£70 for staying 32 minutes too long to charge the electric car

Spinball

Hi folks,
I took my daughter (then in a wheelchair) through London and needed to charge the electric car up, so I stopped at Sainsbury's Nine Elms and put the car on charge so we could get to our next destination.
The idea was to do a bit of shopping and kill time until we had enough range to continue the journey.
These are only 'fast' chargers, so I needed some time to fill the car up.

The car park was virtually empty and I had 3 hours.
Unfortunately due to a faulty charger (which doesn't notify you of any problem), when I returned to the car, it had only added 6 miles range and I had to move the car and start again.

I still have the entire journey saved from the dashcam, so I can show that the car park was virtually empty on arrival and leaving, and I also recorded having to move because the charger was faulty.

After moving, we went upstairs to the Sainsbury cafe for some lunch (I have the bank transaction to show it) and ended up overstaying by 32 minutes in order to put enough charge on the car to get to our next destination.
If the charge point hadn't been faulty, we would have been away within the three hour limit.
As a result, there was a letter from Euro Car Parks demanding £70. This was the final letter as the first one was ignored thinking it was spam.

Do you think I should pay it?
Thanks in advance.

waamo

Spinball wrote: »

Hi folks,
I took my daughter (then in a wheelchair) through London and needed to charge the electric car up, so I stopped at Sainsbury's Nine Elms and put the car on charge so we could get to our next destination.
The idea was to do a bit of shopping and kill time until we had enough range to continue the journey.
These are only 'fast' chargers, so I needed some time to fill the car up.

The car park was virtually empty and I had 3 hours.
Unfortunately due to a faulty charger (which doesn't notify you of any problem), when I returned to the car, it had only added 6 miles range and I had to move the car and start again.

I still have the entire journey saved from the dashcam, so I can show that the car park was virtually empty on arrival and leaving, and I also recorded having to move because the charger was faulty.

After moving, we went upstairs to the Sainsbury cafe for some lunch (I have the bank transaction to show it) and ended up overstaying by 32 minutes in order to put enough charge on the car to get to our next destination.
If the charge point hadn't been faulty, we would have been away within the three hour limit.
As a result, there was a fine of £70.

Do you think I should pay it?
Thanks in advance.

Which ppc? At the top of this board is a thread that tells Newbies to read it first. You need to read it carefully.

fisherjim

It's not a "fine" it's an invoice.


What do you think that the empty car park has to do with any of this, you are being charged by a profit hungry bunch of parking scammers that are only interested in money?



No one here would advise paying a scamming PPC.


What happened when you went and complained to the Sainsburies manager?

Spinball

waamo wrote: »

Which ppc? At the top of this board is a thread that tells Newbies to read it first. You need to read it carefully.

I edited the post. It was Euro Car Parks.
I was thinking of phoning Sainsbury, but wasn't sure whether the charge was considered unfair or not. Which is a big stipulation in the MSE advice.

I didn't know of the fine charge until yesterday when the wife (we are separated) who lives at the vehicle's registered address sent me a scan of the letter.
(I don't think I have enough privileges to attach the scan of the letter).
So I haven't complained to anyone, yet.

waamo

Spinball wrote: »

I edited the post. It was Euro Car Parks.
I was thinking of phoning Sainsbury, but wasn't sure whether the charge was considered unfair or not. Which is a big stipulation in the MSE advice.

I didn't know of the fine charge until yesterday when the wife (we are separated) who lives at the vehicle's registered address sent me a scan of the letter.
(I don't think I have enough privileges to attach the scan of the letter).
So I haven't complained to anyone, yet.

Ignore the "official" MSE advice. It was written by someone who hasn't a clue. The Newbies thread is all you need.

Complain like mad to Sainsbury's.

Spinball

By the way, if I had had a windscreen notice, I would have wheeled my daughter up to the manager's office to complain then and there. But it is all automatic.

The_Deep

Nine times out of ten these tickets are scams so consider complaining to your MP.

Parliament is well aware of the MO of these private parking companies, and on 15th March 2019 a Bill was enacted to curb the excesses of these shysters. Codes of Practice are being drawn up, an independent appeals service will be set up, and access to the DVLA's date base more rigorously policed, persistent offenders denied access to the DVLA database and unable to operate.

Hopefully life will become impossible for the worst of these scammers, but until this is done you should still complain to your MP, citing the new legislation.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2019/8/contents/enacted

Just as the clampers were finally closed down, so hopefully will many of these Private Parking Companies.

Ralph-y

"but wasn't sure whether the charge was considered unfair or not. Which is a big stipulation in the MSE advice."


do not follow the mse advice .... it is wrong , it has been reported to mse but they choose to leave it.




https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4816822/newbies-private-parking-ticket-old-or-new-read-these-faqs-first-thankyou


do not phone Sainsburys call and see the manager .... not customer services, and let him/her know that you will be complaing to the CEO



Ralph :cool:

Spinball

Ralph-y wrote: »

do not phone Sainsburys call and see the manager .... not customer services, and let him/her know that you will be complaing to the CEO



Ralph :cool:

Thanks, everyone for the advice. Unfortunately, I can't call and see the manager as I live in Birmingham, and the store is in London. This is why I needed to charge up the car. It was a long journey.
So is phoning a better option than emailing?

waamo

Spinball wrote: »

Thanks, everyone for the advice. Unfortunately, I can't call and see the manager as I live in Birmingham, and the store is in London. This is why I needed to charge up the car. It was a long journey.
So is phoning a better option than emailing?

A phone call is only worth the paper it's written on.

Ralph-y

email Sainsbury CEO


Ralph:cool: