Parking Fine - Matalan - Disabled

Pamela_Landy

Hi, In November 2016 I went to Bury, Matalan store and parked in Disabled bay. I asked employee what procedure was, as I was aware it was a pay and display car park, and was told to go to Customer Services, with my badge. I did this, I had to put my reg and badge number on a sheet of paper, on a clip board at customer services, then I returned the badge to my car. I was only picking up a collect item, so was in for abour 15 minutes.
I have received a Parking Charge Notice from Smart Parking, beginning of December, which I appealed stating the above, but they have now wrote again saying they refuse the appeal as the store has gave them no correspondence regarding my vehicle. And that no further appeal or correspondence to them will be accepted.
Any help on what I can do next? there must be CCTV of me coming in store etc, is that the next step? I am disabled with very limited mobility so cant really be bothered with a load of messing about. Thanks

catfunt

If your poster name is your real name, I suggest that you need to do a few things with this thread first.

1. Remove the details within it - replace with "content deleted"or similar.
2. Make a new MSE account which gives no clue as to your identity.
3. Make a new post about your case, but do not say who was driving. No "me, Myself, I", just "the driver" did this etc.

This thread:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5532696

explains why.

Also, if you have not done so already, have a read of the NEWBIES thread at the top of this forum.

Pamela_Landy

my username isn't my real name, its a character from Jason Bourne films,
can anyone help with my query please, thanks

Tilt

In their rejection letter, have they given you a reference number so you can appeal to POPLA?

Pamela_Landy

yes there is a reference number to appeal to POPLA, but if Matalan haven't my details, how can I prove anything?

Coupon-mad

Pamela_Landy wrote: »

yes there is a reference number to appeal to POPLA, but if Matalan haven't my details, how can I prove anything?

You don't need to. Just go into Matalan and explain what happened and get their Store Manager to apologise for their error in not passing on your VRN that day and ask them to contact Smart Parking:

- to permanently add your VRN to a location 'white list' so you don't have to rely on this system again and have a permanent flag exempting you from PCNs,

and

- to cancel this charge.

You should be able to achieve that within days. Take the PCN with you and go and complain at Matalan - they need to be aware THEY have caused this and it is disability discrimination so they had better sort it out sharpish.

Pamela_Landy

thank you, I'll do that, I did phone Matalan when I got the first letter about the fine and they just fobbed me off, saying they cant help as they don't own the land and I had to contact Smart Parking, so I will go in this time,
thanks again

catfunt

Pamela_Landy wrote: »

my username isn't my real name, its a character from Jason Bourne films,
can anyone help with my query please, thanks

Ah. Never seen the Bourne films.
Always get concerned when I see a "proper" name as a username!

Coupon-mad

Pamela_Landy wrote: »

thank you, I'll do that, I did phone Matalan when I got the first letter about the fine and they just fobbed me off, saying they cant help as they don't own the land and I had to contact Smart Parking, so I will go in this time,
thanks again

Go in but do NOT be fobbed off by the person on the CS desk or till.

You want to see the whites of the eyes of the overall Store Manager and you need to be assertive that this is discrimination by the parking agent and insist that Matalan must have a folder with an email address or phone number to contact Smart to cancel PCNs, because that is how this sort of scam works at retail parks.

If you know who to complain to and will not take 'no' for an answer, you can get these cancelled. Do not ask nicely, put your assertive hat on. This is not an 'appeal, please help' conversation.