Faulty Ticket Machine - PCN from Smart Parking Ltd

Vanquish1

Hello,
I have searched this forum for a similar situation but found nothing and wonder if anyone could advise me on how I attempt to get this PCN from Smart Parking cancelled.

It was issued Tuesday 18th Feb 2014 in ASDA car park Fratton, Portsmouth
.
I parked my car, went to the 1st and nearest ticket machine which had a plastic bag over it, I thought protecting from the excessive rain, but it had a hole in it so I could see the machine said 'not working', I then went to the 2nd nearest machine which also had a bag over it and read 'not working'. The rain was pouring down and I saw another machine being taken apart by a guy in a high vis.

I got back in my car and waited for him to finish, killed a 15 mins putting on my eyeliner and mascara and waiting for the rain to stop, (which it didn't) and the guy still had not fixed any of the machines. I went up to another ASDA uniformed man who informed me none of the machines are working. Being on a time schedule, having a deadline to meet I went on into Asda to do my weekly shop.

When I came out to my car a guy was standing there taping into his hand held device, which he hastily made print off a slim slip and he tried to hand it to me, I let it fall to the ground as I informed him that the machines were faulty, I had waited for him to fix them but after 20 mins I had to go into the shop.
He said I was a long time! I said yes obviously you don't do a weekly family shop as it can take the minimum of at least 1 hour, especially during half term with a child in tow and a busy Asda.

He said as he had printed it off (after I challenged him) he couldn't do anything about it. At which point, another person came over to join the conversation with the same problem, followed by another person who was extremely distressed with 2 children who were also distressed, when another voice bellowed over that he too was furious at receiving a notice when he had been advised the machines were not working and they were not issuing tickets that afternoon.

The not so Smart Parking Ticket issuer just kept saying he had issued loads of cars with tickets that afternoon…….as he put another one on the Renault Megane we were gathered around having our heated debate.

So we all exchanged phone numbers and email addresses to pursue this further. The other people all had the tickets in plastic covers stuck to their window screens where as mine was torn off the hand held device and dropped on the floor.

The back of the ticket says pay £40 in 14 days or or another £10 will be added and they may request registered keepers details from DVLA

Is there any case here to get this cancelled or appeal ?
Do I wait for a notice to arrive in the post before I do anything ?

Any advise would be greatly appreciated
Thanks

kirkbyinfurnesslad_2

You obviously havent thread the newbies thread, i suggest you read it, all the information is on there

Stroma

Just wait for the notice to keeper that must be with you in 29-56 days after ticketing, unless the car is not yours? We can help you through the 2 appeal process, easy!

edward123

Hi Vanquish1. Do as the above two posters have suggested. You were right to let their toilet paper drop to the floor. Its also good to hear you exchanged phone numbers with others who Smart are trying to scam. Let them know what you learn here and get them to do what we would like you to do; don't pay but cost Smart some money into the bargain by going to POPLA(a stage in what you will learn to do if that is your wish.) But certainly you can ALL complain to ASDA. Any way, read(slowly, carefully) the 'newbie' sticky here as it contains everything you need to beat this.

ezerscrooge

You must all complain to the ASDA store and to ASDA head office about this. They can and do cancel these tickets.

Make it clear the distress this has caused and thyat you are thinking of shopping elesewhere - you could well get a gift voucher from them (I know of one person who did). Seems like Smart Parking are starting to cause a headache for ASDA.

Do continue with your appeal in the meantime.

The_Deep

Trading Standards will probably be interested, as might the local paper. Complain like mad to Head office, threaten to picket their car park, lie down in front of their entrance, give them hell.

Coupon-mad

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/64274803#Comment_64274803


{sigh}

Vanquish1

morning Coupon-mad,
just wading through it now (I keep going off on a tangents reading every link !)
Most cases people have purchased a ticket and gone over the time limit.
In my scenario, me and the other people were not able to purchase tickets due to the machines being out of order.
I don't know if we have a case or is that irrelevant to the appeal ?
Hence reading everything.

Coupon-mad

It's irrelevant to the appeal!


Nite.

Vanquish1

phew thanks
still reading though
then night !

Vanquish1

Thank you to Everscrooge and everyone else for your advice.

I contacted the local paper, put a note the website and then went back into the shop to speak with the manager. He kindly referred me to his assistant Linda.
Linda then took mine and the other womens' details and confirmed to me that she would cancel the tickets and deal with the notices. She then rang us all and said they had all been cancelled and no further follow up would occur.
The following day the local newspaper rang me back to cover the story and I was able to say the situation had been resolved earlier on that day.