Diamond Parking

[Muta]

Hey fellas, I got a $50 ticket from some company named 'Diamond Parking', because I parked in their McDonalds parking lot for too long (it's the McDonalds next to the Pint, and I went to the Pint, not McDonalds). That lot is free, but apparently there's a time limit there and you can only be a customer of McDonalds.

Should I just pay it to avoid the hassle (it says if the amount is not paid after 30 days, they forward it to a debt collection agency), or should I use it as litter box fodder?

Is this a nasty company? Furthermore, are they able to get my personal info from the Alberta government and call me and stuff?

Your opinions are very valued here!

[OMG!WTF!]

Tickets from private companies like Diamond likely won't affect your credit score. Credit agencies will not register any debt without a judgement from a court and it's really not going to be worth their time to sue you for $45. -- They will likely have access to your address for sending letters but probably not your cell number.

However, the McDonalds parking lot isn't free.

[Northendzone]

Persoanally, I'd say pay the ticket as you earned it, but the above likely applies

[PsYcNeT]

Like the vast majority of non-Public parking tickets, it's a non-enforceable essentially voluntary payment.

It's like if the bank had a "No Farting" sign, and I let one rip and they handed me a $50 ticket. Sure I committed a social faux pas and "violated" a privately set "law", but I'm basically handing them a free $50 for being a jerk, rather than actually having broken the law.

[CaptainYooh]

I had one from them (or someone like them) at the Bonterra Restaurant parking a year ago. Just ignore it.

[llwhiteoutll]

Don't bother paying. Or send them Monopoly money.

[Fuzz]

Just don't park in a diamond lot again or you may find your car towed.

[Shaggin Wagon]

LRT would have been cheaper. That said, you should not park in a diamond parking lot until you pay the fine. Your license is in their system and you will be towed if they catch you again.

Just cause an employee is a jerk doesn't mean it is a scam. McDonald's has a legitimate concern about their parking lot.

If you feel you were wrongly ticketed, this blog may help
http://diamondparkingscam.blogspot.ca/

[Cheerio]

I got a Vinci parking ticket 8 months ago because when I paid for parking I entered my old license plate number rather than my current one. I would have had no issues paying it, except it was $90 which is unreasonable. I've since parked in other vinci lots with no issues

[PsYcNeT]

Yeah most of those lot guys are too busy stealing all the change from the machines (which apparently don't have counters for some reason) than to call tow trucks on you.

[Swarly]

Good reason to get a new licence plate every year, rather than just renewing.

[Bmuzyka]

If I am not mistaken, they cannot tow you. There was a huge fuss a few years ago when Impark towed some people, and it was effectively theft. The vehicle has to stay in the same spot for so long before it will be owed out of a private spot.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by Bmuzyka

If I am not mistaken, they cannot tow you. There was a huge fuss a few years ago when Impark towed some people, and it was effectively theft. The vehicle has to stay in the same spot for so long before it will be owed out of a private spot.

Now they just call the city, who then ticket you and get you towed on the spot. Got my car towed from a private lot last week with this exact process. Went to pick up my car at the impound lot and noticed I got a city of Calgary parking ticket even though I was in a private lot. Questioned the clerk about it and she said they now have the city come and ticket you so they can legally have you towed on the spot.

[CaptainYooh]

FWIW, I've been at a lunch'n'learn presentation on commercial litigation a couple of years ago, and a lawyer-speaker said that she personally had numerous outstanding Impark tickets and that she would have loved to see Impark trying to sue/collect on them.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Bmuzyka

If I am not mistaken, they cannot tow you. There was a huge fuss a few years ago when Impark towed some people, and it was effectively theft. The vehicle has to stay in the same spot for so long before it will be owed out of a private spot.

That time must be exactly 20 minutes. Because thats how long it took the city to come ticket and tow someone out of my spot at my condo a few years back.

[lazypucker]

I've got an Impark one while I was in Vancouver earlier this year. But luckily the guy who wrote the ticket put AZ (Arizona) on the Prov/State field instead of AB (Alberta). I hope by that technicality I can escape from my car being towed... Thoughts?

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by lazypucker

I've got an Impark one while I was in Vancouver earlier this year. But luckily the guy who wrote the ticket put AZ (Arizona) on the Prov/State field instead of AB (Alberta). I hope by that technicality I can escape from my car being towed... Thoughts?

I've gotten 3 Impark tickets in the past and still don't get towed from their lots.

I do pay to park from time to time but not every time.

[lazypucker]

Originally Posted by Weitz

I've gotten 3 Impark tickets in the past and still don't get towed from their lots.

I do pay to park from time to time but not every time.

Good to know.

I forgot to mentioned that I had paid, but was just late to pick the car up by like 20 minutes...

[Party Elephant]

I got two tickets at eat claire like 5-6 years ago that I never paid, and nothing ever came of it. Think I may be home free now.

[Handsome B. Wonderful]

Originally Posted by lazypucker

I've got an Impark one while I was in Vancouver earlier this year. But luckily the guy who wrote the ticket put AZ (Arizona) on the Prov/State field instead of AB (Alberta). I hope by that technicality I can escape from my car being towed... Thoughts?

My thoughts on this: Go ahead Impark, try and find me.