42 replies to this topic

[mini_mad69]

I have been accused of parking in a McDonalds car park in Bristol for 2 hours and 15 minutes.

What actualy happened was, I pulled into the carpark waited for about 4 minutes for a friend then carried on into bristol centre.
Finished there and on the way back went through the same Mc Donalds and went through the drive through.

The letter here has a picture of me arriving at 19:54 and leaving at 22:09.

There is nothing mentioning me leaving and returning 2 hours later.



There is a section on the letter for challenging it, but explains I must provide evidence. I have E-mailed the casino I was at in Bristol to try and provide me with some evidence that I was there between these hours.


What else can I do?

Im not paying to use a Mc Donalds car park for around 5 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!

[Guess-Works.com]

I believe there was a piece on this related subject on Watchdog a while ago...

I would counter their request for proof, by asking them to prove that the car was in their car park for 2 hours... not just there at time A and time B...

However, the bottom line is, pay the fine, and then argue the case... that way you're not going to get an ever increasing bill, bailiffs on your doorstep and loosing your car !

[minisilverbullet]

Some how use the time stamp the receipt (if you kept it) to show that you at least left the parking space.

I would put it on Mcdonalds to prove you where there the whole time, they must have cctv!

Maybe even a polite phone call could fix it for you!

[minisilverbullet]

Some how use the time stamp the receipt (if you kept it) to show that you at least left the parking space.

I would put it on Mcdonalds to prove you where there the whole time, they must have cctv!

Maybe even a polite phone call could fix it for you!

Also I believe you can request any footage from cctv cameras under the freedom of information act. So if you know for sure your car was caught on cctv elsewhere during the said 2.15 hours then you can, put in a written request for the tape.

[Timtom]

at my local mcdonalds its not possible to go through the drive through from 90% of the parking spaces. - If it happened at mine thus you couldn't have gone through the drive through without leaving the car park and coming back in again?

[mini_mad69]

Some how use the time stamp the receipt (if you kept it) to show that you at least left the parking space.

I would put it on Mcdonalds to prove you where there the whole time, they must have cctv!

Maybe even a polite phone call could fix it for you!

I didn't get a reciept with my food, and the car park I used in Bristol keeps the parking stub when put in the machine.
I have no evidence.



It is a seperate parking service firm, not run by Mc Donalds themselves. I think I may have to pay the fine and then try claim it back as guessworks says.

[mini_mad69]

Some how use the time stamp the receipt (if you kept it) to show that you at least left the parking space.

I would put it on Mcdonalds to prove you where there the whole time, they must have cctv!

Maybe even a polite phone call could fix it for you!

Also I believe you can request any footage from cctv cameras under the freedom of information act. So if you know for sure your car was caught on cctv elsewhere during the said 2.15 hours then you can, put in a written request for the tape.

If this is true, I should have been seen on hundreds of cameras driving straight through the centre of the city.

[Teapot]

This has been happening at our Co-op car park, operated by a private firm. Some people have been able to prove they were elsewhere in between, but if you can't you just have to shout your case. Try CAB and the local paper. You probably aren't the only person to be unfairly fined.

[littlemissmagic]

If its a private firm and you pay and then try and claim it back, ull never get the money back

I was in private car park once and this car pulled in and blocked me, wrote me a ticket and there was nothing i could do despite being in the car and wanting to leave! He was also quite threatening and it was dark.... very scary!
Private car parks and ticket companies are tricky ones, moneysavingexpert.com gives quite good advice.

I followed what they said and didnt pay, they chase for a while but its not very easy for them to enforce it. (they work on scarying people into paying with letters claiming to be from solicitors) But it is a bit of a risk and thats only if its a private company, if its council run then i would write a letter saying ur point and asking for them to provide proof you were there the whole time, and of course if you can get proof from the casino that will help.
I did that with one ticket i had and the council refused to accept my proof but did give me another 14days from their reply to pay it or argue it further.

Edited by littlemissmagic, 25 November 2010 - 12:55 PM.

[Ivor Badger]

Explain what happened and if they don't accept it, tell them you will just use an alternative to their company and that is not hard to find an improvement on.
Unfortunately "Jack in the Box" do not operate in the UK, considerably better food in the US by the way. But Subway do, although at a higher price than the US.

[minisilverbullet]

Some how use the time stamp the receipt (if you kept it) to show that you at least left the parking space.

I would put it on Mcdonalds to prove you where there the whole time, they must have cctv!

Maybe even a polite phone call could fix it for you!

Also I believe you can request any footage from cctv cameras under the freedom of information act. So if you know for sure your car was caught on cctv elsewhere during the said 2.15 hours then you can, put in a written request for the tape.

If this is true, I should have been seen on hundreds of cameras driving straight through the centre of the city.

it is actually the data protection act

"Individuals whose images are recorded have a right to view the images of themselves and,
unless they agree otherwise, to be provided with a copy of the images. This must be provided
within 40 calendar days of receiving a request. You may charge a fee of up to £10 (this is the
current statutory maximum set by Parliament). Those who request access must provide you
with details which allow you to identify them as the subject of the images and also to locate the
images on your system."

http://www.ico.gov.u...vfinal_2301.pdf - page 15!

Not sure if it is applicable to vehicles but worth a try!

[Guess-Works.com]

Useful link for you...

http://www.britishpa.../page.php?id=81

[minidream94]

Some how use the time stamp the receipt (if you kept it) to show that you at least left the parking space.

I would put it on Mcdonalds to prove you where there the whole time, they must have cctv!

Maybe even a polite phone call could fix it for you!

Also I believe you can request any footage from cctv cameras under the freedom of information act. So if you know for sure your car was caught on cctv elsewhere during the said 2.15 hours then you can, put in a written request for the tape.

If this is true, I should have been seen on hundreds of cameras driving straight through the centre of the city.

it is actually the data protection act

"Individuals whose images are recorded have a right to view the images of themselves and,
unless they agree otherwise, to be provided with a copy of the images. This must be provided
within 40 calendar days of receiving a request. You may charge a fee of up to £10 (this is the
current statutory maximum set by Parliament). Those who request access must provide you
with details which allow you to identify them as the subject of the images and also to locate the
images on your system."

http://www.ico.gov.u...vfinal_2301.pdf - page 15!

Not sure if it is applicable to vehicles but worth a try!

Thats weird then, because there was a case at work where some ones purse was taken from a bag in which they had put down and wondered off. This person, along with her partner and a friend were fumming as the management wouldnt let them see the cctv of the shop as apparently it was because of data protection? Are my work place allowed to hold the images?

Cheers

Nick

[Paul Wiginton]

If you live in that area bung your local pub landlord a tenner to scribble a letter stating that you were in his pub (drinking orange juice) all evening

[Bungle]

if it's a private car park it's not a fine it's a invoice to the registered keeper of the car

it's up to them to prove it was you the registered keeper of the car there that day

there is a big topic about this on the money saving expert website and how they can't make you pay