UKPC Disabled Bay Ticket

savagevixen

Hi
I am well aware that this has been well covered and am seeking assurance and advice. I am very wary of evil debt collecting notices and having been declared bankrupt 2.5years ago hoped to never be scared by them again.
In July I vistited a Tesco Living. I assumed the carpark was owned by Tesco's. This store has only 2 parent and child parking bays in front of the store. About 8 disabled bays and 8 standard bays. There is no drop off bay or place to pull up. I had my baby (3 months) and disabled mother-in-law (blue badge holder) in the car. My visit was to return a large faulty chair. On arrival the heavens opened and the rain was so heavy you could barely see. The 2 parent and child bays were full. The standard bays were full. The disabled bays were empty. Any other large bays were at other stores, and I would not be able to manage the baby, the chair and granny, especially with the rain.
I drove around the carpark 3 times hoping the P&C bays would become free. When they did not and neither did the rain, I decided to park in a disabled bay. My reason for not doing this initially was M-I-L had left her Blue badge in at home. We displayed a large white envelope saying 'Blue Badge in other car' (I have the sign). We were in the store for around 30 mins (manouvering round the store to the top level, with the broken chair, queuing, waiting for item to be found on system, refund to be made, and then on leaving store, tannoyed back to the top floor as card accidently retained)
On arrival back at the car, a ticket stuck from UKPC. £45 or £90 if not paid in 14 days.
1 week later I received a 'Certificate' with a 'fine'. A photo of car from the rear (so no dash display)
Then another.
Now 2 weeks on,today a Debt collectors letter for £146.75!!!!:eek:
I am quite happy to follow advice and ignore, but IT IS SCARY.
I am concerned that as I was in a disabled bay, they may have more grounds for court action. I contacted the store to complain and the manager said it was my fault and was a complete *******.
My instinct was to write and explain (as I am confident that with a council fine we could have at least been heard) but following from this site I chose not to contact them. Now as predicted a debt collecter's letter, and to be honest it made me feel sick.
I am in more trouble for parking in a disabled bay? And if I go to court do I have a case?

bargepole

savagevixen wrote: »

I am in more trouble for parking in a disabled bay? And if I go to court do I have a case?

You're not in any trouble. Disabled bays, and parent & child bays, in private car parks are simply there as a courtesy, they have no legal standing, and aren't covered by the blue badge scheme like Council ones.

The PPC has to prove a case in court, and as they don't know who the driver was, nor have they suffered any loss in a free car park, there's more chance of Shergar winning the 2010 Grand National ridden by Lord Lucan.

Expect more threatening junk mail, with red writing, chequered borders, and "final warning" written on it, and just ignore it all.

Orford

I am in more trouble for parking in a disabled bay?

Nope. In private carparks, Blue Badge markings are nothing more than grafitti. You are perfectly safe to ignore all the ever more threatening letters

peter_the_piper

Do not fear, the chance of it going to court is less than me winning the lottery(and I don't do it). Its the people who would not normally fight back that they prey on, they get rich on the 90% of law abiding citizens who pay up when asked, lets reduce that percentage a bit.

Coblcris

I have disagree with one aspect of peter's post.

Lets reduce that percentage a lot.

savagevixen

Thanks so much for your replies. When you receive the letters it is horrible and becomes so personal that you feel like paying it to make them go away,
I am just so outraged that they can try to bill me £141 for parking my car for 30 mins, whilst I returned a faulty item. B***ards