ASDA Parking Charge for 'overstaying' 2 mins

dollyxdimple

Hi All

Have just had a request for a £70 fine from Horizon Parking for 'overstaying' in the ASDA car park for 2 minutes. The free parking sign in ASDA clearly states free car parking for 2 hours only. Obviously I am going to appeal this and my grounds are thus:

We have been timed from the time we entered the car park until the time we exited the car park. However, I'm estimating, upon entering the car park, it took us at least 5 minutes (more like 10 minutes) to find a parking space (driving around looking for a space and/or waiting for someone to reverse out of a space so we can get it it). After we returned to our car it must have took us at least another 5 minutes to get out of the car park, once again getting held up by people reversing out of spaces or getting stuck behind someone waiting for someone to pull out of a parking space so they can get into it. Thus the actual time we were actually 'parked' would have been at least 10 (or more like 15 to 20) minutes UNDER the 2 hours free 'parking'.

This is going to be the basis of my appeal. I mean, 2 minutes over, for £70, what a joke.

Just wanted to know of anyone elses similar experience and if there is a 'grace' period they have to grant you to be able to find and get our of a parking space over the 2 hour free parking limit.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Invalidation

Was there also a queue at the till which delayed you?

Coupon-mad

Invalidation wrote: »

Was there also a queue at the till which delayed you?

Why do you ask, it's not relevant.

ASDA Parking Charge for 'overstaying' 2 mins

Horizon will NOT have (cannot have) issued a PCN for a 2 minute overstay so I think you've misunderstood the reason for issue. Can you tell us what the PCN says as to the contravention? And can you show us pictures of the signs?

I am guessing this is a place where you are meant to enter your VRN to get a 'free ticket' to exempt your car or alternatively, that you pay then reclaim the money at the till, making it free.

This is going to be the basis of my appeal. I mean, 2 minutes over, for £70, what a joke.

I sincerely hope you will not be submitting an appeal in a rush, saying who was driving etc. That's what the template 'BPA firms' appeal in the NEWBIES FAQS thread is there for (the one in BLUE WRITING), to stop people blowing their toes off.

Please don't copy it here though, asking 'is it this one?' or we will all quietly die inside.

Invalidation

Coupon-mad wrote: »

Why do you ask, it's not relevant.
.

Certainly is.
I got a Parking charge withdrawn at an Aldi when I pointed out there was a queue which delayed my return to the vehicle in time

Coupon-mad

I agree that complaining to the Supermarket is always the first plan - the NEWBIES FAQS thread tells people that.

But it's not a point of appeal.

Fruitcake

As already advised, do not send your appeal that you have posted here. Instead send the BPA template in blue that you will find in the Sticky thread for NEWBIES.

Save grace periods as this will be one of your many appeal points at PoPLA. The BPA CoP explains how their members are supposed to apply grace periods.

What happened when you complained to the supermarket manager?

dollyxdimple

[QUOTE


Horizon will NOT have (cannot have) issued a PCN for a 2 minute overstay so I think you've misunderstood the reason for issue. Can you tell us what the PCN says as to the contravention? And can you show us pictures of the signs?

I am guessing this is a place where you are meant to enter your VRN to get a 'free ticket' to exempt your car or alternatively, that you pay then reclaim the money at the till, making it free.

I sincerely hope you will not be submitting an appeal in a rush, saying who was driving etc. That's what the template 'BPA firms' appeal in the NEWBIES FAQS thread is there for (the one in BLUE WRITING), to stop people blowing their toes off.

Please don't copy it here though, asking 'is it this one?' or we will all quietly die inside.[/QUOTE]

On the Parking Charge Notice we have received it says:
Ref Number (blah blah)
Vehicle Reg (blah blah)
Entry Time/Date 14:06 12/10/2016
Exit Time/Date 16:08 12/10/2016
Duration 2 hrs 2 mins
Amount Due £70.00

It then shows two pictures of our car, with clear reg number, the first one entering over the line into the car park boundary and the second one exiting over the line out of the car park, both time and date stamped as above.

Thanks for all the other advice, I will check the newbies faq thread. We got home from holiday at 6am this morning to find this waiting for us on the door mat. I was fuming. I will calm down and take all your advice! Thanks. )

dollyxdimple

Oh, and for further information, this particular car park at ASDA is not one where you get a ticket upon entry and then get it validated at the checkout so it opens the barrier when you leave. Our local Sainsbury's works like that so I know the procedure for that version of supermarket car parking. This car park does not have any barriers and you do not get issued a ticket and you therefore do not have anything to validate at the checkout. There are no pay and display payment points and you do not have to enter any vehicle reg details upon entry in any way.

dollyxdimple

[QUOTE

What happened when you complained to the supermarket manager?[/QUOTE]

We haven't done that yet. We just got back off of holiday at 6am this morning to find this on our doormat. However, tomorrow, we need to go to said ASDA , to do our weekly shop (maybe for the last time ever! - goodbye ASDA and hello Morrisons/Tesco's/Sainsburys/Aldi/Lidl/Waitrose etc!) and I will be taking it with me to show the Manager when we go. Hopefully s/he will sort it out for us.

Mr.Generous

This whole situation is getting utterly ridiculous, 2 mins over and a £70 charge?? Do these supermarkets actually want our custom?? good luck.

dollyxdimple

Mr.Generous wrote: »

This whole situation is getting utterly ridiculous, 2 mins over and a £70 charge?? Do these supermarkets actually want our custom?? good luck.

I know, the fine cost more than the weekly shop. Thanks, I'll let you know how we get on. x