Asda Disabled Parking Policy

rdwarr

I had a phone call from Asda this morning in response to a couple of questions I'd asked pertaining to parking for disabled visitors to the Stevenage store.

Here, parking is "managed" by TCP (Town and Country Parking) and there are signs saying that a charge will apply to anybody parking in a disabled bay without displaying a "Valid Disabled Badge".

I had asked what their definition of a "valid disabled badge" was (given that the Blue Badge scheme clearly dows not apply on private land) and what provision was made for disabled visitors who hadn't got one. I had mentioned the Equality Act (2010) in my note.

The guy on the phone was quite pleasent but did seem out of his depth. By "valid disabled badge" they mean "Blue Badge" and if I parked there without displaying one then I would receive a charge although he was confident that TCP would refund this if I appealed. The best thing for me to do would be to apply for a Blue Badge and there was a website where I coudl do this.

I stated that the scheme did not apply and that the current policy was in breach of the Equality Act and thus was a very serious matter. He then went off to speak to a supervisor and said that, in some stores, it may be possible to make a note of the car's registration number so that it would not be ticketed in the first place.

So, there you have it. Draw your own conclusions, I already have.

ManxRed

They're ignorant of the law?

Guys_Dad

A Vehicle Excise Licence with the words Disabled and zero tax paid seems like a good badge to me.

rdwarr

Guys_Dad wrote: »

A Vehicle Excise Licence with the words Disabled and zero tax paid seems like a good badge to me.

Agreed.

I think that only applies to vehicles registered to those who are getting the higher rate of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or War Pensioners Mobility Supplement.

So it definitely should allow somebody to park in a disabled bay but there must be thousands of disabled people who don't qualify for this.

Coupon-mad

And there are always people being diagnosed every day with debiliatating conditions, like cancer, and they may still want to get out and about straight away to stores, cinemas, retail parks. But they may well need to park as close to the facility as possible in case they tire easily, or maybe they simply can't manage to walk far.

Such people are covered by the Equality Act 2010 from the very moment of diagnosis but will not have a Blue Badge nor a disabled tax disc.

That's why it's wrong to harass such drivers - IMHO what's required is simply an informed ASDA staff member, helping disabled people to find a suitable place to park (including on DYL and loading areas and parent and child bays). They should be helping people, not threatening people with fake fines.

Such a visible presence around those bays, along with clear signage, would be compliant with the Equality Act and would help disabled people more than a threat of fines from idiots who think the Blue badge scheme is the be-all and end-all of car park disability provision.

We know that Asda stores do sometimes have a 'white list' of exempt disabled customers' cars that TCP (Smart Parking Ltd) are not allowed to ticket. Get yourself on that list - insist that your local store starts such a list or tell them they are in breach of the Equality Act 2010 as soon as the TCP/SMart goons start harassing you.

See this post about the Greenhithe Asda store:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/57038897#Comment_57038897


HTH

fivetide

Coupon-mad wrote: »

And there are always people being diagnosed every day with debiliatating conditions, like cancer, and they may still want to get out and about straight away to stores, cinemas, retail parks. But they may well need to park as close to the facility as possible in case they tire easily, or maybe they simply can't manage to walk far.

Such people are covered by the Equality Act 2010 from the very moment of diagnosis but will not have a Blue Badge nor a disabled tax disc.

Totally agree there.

That's why it's wrong to harass such drivers - IMHO what's required is simply an informed ASDA staff member, helping disabled people to find a suitable place to park (including on DYL and loading areas and parent and child bays). They should be helping people, not threatening people with fake fines.

A great idea but can you see Asda paying a member of staff to stand outside to monitor 10 or perhaps 20 parking bays? Whilst it would be the best, economically I don't think it will ever happen.

Plus, someone might have an illness like cancer which isn't immediately obvious. I am not sure being challenged on whether you should be parkign there by some spotty trainee is going to go down well with someone who has just been diagnosed with a potentially terminal illness.

Such a visible presence around those bays, along with clear signage, would be compliant with the Equality Act and would help disabled people more than a threat of fines from idiots who think the Blue badge scheme is the be-all and end-all of car park disability provision.

I think the signs should be linked with the below:

We know that Asda stores do sometimes have a 'white list' of exempt disabled customers' cars that TCP (Smart Parking Ltd) are not allowed to ticket. Get yourself on that list - insist that your local store starts such a list or tell them they are in breach of the Equality Act 2010 as soon as the TCP/SMart goons start harassing you.

All stores should do that. They should clearly state if you require the parking space please approach the customer services desk or something to register your car.

What about people who are giving a lift to someone for example? That car won't have a tax disc and the passenger might not have a blue badge with them. These things can be forgotten. Forexample someone might give a lift to a relative who normally drives so the badge is safely tucked up in their car, it is just due to the effects of medication they feel unsafe to drive. they should still be able to use the space though as said. At the moment there is no provision for situations like this.

That will stop Asda staff having to challenge people in public as they are getting out of their car and let those who don't actually need the space but simply can't be bothered to walk a bit further to the door know that the store does take the needs of disabled shoppers seriously.

atilla

Beware with the Stevenage store. The Carpark is Council run, or at least it was a couple of years ago.

NowRetired

My wife has her leg in plaster at the moment and I am now parking in disabled bays at my local Asda as the distance from ordinary parking spaces are too far away and anyway when we go shopping the car park is practically empty.

So I park and !!!!!! Turpin comes running up to see if I have a blue badge, I don't, as her injury isn't permanent and says I can't park there.

I let him see me helping my wife out with her leg in plaster and I tell him if I come back and find a parking ticket I shall be returning my shopping to Asda.

I know he could not care less.

We were there to buy a £500 TV.

So what is on my car when I come back with my TV? A threatening letter demanding £60, or £30 if I pay up without making a fuss.

So I turn straight back with my £500 TV and go to the customer service desk and ask for a manager and also that I wish to return the TV.

The manager asks why I am returning the TV and I tell him I am never shopping in Asda again because of their parking policy.

He mutters something about not another one and ensures me that the menacing demand will be rescinded and actually goes outside to find !!!!!! Turpin and tells him to cancel the ticket.

I told the manager if I ever get a letter from the parking company I will be back with my TV for a refund, I have a year to do it and I shall go to the local newspaper.

We shall see what happens.

I know it is not the managers fault, but if enough people complain perhaps something will be done.

surfboy1

"A great idea but can you see Asda paying a member of staff to stand outside to monitor 10 or perhaps 20 parking bays? Whilst it would be the best, economically I don't think it will ever happen"

Yet Asda pay someone to stand arround the tills with a large hand on a pole pointing to an empty till!

SodG24

rdwarr wrote: »

So, there you have it. Draw your own conclusions, I already have.

My conclusion ? Andy Clarke the CEO of Asda neither cares for his customers nor gives a monkeys if they are conned. In fact Andy Clarke IS a scammer for employing PPCs.

ManxRed

NowRetired wrote: »

My wife has her leg in plaster at the moment and I am now parking in disabled bays at my local Asda as the distance from ordinary parking spaces are too far away and anyway when we go shopping the car park is practically empty.

So I park and !!!!!! Turpin comes running up to see if I have a blue badge, I don't, as her injury isn't permanent and says I can't park there.

I let him see me helping my wife out with her leg in plaster and I tell him if I come back and find a parking ticket I shall be returning my shopping to Asda.

I know he could not care less.

We were there to buy a £500 TV.

So what is on my car when I come back with my TV? A threatening letter demanding £60, or £30 if I pay up without making a fuss.

So I turn straight back with my £500 TV and go to the customer service desk and ask for a manager and also that I wish to return the TV.

The manager asks why I am returning the TV and I tell him I am never shopping in Asda again because of their parking policy.

He mutters something about not another one and ensures me that the menacing demand will be rescinded and actually goes outside to find !!!!!! Turpin and tells him to cancel the ticket.

I told the manager if I ever get a letter from the parking company I will be back with my TV for a refund, I have a year to do it and I shall go to the local newspaper.

We shall see what happens.

I know it is not the managers fault, but if enough people complain perhaps something will be done.

Well done, the more people who would do this then the quicker the retail outlets will get the message.

Do come back and let us know if you get any threat-o-grams from !!!!!! Turpin and his merry band of scammers.