Asda,Smart parking & DR+

Foobarton

Hi

I am another victim of these scammers.

Received a £70 Fine for parking in parent & child space in Asda, England. These spaces are poorly marked and particularly difficult to identify on a dull and rainy day as it was, unlike other supermarkets. I do have children (not present on the day) but not requiring child seat or booster seat, so understand the other side of the argument.

Windscreen ticket issued 13 Dec. took dubious advice from several people and decided to ignore until I researched this site. Notice To Owner received 15 Jan, again, ignored. Now DR+ (£120) letter 25 Feb.

Having now read various threads and FAQ. I'm now feeling I should have responded. My problem is the time scale.

Is there any advantage in writing to Asda at this point?

Am I now still able to issue my appeal to the PPC at this late stage and subsequently follow a POPLA appeal? Is there a time scale to lodge an appeal to the PPC.

Do I appeal to DR+?

Do I continue to ignore the demands?

Any constructive advice gratefully. received. In the meanwhile, I will continue to read the various threads.

Redx

I always advocate ignoring the debt collectors as there is nothing they can do

so

1) yes - write to asda asap and try and get it cancelled

2) yes - appeal to the ppc regardless of the time delay, details in the NEWBIES sticky thread

those child and parent spaces have no legal meaning at all, just paint (graffiti) on the tarmac , no legal standing whatsoever

Coupon-mad

Is there any advantage in writing to Asda at this point?

Yes by email to the CEO - or by going in and demanding to see the Store Manager (ONLY) as is covered in the ''Successful complaints'' sticky thread which shows you well over a DOZEN Smart cases cancelled by Asda, many months after the event sometimes.

Am I now still able to issue my appeal to the PPC at this late stage and subsequently follow a POPLA appeal? Is there a time scale to lodge an appeal to the PPC.

Just submit an appeal now, not talking about what happened nor whether it's late or not, but using the generic 'first appeal' example in the NEWBIES thread. Smart are a pushover when they see a strong appeal and you can do it now, online, costs nowt.

Do I appeal to DR+?

Nope, no-one does! And they don't appeal much to us either!

Both the sticky threads you need are here:

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

Let us know when Smart or Asda have cancelled it.

Foobarton

Following the advice on this site I emailed the local store manager and copied in Andy Clarke (CEO).

Local store said they couldn't do anything. However, head office replied promptly and after explaining the reason for parent and child spaces and the value of my custom etc. the fine has been cancelled but I was advised not to do it again as they wouldn't be able to help a second time.

Many thanks to the forum.

trisontana

Except it was never a fine.