agreement with the posted restrictions, thus forming a contract.

 

As you're obviously not the driver, you would simply write to the effect of:

 

Dear Sirs,

 

Re: Your letter dated [dd/mmmm/yyyy] Reference[#]

 

I acknowledge receipt of your captioned letter. It seems that you have got my details from the DVLA and I confirm I am the keeper of the vehicle in question. You need to take this matter up with the driver concerned.

 

In the meantime I absolutely deny your claim that the amount claimed, or any amount at all, is due to you from me.

 

Yours faithfully

 

Notice you didn't name the driver, merely directed the company to. Unlike with Council and/or Police tickets, you are NOT obliged to name the driver at the time. That's their job. If they haven't got a signed contract that's their problem not yours...

 

If they threaten debt collectors, or even if you get a letter from a debt collector, write back to remind them that the alleged debt is in DISPUTE, which makes it unlawful for them to pass on the debt to a third party, whether for pursuit or to chase collection. Remind them politely that you will refer the matter to trading standards and the Office of Fair Trading should they breach the law of the land in this regard again. Should they write further, reply (again totally politely) that you now consider their constant pestering harassment as defined by The Administration of Justice Act 1979 and will be taking action if they don't cease and desist.

 

There's more info and letter templates at CAG but that's the gist of it. Feck 'em

[gnasher16 30,121]

Had exactly the same thing myself in a Wickes store !!.....only it was 75 notes ......cheeky fuckers............actually 125 but if i paid within 28 days its ONLY 75.....like f**k im paying anything.....i did clock the cameras on my next visit and sure enough it does say so in tiny half inch writing...........so have i got this right,by law you dont have to pay them.....i did read all that just didnt understand the big words