MKM parking firm scam

[Godzilla]

I just got a 60€ fine for parking in front of the post office I am really angry about it. It was a 15 minutes limit spot, and the parking inspector was RIGHT THERE when I parked, so I was really, really careful about checking the time, putting the parking wheel in an obvious place. I was in and out in 7 minutes; I timed it. And yet, there was the ticket on the window. Stupid of me, I should have driven around the block until the inspector left.

Those thieving cheating sons-of-bitches. So I sent in a complaint on their webform and got back a notice saying they have the right to do that, so pay up, and here's our bank info.

[Beep_Boop]

Remove your license plate from the public records. They won't be able to bill you anymore.

[Pursuivant]

So what did you goof up then to get a fine? (I thougt only county wardens could do curbside fines?)

[Honest]

Don't give up. Pay the fine and ask them to give the form to apeal their decision to the higher authority. There is an apeal form which goes to court. You don't need to go there or pay any fee, it's just written communication. Take that apeal form and Fill it in English even if it's in Finnish. The process might take some timebut at least they would know that they can't just go and give parking tickets to legally parked cars. I hope you have take a photo of the parking clock as an evidence.

[Upphew]

So what did you goof up then to get a fine? (I thougt only county wardens could do curbside fines?)

Post office could be in mall and curbside at their private parking lot.

[007]

I just got a 60€ fine for parking in front of the post office I am really angry about it. It was a 15 minutes limit spot, and the parking inspector was RIGHT THERE when I parked, so I was really, really careful about checking the time, putting the parking wheel in an obvious place. I was in and out in 7 minutes; I timed it. And yet, there was the ticket on the window. Stupid of me, I should have driven around the block until the inspector left.

Those thieving cheating sons-of-bitches. So I sent in a complaint on their webform and got back a notice saying they have the right to do that, so pay up, and here's our bank info.

so what was the reason given for the ticket?

[Godzilla]

The reason given was "improper use of the parking wheel". The post of fice is not in a mall, but it is a private lot. Nonetheless, the post office has several spaces allocated with 15 minute limits; I imagine they pay to rent the spaces from MKM.

I don't know if they have the right to collect fines or not, but they do issue official looking tickets, and when I sent the complaint form what I got back was not a justification of my particular ticket or denial of appeal per se, but chapter and verse from some legal decision justifying their right to issue tickets. So they don't look at or consider the actual issue in their appeal process; in fact, there is no process.

The irritating thing is that I double checked when leaving the car and watched my time carefully, because I knew the parking inspector was right there, and I knew I would get a ticket if anything was improper. I've had experiences with MKM before, and when time is short they will wait by your car with their pad and pen ready. Of course, I haven't got any evidence , what kind of evidence could one have?

Except - as it happens, the car is only in my wife's name, and she was out of town and has airplane tickets to prove it. She has also been ticketed by them before, so they have her info (in fact, the appeal reply email went back to her, not to me, despite my name being on it).

I am 100% certain that if we pay up, that will be the end of it and we won't get it back.

[ajdias]

http://www.kkv.fi/en/facts-and-advice/d ... g-control/

[harryc]

http://www.kkv.fi/en/facts-and-advice/d ... g-control/

Interesting - the Hki official parking authority requires payment regardless of a complaint - at least that's the way it was a year or two ago.

I parked in what I thought was a clear B area (have a B permit). I was surprised to find a ticket in the evening. I then noticed the Zebra sign on the other side - on the ground - covered mostly by snow. And of course the stripes on street were all covered by snow. There was no sign on my side. I took pictures of everything - and complaint was rejected. (the Zebra was in an odd place - not in a usual intersection situation)

I sent the VERY same material to Oikeus-Hallinto - and after a year - got a letter saying I was right and that Hki had to return all monies.

++

Regarding parking 'wheel' - 15 minutes is difficult to show on those things - there was the case a couple of months ago where it was said that one is actually supposed to use only clearly marked half-hour segments - I wonder how the 15 minute thing works out legally there.

One just has to use 'sisu.'

[Upphew]

Regarding parking 'wheel' - 15 minutes is difficult to show on those things - there was the case a couple of months ago where it was said that one is actually supposed to use only clearly marked half-hour segments - I wonder how the 15 minute thing works out legally there.

One just has to use 'sisu.'

Yup, next half or full hour. So kinda hard to measure that in 15 minutes increments.

[harryc]

Yup, next half or full hour. So kinda hard to measure that in 15 minutes increments.

There's the opening for the OP - there is no practical and accepted way to show '15 minutes.'

[Godzilla]

the 15 minute issue doesn't come up since I was there pretty much exactly on the hour, and the parking wheel was set accordingly.

[harryc]

So how were you supposed to show 15 mins? And how did you show it?

What we're trying to say to you is that since those parking wheels are supposed to be only used for the half hour 'marks' (x:00 and x:30) - the civil parking authority should now have to tell you how the 15 minute should be acceptably and legally 'notified'

You also should not pay until you have gotten full explanations - when you write your reclamation you should call the official parking authority and ask them what their instructions are for regulating a 15 minute time period.

[Beep_Boop]

Ah, Jesus. I said it first and I say it again, unlist your license plate and be done with it for good! You have the right by law to unlist your license plate.

[Godzilla]

Harry, what I mean is that my parking wheel was set to exactly 17.00, because that's when I parked there. It should have been good until 17.15 regardless of any parking wheel shenanigans. The ticket is made out for 17.07. But I do recognize there would be a problem, if I had for example parked there at 17.15 instead, and knowing this I will have to be extra careful not to go to the post office except right on the hour or half-hour. Except it doesn't seem do matter since they write tickets whenever it takes their fancy anyways.

It sounds like ajidas' link pretty much settles it. It was my wife's car and she wasn't driving it and can prove it, and they also have to establish a breach, and there was none because they are just a bunch of thieves, and since we've already complained and they didn't give grounds we don't have to pay.

I'm not sure how I can unregister my plates. MKM has our car's info, they had it from before, so I don't see how getting it out of the public record will make a difference.