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#Post#: 108747--------------------------------------------------
MET Parking Charge for McDonalds Overstay
DIR By: utahraptor
Date: February 4, 2026, 2:35 pm
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Hello all, I was hoping you could help me with a charge which
came through the other day to my daughter's mother. She is too
busy and stressed at the moment to deal with it all. It is a
pretty straightforward one.
She received a parking charge letter on 31st Jan, for an alleged
overstay at McDonalds on the 13th Jan, making the letter 18 days
after the alleged event, so the charge looks to have been sent
way too late.
I have been back to the site, and the signage is tiny and hard
to read, even when standing right in front of it. It is also
quite new, so regular visitors would be likely to just drive in
and park as usual without feeling the need to scour the area for
signs.
The McDonalds has a soft play area, making it extremely likely
that kids would want to stay for a long time, so it seems unfair
that such tiny, high, illegible signage is deemed adequate.
I have appealed to MET, on the grounds of bad signage, but I
assumed this was just a formality and would be rejected so I
didn't put much effort into that. No driver has been identified,
I ticked the box on the appeal web form to say she is the keeper
only.
I just wanted to check what you think and is it worth getting a
POPLA appeal ready now for when the inevitable rejection letter
comes?
I have attached a link to pics of the signage, and the charge
letter. Thank you very much!
HTML https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1b-nNx02EcULUgUT1vvq5mQt0ZHW6MFnR?usp=sharing
#Post#: 108773--------------------------------------------------
Re: MET Parking Charge for McDonalds Overstay
DIR By: InterCity125
Date: February 5, 2026, 1:49 am
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Route One is to go back to McD and speak with the manager.
Explain the situation about children etc.
Be very insistent.
#Post#: 108774--------------------------------------------------
Re: MET Parking Charge for McDonalds Overstay
DIR By: ixxy
Date: February 5, 2026, 1:53 am
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The letter may have arrived on the 31st but it was dated the
15th so deemed delivered 2 working days after that so well
within the POFA 14 days. Signage looks pretty standard, can't
read it as the image resolution isnt good enough. The most
critical signs are the ones on the entrances and looking at
Google street view the 1.5 hours max stay is pretty prominent
and visible on those.
If all you did was appeal on the grounds of bad signage then yes
expect a rejection. I can't see that appeal working at POPLA
either. Was there no option to register to extend the stay? Did
anyone speak to McDonalds? The overstay was significant. Did you
send the appeal in? Only the registered keeper or driver can
appeal. The keeper might be busy at the moment but this isnt
going away and will need engagement at some point otherwise
there is a small risk of a CCJ.
#Post#: 108777--------------------------------------------------
Re: MET Parking Charge for McDonalds Overstay
DIR By: utahraptor
Date: February 5, 2026, 2:18 am
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Doesn't the 14 days start from the date of the alleged event ie:
13th Jan? Also, I thought weekends were included in this?
Looking on Google Maps, I can see a small sign on a post to the
right of the entrance, just stating 1 and a half hours max stay
but no terms on it. There was no option to extend anything as it
is a free car park.
Yes, as I said in the post I appealed on behalf of the keeper
and I am engaging with the charge.
Signage may be standard, but it was unreadable to me standing
right in front of it. I did speak to McDonalds but they just
mumbled something about they don't own the land or something.
#Post#: 108780--------------------------------------------------
Re: MET Parking Charge for McDonalds Overstay
DIR By: DWMB2
Date: February 5, 2026, 3:16 am
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--- Quote from: utahraptor link ---
>
> Doesn't the 14 days start from the date of the alleged event
ie: 13th Jan? Also, I thought weekends were included in this?
>
--- End Quote ---
Yes it does and yes they are.
- Date of parking event: 13th January
- Date of issue of notice: 15th January
- Date of presumed delivery: 19th January
- Days elapsed: 6 days
Of course, you say the keeper received the notice later than
this, and the presumption of delivery can be rebutted. The
difficulty you will have is proving that it was delivered
outside of the 14 days. You can put them to proof as to when
they posted it, but if they produce some evidence, then you'd
need to consider what counter evidence you have.
--- Quote from: utahraptor link ---
>
> Yes, as I said in the post I appealed on behalf of the keeper
and I am engaging with the charge.
--- End Quote ---
You could do with clarifying what exactly you mean by this. Did
you use the keeper's name and address/contact details in the
appeal (i.e. submitting everything in their name, just doing it
for them), or did you use your own name and address/contact
details and say you were appealing on their 'behalf'?[/li]
#Post#: 108781--------------------------------------------------
Re: MET Parking Charge for McDonalds Overstay
DIR By: utahraptor
Date: February 5, 2026, 3:25 am
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Sorry, I meant I am doing it all in her name, but just saving
her the hassle of doing it as she has her hands full at the
moment.
I have asked her to check rubbish bags for the envelope, but if
they legitimately show the date they sent it, I can't see how
this can be anything but late, given the time it arrived.
I am going back there at the weekend so will try again to speak
with the manager, when my daughter is not with me so I can
concentrate. Will also get photos of the signs close up, but
honestly I could not read them even standing in front of them,
the font is tiny and the signs are very high. The keeper is much
shorter than me too so she wouldn't have stood a chance.
The one on the entrance as I say has no terms on it, just the "1
and a half hour stay".
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