A recent example involving MET Parking Services has created discontent. Commuters and drivers heading to the Southgate retail park close to Stansted Airport are especially miffed. A day after visiting a McDonald’s close to the retail park, Kate Readman and her partner received a £60 parking charge notice. They had not planned on receiving such a sudden and unanticipated higher-than-expected fine. This deplorable state of affairs leads to profound questions. Is it easy to understand the parking restrictions, if they exist, so visitors to the local restaurants can find and use their parking?
MET Parking Services operates the facility, which is an 80 space car park split into 2 units. This artificial separation has created a catch-22 situation for the majority of drivers, since the car park has only one entrance and exit. Retailer-specific signage, like this at an LA Fitness store, lets customers know parking is free for up to one hour. It didn’t identify which restaurant provides this perk. The writing on the wall suggests that customers should stay “on the property,” which has many visitors confused about where they are allowed to park.
Kate Readman recounted her experience, stating, “We left the car and walked the 30 metres or so to the McDonald’s which is next door to the Starbucks, ate and drove off after around 30 minutes – well inside the allotted free hour.” Even though she was following what she thought were the guidelines, she was still surprised when she got hit with the fine.
Now critics are accusing MET Parking Services of using shady tactics. They argue their company’s intent is to siphon cash from unwitting motorists who would rather pay up than fight the fees. The reason for the cancellation was that the company had not sent the “notice to keeper” within 14 days. This breach contravenes the law laid down in Schedule 4 of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012.
Workers at McDonald’s and Starbucks locations alike have said they felt there was bad signage or miscommunication. They alluded to the fact that hundreds of customers had previously filed the same complaint about unreasonable parking tickets. I actually thought it was a joke when I received the letter. Yet when I looked online I was surprised to see so many people who had received the same letter,” Readman explained. As this model rolls out to other retail parks, you’ll be parking awfully far away from the store you want to go to. But then, you’ll have to drive your vehicle every time you want to visit a different retail outlet. It’s utterly ridiculous.
In response to criticism MET Parking Services vigorously defended their operations. They claimed that both car parks are well signposted and argued that it is common for businesses with free parking to redirect their customers. The two main car parks are very clearly marked and designated. There is nothing unusual about different businesses having their own car park or reserving free parking for their own customers,” a spokesperson stated.