Tesco Car Park Ticket

justontime

My mum and step father are both disabled, they went to Tesco yesterday and parked in a disabled parking bay as usual. My mum put the disabled badge on the dashboard as usual and they went shopping. When they got back they had a parking ticket and the disabled parking badge had fallen on to the car floor on the passenger side. I think my mum must have knocked it when she got out but she didn't notice. The notice said that they failed to display the disabled badge, the parking company will obtain their details from dvlc and they will issue a fine later. My mum and stepfather are both 78 and they are worried sick (they are very law abiding people) is there any way to appeal this or should they just pay the fine? Does anyone know what the fine will be? Thanks for your help.

Coblcris

This is not a real parking ticket at all - its a piece of paper from a trickster who is trying to get money for nothing. Disabled badges mean nothing in a private car park as the booklet that came with the badge explains. Standard action is to do nothing at all, do not pay and do not 'appeal' - there is no appeal they are tricksters who just want money. they will send letters to the keeper but the letters are in reality just hokum and are often illegal in their own right. Its the hand holding you need to do with your parents to see them through this that counts the most. As for the PPC reassure your parents that the PPC are just crooked tricksters.

mikey72

Whilst I completely agree with not paying, and fully sympathise with the OP, I have to award full marks to Tesco for trying to enforce disabled parking in this case as well.

BillTrac

Ignore it, dont have any contact with the ticketing company. And make sure that your parents dont either. I know it must be a worry for them, exactly what these con-companies rely on.

Eventually (after threatening with court, bailiffs etc) they will cease to pester

Stick with it

Mikey72, yes I agree with you as well about disabled parking for people who actually need it

Volcano

Given that they are both 'worried sick' about receiving the fine, then I'm not sure how they'll feel when they receive a string of letters culminating in "You now owe us £500+. We're taking you to court on XX/XX/2009 and we've instructed bailiffs to seize your goods and chattels unless you pay up NOW!".

Remember that it'll be this elderly couple who'll be opening these ever-increasingly threatening letters, not the OP. If it was my dear old granny then this would be the ONLY situation that I would consider paying one of these; there's not a hope she'd be able to 'not worry about it' (unfortunately).

If the scummy parking companys could specifically select the old and frail, I'm sure they would.:mad:

Mojisola

I agree with Volcano that they probably won't be able to stand the strain - I know my parents couldn't cope with it. As it was Tesco's car park, could you write to Tesco and explain and ask them to stop the letters. It is Tesco's who have the contract with this company.

Coblcris

I think you will find that Tesco get a percentage from every paid ticket and so don't really care about your case. its just money that motivates them and the PPC.

Ignore the PPC - protect the parents. Show them the recent Excel case and the quotes from Excel about that thing in Huddersfield - Excel admits they can do nothing.

bargepole

justontime wrote: »

My mum and stepfather are both 78 and they are worried sick (they are very law abiding people) is there any way to appeal this or should they just pay the fine?

They haven't broken any laws, and there isn't any fine involved. It's just a demand for money from a bunch of con artists who have no legal right to your parents' hard earned pensions. Appeals are a complete waste of time, they'll just write back with the standard "appeal rejected, now pay up" letter.

justontime

Thanks everyone, I think we will have to pay up when the 'fine' comes, because they couldn't cope with the worry and I couldn't cope with them being that worried! I deal with most of their money matters for them as it is. It is such a silly thing to happen because they are so careful, but my mum had fallen earlier in the day and I think she must have been more wobbly than usual. It is frustrating that there is no way to appeal as it was a genuine accident. Tesco were not remotely interested in helping with the problem, they said it was nothing to do with them. Does anyone know how much the fine will be please?

Coblcris

Tesco are lying - you parked in their car park it was their offer of parking. Its not a fine ! Save your money, in this case I suggest a solictor's letter to the PPC, it will shut the PPC up. It should cost about thirty pounds, a much lesser figure. Plenty of examples of these on the web. Find a specialist who runs them out and pay some money to them. That way your parents are protected and the PPC gets exactly what they deserve, nothing at all.

jdan9

Have you considered just sending them a letter explaining what happened? They might be generous and let you off. My gramps once completely forgot to put his badge out and sent them a letter, and they waived the fine. This was the local authority not a private company though.