Euro Car Parks & Sainsbury's -PCN

unit_g83

Dear All,

Firstly thank you very much for reading this. I am a newbie and I think I have followed some bad/out of date advice regarding non-payment of a PCN issued by Euro Car Parks. It was issued in Sainsburys Ladbroke Grove, London

As it happens, I have two tickets with in weeks of each other. I have ignored payment requests through the post on both tickets (something I had read elsewhere that I should do, which I only recently found out - having read in this forum that this is not advisable post-2012/2013 - was the incorrect thing to do).

I have read most of the newbie sticky but didn't find anything that specifically mentioned Euro Car Parks or my situation. Sorry if I have missed this..

The T&Cs for parking is 3 hours free parking for customers. Thereafter PCNs and fines - the usual.

I work in an office nearby to Sainsburys, and like many of the shoppers, park there for the free parking. I also purchase all my lunch and home groceries from Sainsburys so it works (worked!) out well for me.

. Ticket 1 - I arrived a few minutes after the three hour time slot to find a PCN. Ignored it, had a letter through the post from Euro Car Parks, ignored that too, and now have a demand from Controlaccount plc. This has me a bit panicky as I don't really know what I should do here. I did not complain to the manager at Sainsburys at the time of the PCN so I think I've missed that opportunity? I do not have any shopping receipts for the day

. Ticket 2 - I did NOT park for three hours. Instead I shopped twice the same day, even parked the car in different parking bays and still received a PCN. I ignored all paper work too (I only received the Controlaccount demand for the first ticket today) so am sure if I continue I will also get a demand from Controlaccount. I believe I have the relevant shopping receipts for this day.


Should I approach the manager at Sainsburys or am I past this point now? Should I ignore the demand from Controlaccount?

TBH I'm not really sure what to do next.. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you

pogofish

Your situation is no different from anyone with one of these invoices - Simply follow the advice given on the thread. I would always go for the store manager in the first instance.

unit_g83

Thank you Will get onto it tomorrow/Monday.

If the turn out is bad, I'll update here.

unit_g83

Damn.. Sainsbury's duty manager and store manager refuse to help. Both providing conflicting information. The former states they (Euro Car Parks) have a good system of monitoring locations of cars (that's how they know cars have been there for 3 hours or more). Not possible as I was in different bays.

Also, what if I parked in the same bay each time? Still doesn't work..

Manager suggest I call through to speak with Euro Car Parks..

Should I do this or write an appeal to them?

ColliesCarer

Would advise never to contact a PPC by phone but to only communicate in writing.

If the system is only ANPR cameras which capture the number plate on entry and exit then where people parked is not monitored and two visits being counted as one long visit is common - is referred to on the forums as double-dipping where the first entry and last exit are used to support an allegation of overstaying. But I think Euro Car Parks have parking attendants patrolling the car parks at Sainsbury's.

But what happened on the day is largely irrelevant.

If the driver and registered keeper are not the same person - no need to answer that here btw - then it's possible to get the clock re-set by the keeper naming the driver who then should get a Notice to Driver in their own name and can appeal it as per the advice in the NEWBIES thread.

But if not then by all means try a late appeal anyway (separate one for each PCN) - see the NEWBIES thread for template 1st appeal letter to try to get POPLA codes from them however they are under no obligation to accept it.

You could try going higher and complaining to the CEO of Sainsbury - google ceoemail for contact details.

Also read the advice in NEWBIES post #4 for dealing with the debt collector stage

unit_g83

Brilliant,

thank you for your help. Yes, Sainsburys do use attendants, and it seems their system is quite flawed. I am already in the process of using the suggested template. I'll send to Euro Car Parks, and in addition copy in the CEO of Sainsburys, and the Debt collectors (unless you think this is a BAD idea at this stage?). Thanks again ColliesCarer!

unit_g83

Should I date my letters (the template?)

Umkomaas

unit_g83 wrote: »

Should I date my letters (the template?)

Why wouldn't you?

ColliesCarer

unit_g83 wrote: »

........ I'll send to Euro Car Parks, and in addition copy in the CEO of Sainsburys, and the Debt collectors (unless you think this is a BAD idea at this stage?). Thanks again ColliesCarer!

Personally I wouldn't bother copying in the debt collectors with the appeals as it will be a waste of your time.
The only thing worth sending them would be a letter denying the debt and referring them back to Euro Car Parks.

unit_g83

Thank you everyone. The relevant/appropriate letters will be sent out tomorrow.

paulsad

"I work in an office nearby to Sainsburys, and like many of the shoppers, park there for the free parking." ?