Tesco 'parking helpline' (moronic oxymoron)

Alx*27

Paradigm wrote: »

Now an official one, can anyone see any similarity in layout? Not an attempt to deceive surely?

I can see four fraudulent terms Sir!

• Civil Penalty Notice
• Parking Contravention
• Penalty Charge
• Offence

Coupon-mad

Alx*27 wrote: »

I can see four fraudulent terms Sir!

• Civil Penalty Notice
• Parking Contravention
• Penalty Charge
• Offence

Yes but that's the real PCN! :rotfl:



Well all these posts have made very interesting reading.:T

It has made my mind up that the sign needs to be reported as unfair/misleading on two counts (quite separate from the fact that most of us here know that the £70 is clearly an unenforceable penalty by any other name):

1. Surely the use of the words 'Tesco Parking helpline' which then apparently gives EuroCarparks phone number is illegal misrepresentation?

2. And stating that 'all profits' from parking charges go to their charity - without clarifying anywhere on the sign that a huge slice of the pie goes to an unidentifed PPC has surely got to break the terms of the Charities Act 2006?



Who is with me on this? (Obviously not Premier or Annihilator - for that is how to spell the word correctly...I reserve the right to charge a spellcheck charge of £50, reduced to £25 if you pay within 14 days...:rolleyes::p ).

I suggest that this week, those of us who care about this can take some action and report this misleading sign. I see that biscuitdunker has already emailed Tesco's Charity of the Year, I think I will add another email to their inbox tomorrow pointing out the apparent misrepresentation of the profit distribution on this sign.

But I want to report points 1 and 2 further than just to the charity, after all they are in partnership with Tesco this year and won't want to rock that boat.

I'm not certain who to report it to, the misleading % profits allegation should go to the Charities Commission I think, but what about the misleading 'helpline phone number'?

usignuolo

Anilihator if you scroll back up this thread you will find the post I made earlier quoting the letter Tesco sent to a customer who was challenging their "overstay" charge by pointing out they were not the driver. However to help you along here it is again

“While I appreciate that you may not have been the driver on the day in question, I must reiterate that as the registered owner, you are responsible for any fines and charges implemented on the vehicle.

Kirsten Callan
Customer Service Executive, Tesco

This is a common ploy. It was tried on me, a couple of years back, when I got sent a threatening leter about a fine (which I never saw) for a period when my car was in the garage for a service. I could prove conclusively that I was at work at the time, and told them so but they wrote to me and phoned me to tell me that it made no difference who the driver was, the registered keeper was liable and should pay up or face legal action.

( Sorry can't remember the name of the CPC it was a big one, with offices in Hull I recall.)

This is a common tactic and of course completely untrue. Why are they allowed to get away with telling fibs like this?

peter_the_piper

""Why are they allowed to get away with telling fibs like this?""

Because there is no-one to stop them. I the case of Tesco, they have probably been told this by the PPC so it has to be true of course. With the PPC , trading standards do not have the b**** to stand up to them.

ben501

In case it's of any use/interest to anyone in this entertaining discussion

the phone number would seem to be Tesco's.

http://www.saynoto0870.com/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.cgi?num=1195902930/22#22

Re: Tesco Stores Ltd - Store extensions
Reply #22 - Dec 2nd, 2007, 1:48pm
Tesco Car park helpline (Known in our stores as the cones hotline)

01382 227820


Other companies just reference it I guess.

trisontana

ben501 wrote: »

In case it's of any use/interest to anyone in this entertaining discussion

the phone number would seem to be Tesco's.

http://www.saynoto0870.com/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.cgi?num=1195902930/22#22

Re: Tesco Stores Ltd - Store extensions
Reply #22 - Dec 2nd, 2007, 1:48pm
Tesco Car park helpline (Known in our stores as the cones hotline)

01382 227820


Other companies just reference it I guess.

But if it is indeed Tesco's own operation, why is that number appearing on a PPC's website?

Of course the answer is that the PPC carries out all the dirty work of issuing tickets and collecting "fines", but it's all hidden away under the "respectable" cloak of Tesco.

Coblcris

ben501 wrote: »

In case it's of any use/interest to anyone in this entertaining discussion

the phone number would seem to be Tesco's.

http://www.saynoto0870.com/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.cgi?num=1195902930/22#22

Re: Tesco Stores Ltd - Store extensions
Reply #22 - Dec 2nd, 2007, 1:48pm
Tesco Car park helpline (Known in our stores as the cones hotline)

01382 227820


Other companies just reference it I guess.

A telephone call can be automatically forwarded anywhere.

Coblcris

peter_the_piper wrote: »

""Why are they allowed to get away with telling fibs like this?""

Because there is no-one to stop them. I the case of Tesco, they have probably been told this by the PPC so it has to be true of course. With the PPC , trading standards do not have the b**** to stand up to them.

A close study of :-
The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (No. 1277)
The Enterprise Act 2002 (Supply of Services) Order 2003
The Companies (Registrar, Languages and Trading Disclosures) Regulations 2006 ( S.I. 2006 No.3429)
The Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999
Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977
The Fraud Act 2006

Should be fruitful.

Tradings Standards can be, shall we say variable.
However there is a list of the legislation which it is their duty to enforce. As that list is maintained by Trading Standards its quality may also be variable..

One aspect which is often overlooked is to properly address complaints to a body which is recognised as being able to issue "super complaints".

LilacPixie

the number is a Dundee one and Tesco do have a large callcentre in dundee

Premier_2

LilacPixie wrote: »

the number is a Dundee one and Tesco do have a large callcentre in dundee

There's no point trying to explain.

Unless you can prove the line isn't being tapped by Euro Car Parks, you won't be able to convince some posters here. :rolleyes:

peter_the_piper wrote:

""Why are they allowed to get away with telling fibs like this?""

I don't know. Suppose that's what you get when you don't moderate a forum.
Hence the warning above:

Remember, this is an open forum! Anyone can post so always exercise caution when acting on info

As I said, if people care to phone the number, the truth will be explained