Parking charge, Highview & Tesco

miffedatparkingcharge

Please can you advise me on what to do. This morning I received a Charge Notice Reminder from HighviewParking for overstay parking at Tesco's Kidderminster, at the end of May. This is the first point I have been aware of the issue. (Money was spent at the store that day too).

I have not seen the first letter (apparently dated 6th June) that they say they have sent.

This letter is now asking me for £70. I have seen a couple of posts suggesting I send a soft appeal & POPLA request a code (?). Is this appropriate at this time?

Any advice gratefully received.

Coupon-mad

Nice of them to send a reminder before the 28 days is up for you to appeal. So yes, that's your course of action as well as steaming into Tesco of course!!

Other Highview threads have all the advice you need re sending a soft challenge first. A search of the parking forum using keywords 'Highview Tesco' finds these:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4675611

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4675119

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4675203

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4661367

and 'horsiejosie' got hers cancelled as she'd visited twice in a day, rather like one of the comedic situations written about by 'the Parking Prankster' whose hilarious exploits with Highview are linked in one of those threads. Do read the Parking Prankster's blogs so you understand the fun that can be had when appealing these fake PCN scam tickets! You won't be paying so wind them up if you are so minded!

First port of call is back to Tesco to complain to the Store Manager (NOT to the teenager on the CS desk, the STORE MANAGER). Tesco can cancel these if customers complain - take your receipt in but keep it in case you also need to show it to Highview or POPLA (read threads if not familiar with it).

If Tesco refuse then write a stinking letter or email to their CEO and meanwhile get the first appeal sent early next week to Highview. Worded as per the other threads, with a photocopy of your receipt that day but not saying who was driving of course.

miffedatparkingcharge

Many thanks.

Will it matter that I have checked a bank statement, not a receipt?

Also, the 28 appeal days - Are these working days? In which case I am under, but not if the full week are taken into consideration.

I wasn't going to return to said store (which I do not live near, just make use of when I drop the kids at the ex) .... Or any other of the Tesco variety now this has dropped on the doorstep.

Coupon-mad

miffedatparkingcharge wrote: »

Will it matter that I have checked a bank statement, not a receipt?

Nope, doesn't matter, show it to the Tesco Manager as say this letter was the first you knew about the fake parking ticket. Be assertive but maybe a bit sarky when you talk about the FAKE ticket, make it clear you haven't had the wool pulled over your eyes as you know it's not a real fine but other customers might not and you are angry about the harassment and need it cancelled.

If the Tesco Store Manager (speak to no-one else!) doesn't help you then mention in your Highview appeal that you have already shown proof in the store that you were a customer that day and that you will be happy to show your proof at POPLA stage as well. But not to a random third party private parking company.

miffedatparkingcharge wrote: »

Also, the 28 appeal days - Are these working days? In which case I am under, but not if the full week are taken into consideration.

I wasn't going to return to said store (which I do not live near, just make use of when I drop the kids at the ex) .... Or any other of the Tesco variety now this has dropped on the doorstep.

Your maths is out! even if you counted from 6th June you are within 28 days and in any case, you don't even count from then! You count from when the Notice was deemed to have been served which is 2 working days later (Monday 10th).

And IMHO there is no point boycotting Tesco until you have either tried in the Store to get it cancelled or written a strong complaint email or letter to the CEO of Tesco.

No point boycotting if you never tell them why, so COMPLAIN! Ask if they are aware of the current flak Aldi are getting on their facebook page about their aggressive parking company and what are Tesco doing to protect the interests of their paying customers against the pariah that is private parking firms? Are they even aware of the strength of feeling about this scam? AOS membership with the BPA is widely known to mean absolutely nothing at all - so if you end up complaining to the CEO, tell him not to bother with any spiel about Highview being a legitimate company in any reply, because the issue goes beyond that now that some firms are getting so aggressive with paying customers (like with Aldi).

miffedatparkingcharge

Ahhh, I get it now. Didn't realise it was from the supposed Original Letter.

Many thanks.