Horizon parking

Umkomaas

Read this thread, especially note the route taken by the OP after advice from forum regular beamerguy and the template he drafted.

Use the template as a framework for your own complaint to the CEO, don't copy it verbatim, make it your own, from your heart!

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/74753147#Comment_74753147

beamerguy

Humph123 wrote: »

Ok. So I went in to Sainsbury’s as suggested. They basically said tough! They wanted proof of spending there which I don’t have. Photos show car was there for 3.5 hrs but really don’t know whether we left and came back in that time. That is quite possible as lots of other shops across the road from there. What do you suggest? All letters have arrived while I’ve been away so no chance of doing anything about this earlier. What happens if I just ignore these letters and do nothing? Or alternatively should I just write and pay £40 charge (which is initial charge if dealt with in 1st 2 weeks) and provide proof I was out of the country for 3 months? Sainsbury’s being v unhelpful. There is a Homebase there too that uses the same car park I believe.

The trouble with Sainsbury's is they have managers who are
not real managers but more so glorified shelf stackers
If they were real managers, they would be interested in
the stores profits and not fob off a paying customer

Over ride the store manager by complaining to the CEO
who is Mike Coupe (the singing CEO)

Imagine you are the CEO and the sort of letter that you
would not want to receive from a paying customer.
Tell him your story as you have told us. Prove to him
you are a valued customer and tell him how disgusted
you are with the store manager. Request as a customer
he arranges immediate cancellation of these tickets

See this thread for his email address
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/74753147#Comment_74753147

Get streetwise

Humph123

As suggested I’ve emailed Mike Coupe with a copy of the receipt from that day (over £200). I’ve had an email back from his office asking for details of what the charge is for. They already have the charge ref number so I’m not sure why they are asking for these details. Do I reply with the info they are requesting? Really I just want them to call off their dogs who are becoming increasingly threatening.

nosferatu1001

They dont know what the charge is for. They dont have access to those systems. So tell them what theyre asking for, it is reasonable.

If you want them to do somethig they dont HAVE to do, then cooperaitng seems like a sensible start

Oh and those digs barking? Meh. Worst case is a small claims court case where if yo ulose ,they still lose money.

Humph123

Hello again. I have emailed Mike Coupe as suggested and got back to his office with the info that the charge was for staying 35 mins over the 3hr time limit. I sent a copy of my receipt for shopping in Sainsbury’s that day which was over £200. His office has come back saying that Horizon manage the car park, there are signs up and I will have to dispute the parking ticket with Horizon. The latest news on the charge is that it has increased from an original £40 to £140 and has been passed on to DRP ltd to recover the debt. I am dismayed that Sainsbury’s are so dismissive of the money I have spent with them, really unbelievable way of doing business. Does anyone out there have any suggestions or advice for next steps? In all of this I have made no contact with either Horizon or DRP and don’t really want to as the tone of their letters is so aggressive, but do I need to? One other thing. When I originally went to the Sainsbury’s store to ask for their help they advised that if I had proof of purchase then they would be able to help. I couldn’t find the receipt at that time (it was 3 months old by then). The duty manager said the store manager would ring me but never did. Hence, I went to Mike Coupe. Had I had the receipt on me when I went to the store I believe they would have cancelled the charge. Providing the same receipt to Mike Coupe’s office somehow doesn’t warrant a cancellation if the charge. I’d really appreciate some help. Nosferatu - you talk about the possibility of losing at small claims court. Are you saying this could cost me? The posts I’ve read about this all seem to give reassurance that this isn’t an option. Yours, slightly nervously

Umkomaas

You must ignore DRP - they are powerless, really, all they can do is write letters - seriously.

You have to wait to see what Horizon do next, it won't be for a while as they have DRP trying to scare you out of your money. So wait and see. Never, ever phone a PPC or a debt beggar, nothing good will come out of it for you.

Now you have your £200 receipt, why not pop back into the store and see the manager and remind him of his (unfulfilled) promise. Now's the time for him to make his final attempt to retain his high-spending customer, otherwise it's off to Morrison's, or any other competitor.

Oddly enough, Mrs Umkomaas dragged me into Sainsburys yesterday and I was shocked at how empty the store was and how uninteresting and rather tired everything looked - and their prices seemed higher than most, other than Waitrose. I think they're losing their way, and their PPC isn't helping them.

They need to be looking over the Horizon here!

getmore4less

Check the POFA compliance

Horizon have backed off when the are not compliant and you tell them they can't go after the keeper.

Humph123

Thanks for both replies. What am I looking for with POFA? Is this something Horizon should have done but might not have? I will try going back to the store. My instinct is not to phone either Horizon or DRP but that is exactly what Sainsbury’s is saying I should do? What is the usual course of these things with Horizon? Do they just give up when they don’t get a reply? What are the chances of them keeping on and ultimately taking it to court? Just trying to assess my risk here. Thanks!

Umkomaas

Humph123 wrote: »

Thanks for both replies. What am I looking for with POFA? Is this something Horizon should have done but might not have? I will try going back to the store. My instinct is not to phone either Horizon or DRP but that is exactly what Sainsbury’s is saying I should do? What is the usual course of these things with Horizon? Do they just give up when they don’t get a reply? What are the chances of them keeping on and ultimately taking it to court? Just trying to assess my risk here. Thanks!

Assess your NtK against the legislation - pedantically. 'Near enough' isn't good enough for them to hold the keeper liable. Start with date of infringement, date of issue of the NtK and date you received it. If they fail at that first hurdle, no Keeper Liability, unless you've given away the identity of the driver.

Then check for all the other strict requirements. Fail any, no KL.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2012/9/schedule/4/enacted

Even if they cannot hold you liable, telling them as much wont stop them trying to harass and intimidate you out of your money. At this late stage, it's likely that only a Judge can now get them off your back, if Sainsburys won't.

Your instinct not to phone either Horizon or DRP is correct.

Latest details we have about their court cases. Compare the total number of court cases against the total number of tickets issued for the three periods shown and that should give you a 'best available' indication of likelihood.

http://www.parkingappeals.info/companydata/Horizon_Parking.html

Coupon-mad

I have emailed Mike Coupe as suggested and got back to his office with the info that the charge was for staying 35 mins over the 3hr time limit. I sent a copy of my receipt for shopping in Sainsbury’s that day which was over £200. His office has come back saying that Horizon manage the car park, there are signs up and I will have to dispute the parking ticket with Horizon.

The latest news on the charge is that it has increased from an original £40 to £140 and has been passed on to DRP ltd to recover the debt. I am dismayed that Sainsbury’s are so dismissive of the money I have spent with them, really unbelievable way of doing business.

Follow that email up and ask:

Are you sure? Your advice is horrendous for a beleaguered customer!

I cannot appeal to Horizon as they've passed it to their free debt collectors to harass me, are you saying Mike Coupe is happy about that for a customer who spends some £xxxx per year?

Please step in, to restore my faith in Sainsburys. I am dismayed that Sainsbury’s are so dismissive of the money we have spent with you, really unbelievable way of doing business.

I will be complaining to my MP next, about Sainsburys and your bullyboy parking agents, so I wanted to give Mr Coupe a final chance to cancel the unfair PCN, which I am well aware Sainsburys can do, as you are the principal in the contract and Horizon merely your agents. Please reconsider and assist me through this horrendous situation.