Poss parking charge at Teso, Huddersfield

Catlovernat

Hello all, I've been stressing since yesterday about a possible charge I've incurred by overstaying the 2 hour time limit at tescos in Huddersfield yesterday. I was only about ten minutes over after not taking into account the length of time it actually took me to find a space. I checked the time when i parked up but obviously they clock you from when you enter. do you think they allow for this? I've not had a letter yet as it was only yesterday but I've been worrying about since then. My husband will be furious if I've incurred a charge as we're strapped for cash as it is. I haven't told him yet in case i don't have to. I know it's daft as I've not even got a letter yet, but if I do should I just ignore it?

Thanks for reading and sorry for rambling.

somethingcorporate

Just ignore it - it is not a fine it is merely a request for payment.

ManxRed

Who is the registered keeper of the car? They are the person that will receive the threatening letters. If its you, then fine, if its hubby then you may need to have a 'chat' with him.

Whatever you do though, don't you or your husband pay it.

Catlovernat

I'm the registered keeper so the letter should come to me. I'm just hoping a letter won't come at all, but after reading a lot of posts on here I'm not holding my breath. If it does though I shall try not to stress and I will ignore it. Thanks.

trisontana

Just treat those letters as you would any other junk mail.

grant_uk

Please don't panic. These companies try to intimidate people into paying speculative invoices that are otherwise unenforceable.

Check through the threads on here.

Be confident that thousands of these non-fines are successfully ignored by people who realise that they are nothing more than a scam.

Don't worry about having to waste your hard earned cash, but come back here if you are concerned about any aspect.

Will your husband be as annoyed once he realises you've incurred a charge that you don't have to pay? Or, like the rest of us on here, will any anger be redirected towards the PPCs once he's realised how the entire private parking industry is based on intimidation rather than legal recourse?

I highly recommend you both look through the threads on here so you get a genuine understanding about how these companies operate and why any invoices you receive from private parking companies should be filed in the waste paper basket.

In any case, you may hear nothing. I've tempted fate a couple of times in a particular Tesco I visit from time to time which has a PPC controlling it.

Nothing

Coupon-mad

Please do tell your OH so he is aware of the 'fake PCN' from a private company' scam as well. They can't fine anyone legally.

The registered keeper can just ignore the 'ticket' and ignore the other letters that will arrive. The letters are easy to ignore and laugh at, when they arrive at the address of someone who knows it's all hogwash and not a real parking ticket at all.

The whole scam of fake PCNs relies firstly on people's ignorance of the fact that a random private company can't fine anyone, and secondly on their natural fear of parking tickets and the escalating costs/bailiff scenario. So PPCs copy the look of a real parking ticket and - hey presto! - the cash rolls in from victims who know no better.

There is no fine, no CCJ, no bailiff, no debt, no effect on credit rating, no Court, no repercussions at all from a pathetic, unenforceable fake PCN (= invoice) issued by a random third party.

The signs & cameras are irrelevant; there was no contract between you and the PPC as they don't own the land, have made no loss, and the owners of the services have offered the consideration of parking (so any alleged implied contract could only be with them, not the PPC). They just issue speculative invoices desssed up to look like parking tickets, which they are NOT.

Tick off the threatening letters here.

Watchdog clip with expert Solicitor's opinion here.

This week's 'Watchdog Daily' here (2 or 3 updates & info during the programme!).

Barrister's opinion - read the answer at the bottom, it's very clear! - here.

So I recommend from now on that you just play snap with the threatograms from debt collectors - choose to ignore and laugh at the scammer and their attempt to extort money. It's like deleting obvious phishing emails from your 'Bank'; it's a very similar con based on impersonation of authority.

Finally, complain in writing or by email to the Supermarket head office; not an appeal, a COMPLAINT about this harassment of paying customers who are innocently arriving in a busy car park, queuing at busy tills, and generally spending MONEY in the lead-up to Christmas!

It is unacceptable treatment of customers - so get angry about it, not scared of the fake PCN rubbish. I have ignored two in Supermarket car parks for overstaying and regularly use those car parks. And I care not if I overstay when shopping, would happily collect another fake PCN as they make me laugh.

DID I SAY DO NOT PAY?!!!!!!!!!!