What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks

I've been fined for overstaying at a motorway services - must I pay?

Myself and a colleague today received parking charge notices for exceeding a two hour limit at a motorway service station. We feel disgruntled on several fronts; we were paying for food and refreshments, the car park is huge and there were dozens of empty spaces, and the DVLA, a government agency, provided our personal details to a company they presumably know nothing about! My immediate response is that I won't pay. What would you suggest? How likely is a company like this to be successful in pursuing payment?

Asked on 15 July 2010 by anthonyboulton43

Answered by Honest John
Apologise for your "minor breach of contract in overstaying your allotted time" and enclose a cheque for £5 "in reasonable full and final settlement". It will then be up to Moto's parking enforcers to take you to court, stand up in front of a magistrate and insist that whatever they are attempting to hit you with is reasonable. It isn't, so they won't.
Similar questions
Apropos of one of your recent letters topics - see this from the BBC: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-21752893 “Motorists who were unable to leave Pease Pottage service station on the A23 on Monday...
Regarding my ‘fine’ for taking a nap in a Moto motorway rest area, following your advice, here is my response to CP Plus, which I hope will at least give you a chuckle: "Dear Sirs, Your attached request...
Last Monday our car broke down in the car park of a Welcome Break motorway services on the M5. I called out the AA and they told me it wasn't safe to drive the car. After an hour and a half under the bonnet...
 

Value my car

Save £75 on Warranty using code HJ75

with MotorEasy

Get a warranty quote

Save 12% on GAP Insurance

Use HJ21 to save on an ALA policy

See offer