Horizon Parking ANPR mistake - now got a PCN

darrenforster99

Today I received a PCN from Horizon Parking for parking over 3 1/2 hours at Sainsbury's Kidderminster.

I looked at the date and time and realised I couldn't possibly have been parked there during that time, as I was actually at a show in Brierley Hill about 10 miles from Kidderminster whilst my car was apparently on Sainsbury's car park.

I remember that night going early to Sainsbury's to grab some sweets and stuff before going to the show.

I then went to the show and spent 3 hours at the show enjoying watching the show.

After that I returned back via Kidderminster to grab petrol and do a bit of extra shopping. This was just over 3 hours after I'd been in the car park.

I'm absolutely fuming as I've checked my Google Timeline and it clearly shows the arrival and departure of the two Sainsbury's visits, the arrival of one matches with the start time of the ticket and the leaving time matches the leaving of the second visit but there is 3 hours between the visits.

The car park itself does have no return within 2 hours, however as it was over 3 hours between the two times I'm well and truly outside of the two hours.

The only thing I do know is that on exiting there is a second exit from the Sainsbury's car park onto Carpet Traders Way. On the first time leaving I went out this way, and I did think it was strange that the exit onto Carpet Traders Way doesn't appear to have any ANPR cameras on it where as the main entrance does.

I've got Google Timeline which shows my entire journey including the two Sainsbury's stops but no actual photographic evidence of leaving the car park the only proof I have is this map.

I realise that what has happened is that their stupid ANPR system has missed me leaving for some reason and when I reentered had not bothered to check my reg plate on cars already in the car park and figured out I must have left.

I've sent an appeal into Horizon Parking but I'm absolutely fuming that because they're machine has made a mistake it has illegally requested my data from the DVLA and wasted my time.

Firstly do you think a Google Timeline map is enough evidence to prove my car was not parked up for as long as they say, and secondly if they don't agree it does say I can go through POPLA but if POPLA disagree then I'd have to pay the full amount.

Also would I be able to claim compensation for the stress this companies error has caused me as I have Aspergers and I'm so stressing about the parking ticket which has been issued in error (even if they cancel it it will take me a while to get over it and probably put me off wanting to go to Sainsbury's Kidderminster), in addition to this I'm not happy that they now have my details which have been illegally obtained when no parking offence occured, will I be able to demand that they remove those private details from their system as they have no legal right to keep them and if they'd used their system in the first place properly they shouldn't have even requested those details.

I'm just wondering has anyone else come across this where the ANPR camera has missed them leaving, and they've returned later in the day and received a fine due to an ANPR fault.

Also I do notice on the paper it's referred to as a "PCN" Parking Charge Notice" I thought as well private firms weren't allowed to issue PCNs I thought only traffic wardens were allowed to issue them?

KeithP

The first thing you should do is edit your post to remove any clues to the driver's identity.

The word 'I' has no place when describing events on the day.

It was the driver who parked the car. It was the keeper who received the postal PCN, and yes they can call it a Parking Charge Notice. They cannot call it a Penalty Charge Notice though.

Many people have suffered this phenomenon - commonly called 'double dipping' on this forum.

You now need to read post #1 of the NEWBIES FAQ sticky thread to better understand the game you are caught up in.

Is your forum username your real name?
If so you would be well advised to get MSE to change it to something more anonymous.
The parking companies trawl forums like this just waiting for people to trip themselves up.

And yes, your google timeline is good evidence. Do not lose it.

Coupon-mad

I do notice on the paper it's referred to as a "PCN" Parking Charge Notice" I thought as well private firms weren't allowed to issue PCNs I thought only traffic wardens were allowed to issue them?

Read the BPA Code of Practice, PPCs can issue PCNs as long as they call them a Parking Charge Notice.

...do you think a Google Timeline map is enough evidence to prove my car was not parked up for as long as they say, and secondly if they don't agree it does say I can go through POPLA

Yes and yes, and you would likely win.

but if POPLA disagree then I'd have to pay the full amount.

Errrmmm, no, I think you've missed the point that no-one pays these, not even if they lose at POPLA.

As you are fuming (quite rightly) what happened when you complained to Sainsburys?

Did you know this is a phenomenon known to be a huge fault with ANPR systems?

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5550336

Add yours to the list of cases, and how about complaining to Trading Standards and your MP?

Tell us when the complaints work! SAINSBURYS HEAD OFFICE.

Fruitcake

Definitely complain to your MP about this disgusting unregulated scam.

These are some of the comments made by the MPs in Parliament concerning the unregulated parking industry (Feb 2018):

https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2018-02-02/debates/CC84AF5E-AC6E-4E14-81B1-066E6A892807/Parking(CodeOfPractice)Bill

''Rip-offs from car park Cowboys must stop''; unfair treatment; signage deliberately confusing to ensure a PCN is issued; ''years of abuse by rogue parking companies''; bloodsuckers; ''the current system of regulation is hopeless, like putting Dracula in charge of the blood-bank''; extortionate fines; rogue operators; ''sense of injustice''; unfair charges and notices; wilfully misleading; signage is a deliberate act to deceive or mislead; ''confusing signs are often deliberate, to trap innocent drivers''; unreasonable; a curse; harassing; operating in a disgusting way; appeals service is no guarantee of a fair hearing; loathed; outrageous scam; dodgy practice; outrageous abuse; unscrupulous practices; ''the British Parking Association is as much use as a multi-storey car park in the Gobi desert''; and finally, by way of unanimous conclusion: ''we need to crack down on these rogue companies. They are an absolute disgrace to this country. Ordinary motorists and ordinary residents should not have to put up with this''.

These are the exact words used, so you should quote them to your MP in a complaint and ask him/her to contact Sir Greg Knight MP if he wants further information about this scam.

You should show the Sainsbug's manager this (not customer services) when you complain to the store.

Castle

For all "double dips", read Mr Owens's letter:-
http://parking-prankster.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/parkingeye-subject-to-data-protection.html

The_Deep

This is an entirely unregulated industry which is scamming the public with inflated claims for minor breaches of contracts for alleged parking offences, aided and abetted by a handful of low-rent solicitors.

Parking Eye, CPM, Smart, and another company have already been named and shamed, as has Gladstones Solicitors, and BW Legal, (these two law firms take hundreds of these cases to court each year). They lose most of them, and have been reported to the regulatory authority by an M.P. for unprofessional conduct

Hospital car parks and residential complex tickets have been especially mentioned.

The problem has become so rampant that MPs have agreed to enact a Bill to regulate these scammers. Watch the video of the Second Reading in the HofC recently.

http://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/2f0384f2-eba5-4fff-ab07-cf24b6a22918?in=12:49:41

and complain in the most robust terms to your MP. With a fair wind most of these companies may well be put out of business by Christmas.