Halfords Car park fine

mikegr1961

I would like people’s opinions/views on a parking ticket I received after visiting my local Halfords (Letchworth, Herts) on 7 March. The following is an approximate timeline of events.

Arrived at the shopping centre car park at 1312.

Went straight to Sainsbury/Argos to collect 2 items (receipt for those items timed at 1317.

Then popped Into Pets at home and Wicks to browse.

At approx 1330 I went into Halfords to collect my dash cam order (which included fitting). I said I was early for my appointment (appointment was officially at 1430). Halfords store staff said that was fine and asked if I could let them have the car key and they would start work on it once they had completed a repair on another customers chipped windscreen. I said that was fine and that I’d go out for a walk and come back later.

I started walking, but after about 15 minutes it started raining, so I returned to Halfords at 1345. A Halfords mechanic had started work on fitting the dash cam. I told him I would be in the shop if he had any questions. The dash cam fitting took longer than they expected, but I wasn’t that concerned. The mechanic returned to the store at 1500 saying it was all fitted. I paid £179 which was the cost of dash cam and fitting.

At 1501 I returned to my car. On starting the engine, I was confronted with all warning lights (ie. electronic hand brake malfunction. ABS not working. Take car to nearest service centre etc) I returned to the Halfords store to tell them of the problem. The mechanic returned, but couldn’t work out what the problem was. Another mechanic came out and after another 40 minutes, eventually managed to fix the wiring problem they had caused).

Once fixed I left the car park at 1542. A total stay of 2 hours and 30 minutes.

On the 21 March I received a parking charge notice for £100 (reduced to £60 if paid promptly) for parking longer than the permitted 2 hours.

I spoke to the Halfords Letchworth store manager as soon as I received the parking notice, who told me to just pay the fine and come back to the store with relevant receipts and they would refund me the £60 charge. I reluctantly paid the charge.

I returned to the Halfords Letchworth store on the afternoon of 21 March, immediately after receiving and paying the fine. The manager then declined to refund me the parking charge despite what he had said earlier. The reason he declined a refund me was because I had turned up for the appointment early on the 7th March. I pointed out that the fitting did take longer than expected (1 hour 15mins) plus another 45 minutes to correct the wiring problems caused by the dash cam fitting.

On receipt of the parking charge, i was all set on challenging the fine, but as I mentioned, was talked out of this by the store manager who told me to pay the fine and they would refund me.

I’ve submitted a complaint Halfords, via their website. Just wondering what peoples opinion is on this saga.

Half_way

its late, and past my beditime, but the first thing of importance is that is not a fine, by paying it you have given yourself a hole heap of issues in getting a refund, do you have the correspondence with the manager in writing?
is this a retail park, or a site with just halfords present?

Egbert_Nobacon

If no joy with the complaint which will probably be dealt with by customer service go higher with polite request to CEO.

graham.stapleton@halfords.co.uk

Coupon-mad

Then sue Halfords for the money back.

I reckon they'd settle as soon as they see a well-worded Letter before Claim.

Especially as they accepted the car early and (later) PROMISED to refund you:

I said I was early for my appointment (appointment was officially at 1430). Halfords store staff said that was fine and asked if I could let them have the car key and they would start work on it once they had completed a repair on another customers chipped windscreen.

I spoke to the Halfords Letchworth store manager as soon as I received the parking notice, who told me to just pay the fine and come back to the store with relevant receipts and they would refund me the £60 charge. I reluctantly paid the charge.

BTW, if this was only G24, you could have ignored it.

thingamaBob

Coupon-mad wrote: »

Then sue Halfords for the money back.

BTW, if this was only G24, you could have ignored it.

GSV in August last year shows signs as Britannia.

mikegr1961

Half_way wrote: »

its late, and past my beditime, but the first thing of importance is that is not a fine, by paying it you have given yourself a hole heap of issues in getting a refund, do you have the correspondence with the manager in writing?
is this a retail park, or a site with just halfords present?

Thanks for the reply.
It’s a retail park, with Halfords, wickes, Iceland, pets at home, bargain store and Burger King and sainsbury next door. I realise now that I’ve actually paid , I’ve got next to no chance of getting my money back from the parking company. But I probably wouldn’t have paid if the manager hadn’t said Halfords would refund me. Far too trusting and I thought the refund would resolve the issue to my satisfaction. LESSON LEARNED!

I will continue my efforts with Halfords customer service and further up the chain if necessary.

mikegr1961

Egbert_Nobacon wrote: »

If no joy with the complaint which will probably be dealt with by customer service go higher with polite request to CEO.

graham.stapleton@halfords.co.uk

Depending on Halfords customer service reply, I will take it further (with Halfords).