Parked in a family pool car at McDonalds in a disabled bay, placed badge on seat as always do, bought a meal (receipt retained) and left 12 mins later.  Sat with my meal by the window in full view of the car.

A week or so later the enclosed Notice to Keeper ticket turns up, I’ve had a look at the online photos and it is just 4 photos all the same as the on on the notice, just different time stamps, approx 20 secs apart, 21:50 - 21:51:20 - 21:51:40 & 21:52.  ( I was served at 21:54:!4)

Have since taken a photo of the signage, both are enclosed.


Not sure why their wording ‘apparent’ is used, but as such no enforcement officer of any kind was in attendance.

Have been back to the branch with the car, with the ticket and with the badge, they simply said ‘email MET parking’ which is not how it works


No drivers details has been given, no appeal notice as yet filled in.  How do I approach this?

(just as an aside, it’s actually a bit embarrassing knowing they’re filming the car, part of the disability is bag for fluids which has to be manoeuvred / becomes visible  a little when getting out of a car, not sure Im happy with them remotely taking photographs of the car etc.

UKPC - Non showing of a disabled badge in Windscreen, private retail park at 16:30 (all shops closed) on a Sunday

My partner and I parked in a private retail park, disabled badge on seat

Amongst other things the timeline of their Notice to Keeper & Final Demand seemed skewed, we've had two bank holidays in the period but in any case.

Timeline:
28/04/24: Date of alleged contravention.

30/04/24 Letter received: Notice to keeper offering me as the registered keeper to pay the charge of £100 or to pass the letter on to the driver at the time. They offered a reduced fee of £60 if paid within 14 days of the letter

09/05/24 Sent them a letter explaining a disabled driver was with the vehicle at the time (my partner) gave no names of my partner but included a copy of the badge. The badge was on the seat but their photos showed one seat and not the one it was on.

14/05/25 - Received 16/05/25 on Final Demand from UPKC saying as I had failed to supply drive details/or any representations that they had increased the amount to £100 and if no representations / driver details supplied within 14 days it would be passed on to debt recovery.

27th May 2025 (bank holiday) 13 days since the date of their final demand and 11 days after I received it I visited the appeal site, entered the details of my vehicle ref reference number to be confronted with:

This Parking Charge Notice is currently not eligible for appeal, due to the following reason:
Unfortunately we are unable to accept this Appeal as the Parking Charge Reference number has now been referr
Debt Recovery Team.

I visited the photo page on the same day 27/05/2024 and showed the amount outstanding as £170.

So as of today 27/05/2024 (13 days from their letter for a final demand) I have sent another letter to them, one in email to them from their own website and same will go in the post tomorrow 28/05/24 (which is the 14 days but haven't been able to send anything in the post over the weekend or the bank holiday. I'm sending this letter recorded signed for this time.

I don't intend to enter into protracted emails with UKPC as it achieves nothing but instead they can take me to court if they so desire, I had a badge, it was displayed albeit not on the screen as I tend to leave it on the seats when the car screen is on display when it's right next to a shop front.

Footnote: Their entire procedure seems off, first of all I'm convinced that the person taking the photos was actually a security guard at the store I was visiting, doubling as a UKPC employee? it was 16:30 on a Sunday afternoon, all the shops had closed or were in the process of.

Secondly, the parking charge was issued less than 48hrs after we were on the retail park and they give 14 days from the date of the letter to respond, i sent a response within that time but it seems to have mysteriously not been received.

Thirdly on the 'Final Demand' it gave a futher 14 days from the date of their letter but after 13 days (bank holiday monday) it's showing as in debt recovery etc etc.

Any comments / input is appreciated.