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How to appeal a ticket
How to appeal a parking ticket

How to Appeal Met Parking Services – Should You Pay or Not?

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Janine
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Janine Marsh

Financial Expert

My name’s Janine, and I’m a mum of two who’s always been passionate about trying to cut down spending costs. I am now sharing as much financial knowledge as I possibly can to help your money go that little bit further.

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· Mar 1st, 2024
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met parking services appeal

Did you get a parking fine from Met Parking Services? You might feel worried and unsure but don’t fear – this article is here to help. Every month, more than 32,000 people come to this site for advice on tickets and fines.

This guide will help you understand:

  • Who Met Parking Services are.
  • Why they might give you a fine.
  • If you must pay private parking fines in the UK.
  • How to avoid paying Met Parking Services parking tickets.
  • The process of appealing a Met Parking Services fine and what to do next.

We know how you feel, as our team has guided lots of people in the same boat, so you’re not alone. We get it, and we’re here to offer our advice. Let’s dive in and learn how to handle your parking fine.

Do You Have to Pay?

In some circumstances, you might have a legitimate reason not to pay your fine.

It’s a bit sneaky, but the last time I needed legal advice, I paid £5 for a trial to chat with an online solicitor called JustAnswer.

Not only did I save £50 on solicitor feeds, I also won my case and didn’t have to pay my £271 fine.

Chat below to get started with JustAnswer

In partnership with Just Answer.

Why would Met Parking Services hand you a fine?

Met Parking Services could hand you a fine, or the operator could send the parking charge in the mail. You’d get a fine for not obeying the operator’s rules when using a car park the company manages.

So, you’re expected to read the Terms & Conditions before parking, so you know what the ‘rules’ are. Unfortunately, the signs are not always that clear, which leads to motorists getting a parking charge.

The most common reasons why Met Parking Services could fine you include because you:

  • Parked poorly
  • Did not pay the correct fee to park or didn’t pay at all
  • Left your vehicle in a bay designated for the disabled or families with young children
  • Forgot to display the parking fee in your vehicle
  • Got back to your car later than the time you paid for

Should you pay a Met Parking Services fine within 14 days?

You could pay it early if you know the fine was served correctly and don’t have a good reason to contest it. When you pay a Met Parking Services fine within two weeks, the operator reduces the fine by up to 40%!

However, only pay the fine when you’re absolutely sure you deserve it and that it was served correctly!

You’ll need to provide the following details when paying the parking charge:

  • Your vehicle registration number (VRN)
  • The reference number on the fine
  • How you’re planning to pay

You can pay the charge online or over the phone on 0203 781 7471.

Successful Appeal Case Study

Situation

Initial Fine £100
Additional Fees £171
Total Fine £271

The Appeal Process

Scott used JustAnswer, online legal service to enhance his appeal. The trial of this cost him just £5.

Total Fine £271
Cost of legal advice £5

JustAnswer helped Scott craft the best appeal possible and he was able to win his case.

Scott’s fine was cancelled and he only paid £5 for the legal help.

Get started

In partnership with Just Answer.

What’s a good excuse for appealing a Met Parking Services fine?

There are a number of reasons why Met Parking Services should cancel a parking charge. I’ve listed some excuses here:

  • You parked correctly and paid the right fee
  • The operator issued the parking charge without allowing you a grace period
  • The parking charge was served incorrectly
  • You received the fine in the post, but there were no signs indicating CCTV or ANPR was in operation
  • The parking fine arrived through the post over two weeks after the alleged violation
  • You didn’t own the vehicle when the parking charge was issued
  • You couldn’t get back in time due to a medical emergency
  • The signs were unclear, and road markings were faded
  • You were broken down and had to wait for assistance
  • You couldn’t pay to park because the machines were out of order

All of the above are grounds for appealing a Met Parking Services fine. You must appeal the parking charge within the deadline of 28 days.

But when you appeal within two weeks, and the operator rejects the challenge, they may offer you a discounted fine. This could be 40% less than the original amount.

What does a grace period mean?

Operators who manage car parks for landowners must allow you ten minutes’ grace when you return to your car. In short, an operator should not issue a parking charge until the grace period has expired.

But you must be parked correctly and have paid a fee to benefit from ten minutes grace! If the operator issued the fine before the grace period was up, the parking charge should be cancelled.

What happens after you appeal a Met Parking Services fine?

Once Met Parking Services receives your appeal, the operator puts everything on hold while they deal with the challenge. In short, the operator can’t chase you for payment during this time!

» TAKE ACTION NOW: Get legal support from JustAnswer

Met Parking Services rejected my appeal. What should I do?

You’ll get a letter telling you the operator rejected your appeal. The letter should let you know about your options. For example, you could opt to pay the fine at this point. Or you could escalate the appeal.

Met Parking Services is part of the BPA; therefore, you’d escalate your appeal to the Parking on Private Land Appeals (POPLA). It’s an independent appeals service that’s free of charge.

Plus, everything remains on hold until POPLA decides whether to accept your appeal or reject it!

That said, POPLA’s decision is final!

How to avoid paying Met Parking Services parking tickets

If you want to avoid paying a Met Parking Services parking ticket then you’ll need an airtight appeal.

The best way to perfect your appeal is getting a little advice from a Solicitor. I’d 100% recommend spending a fiver to get a trial of JustAnswer.

You can explain your situation in their chat and they’ll connect you with a Solicitor who can advise you and give you the best chance to win your appeal.

Click here to get the trial offer with JustAnswer.

Getting the support of a Solicitor can take a huge weight off your mind.

Get started

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Should you pay or appeal a Met Parking Services fine?

Before paying a Met Parking Services fine, ensure the parking charge details are correct. Plus, check if the operator served the fine correctly! If you think you have grounds to contest the fine, go for it!

But make sure you have enough evidence to support your appeal because, without a valid reason, Met Parking Services could reject it! Also, file your appeal within two weeks, which could see you paying a lesser fine if the operator rejects it!

On the other hand, if you know the parking charge was correctly served, you could opt to pay it within two weeks. Like this, you’ll pay 40% less!

Thanks for reading my article on whether to pay or appeal a Met Parking Service fine. I hope it helps you decide whether appealing or paying could be the best option.

Hire a Parking Solicitor for less than a coffee.

If you’re thinking about appealing your parking ticket then getting some professional advice is a good idea.

Getting the support of a Solicitor can make your appeal much more likely to win.

For a £5 trial, Solicitors from JustAnswer can look at your case and help you create an airtight appeal.

 

Get started

In partnership with Just Answer.

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The authors
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My name’s Janine, and I’m a mum of two who’s always been passionate about trying to cut down spending costs. I am now sharing as much financial knowledge as I possibly can to help your money go that little bit further.