PCN from Waitrose/Britannia

nanao

A Parking Charge Notice has been received from Britannia Parking. It was for an overstay in a Waitrose car park by 30 mins. The driver assumed the car park was free for 3 hours as it used to be before with shopping in the store however it was changed to 1 hr and 30 mins free only recently shopping or not which the driver was not aware of. Having read the newbies thread, as a first step the keeper has spoken to the store manager but was refused to help as the driver's shopping was not of a substantial amount.
For the next step, wanted to clarify if the keeper should still write to waitrose customer service available online/CEO or the same store manager who already refused or appeal to Britannia Parking directly using online appeal form given on the PCN letter? For the online appeal to Britannia, should the template in newbies thread be used exact same or should be modified accordingly?

Many thanks in advance. Appreciate your help!

Redx

complaint to CEO or head office, complaining also that the local store manager did nothing to help, also about inadequate signage too

read the BPA CoP about what should happen when new rules come into force overruling older rules or no previous rules, ie:- additional warning signs

use the blue text template unaltered, appealing as keeper, doing this step around day 25 so the appeal deadline is not missed, but hoping for the CEO to get it cancelled beforehand

I have never understood how a supermarket expects to keep loyal customers if they also penalise them for overstaying

if they were in my store, shopping , I would care if they were 3 hours or 6 hours, as long as the car park can accomodate them, its why free out of town shopping on supermarkets was invented

NeilCr

Computersaysno wrote: »

Simply make up a name at a local doss house and name them as the driver. The scumco will go away and spend money and time chasing this fiction.
I know someone who has done this 30+ times and has never had a follow-up.

OP

Please don't do this

I don't believe any of the other regulars on here would condone this sort of behaviour. You'll notice that the person who did this is, apparently, the type who would park in a way as to attract more than 30 parking tickets. They are one of those who create situations where companies/private estates/etc end up bringing in PPCs in the first place

Follow the advice given by Redx - even though he and I may disagree a little on overstays in supermarket car parks!

Have a look at the signage too. If it's anything like my local Waitrose the Britannia signs are small and located high on the posts

Umkomaas

Check with the local authority to determine whether planning permission for the store had any codicil in relation to the amount of free parking that should be made available.

It's not unknown for parking companies to persuade local store managers that a shorter period should be introduced (when 'take' for the PPC is low, and shorter periods improve their profit line), with wanton disregard for possible planning permission conditions.

beamerguy

Waitrose Limited

Mr Rob Collins Managing Director

Email rob.collins@waitrose.co.uk

Show Mr Collins you are a valid customer and request he cancels

Tell him that by reducing the time period will only have one result, and that is pushing his customers to Aldi or Lidl

PLEASE IGNORE Computersaysno, the practice of this forum is honesty

The_Deep

I am wondering why you spent so long in the store and purchased so little.
Did you shop elsewhere, was it raining? Were you shopping for a long list of items they did not have?

I have always regarded Waitrose as a cut above the rest and wonder why the manager was unhelpful. If you think that he/she was unreasonably so, complain to yout MP, as nine times out of ten these tickets are scams.

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.

Coupon-mad

My local Waitys allows 2 hours but you can shop elsewhere as well.

I can understand why the OP would rely upon the known limit of 3 hours, seeing as Britannia won't have bothered to add extra signs to draw the change clearly to local drivers' attention.

NeilCr

Coupon-mad wrote: »

My local Waitys allows 2 hours but you can shop elsewhere as well.

I can understand why the OP would rely upon the known limit of 3 hours, seeing as Britannia won't have bothered to add extra signs to draw the change clearly to local drivers' attention.

Think mine is 2 hours too - as you say C-M you can shop elsewhere. It's in the centre of town and that helps local shops. It needs a limit, though, because of day trippers, workers and residents who would snaffle all the places, otherwise

Welcome back Coupon--Mad by the way. I imagine your keyboard fingers have been twitching!

:D

nanao

First of all, many thanks for your replies and advices. Much appreciated.

Took longer because he/wife had lunch in the Waitrose Cafeteria. Spent decent lunch money unfortunately paid cash and didn't take receipt. For shopping though, paid in card so available in the card statement. This was not his local waitrose and last time he visited this waitrose few months ago parking was free for an additional 1hr 30 mins making it total of 3 hours with £10 minimum spent. So it was under the assumption that 3 hours was free. The store manager refused to believe that their lunch and shopping took 2 hours and hence didn't help. This was despite showing his waitrose card and credit card statement.

Sometimes one takes time to eat lunch, takes ages to choose a coffee or a tea brand, a bottle of wine or even a toothpaste brand. The point is it was unintentional and a genuine mistake.

Anyway, a mail will be sent to the CEO as well as to customer service.

In terms of the online appeal to Britannia, as advised around the 25th day, is it required to include the redacted card statement along with the template? Should you include the details like name, address etc in the redacted statement? or hide these details? I can see something like this below the template in the newbies thread.

"You can (carefully!) add a little to the template above, 'in order to resolve the dispute I attach copies of...':

- the driver's receipts/bank transactions (or Hospital Appointment/Hotel booking, etc.) that day as 'they' were a genuine customer/patient, etc.

- If an occupant of the car is disabled or elderly/infirm, then the keeper can add that, without implying who was driving. A copy of the Blue Badge (BB) is a good idea to upload/attach, but a person with a long-term debilitating condition (not a broken arm!) can be disabled without a BB, and will be legally entitled to a 'reasonable adjustment'. That can and should include an extension of time, over and above free or paid-for parking time."

Thanks again.

MistyZ

nanao wrote: »

Took longer because he/wife had lunch in the Waitrose Cafeteria. Spent decent lunch money unfortunately paid cash and didn't take receipt. For shopping though, paid in card so available in the card statement. This was not his local waitrose and last time he visited this waitrose few months ago parking was free for an additional 1hr 30 mins making it total of 3 hours with £10 minimum spent. So it was under the assumption that 3 hours was free. The store manager refused to believe that their lunch and shopping took 2 hours and hence didn't help. This was despite showing his waitrose card and credit card statement.

Sometimes one takes time to eat lunch, takes ages to choose a coffee or a tea brand, a bottle of wine or even a toothpaste brand. The point is it was unintentional and a genuine mistake.

Anyway, a mail will be sent to the CEO as well as to customer service.

Occupants of the car had lunch there yet no cancellation!!? What the heck!?

That store manager was letting the company down big time. You'll get this cancelled with an assertive complaint to the CEO or I'll stand you lunch next time! (But somewhere else, not Waitrose).

nanao

beamerguy wrote: »

Waitrose Limited

Mr Rob Collins Managing Director

Email rob.collins@waitrose.co.uk

Show Mr Collins you are a valid customer and request he cancels

Tell him that by reducing the time period will only have one result, and that is pushing his customers to Aldi or Lidl

PLEASE IGNORE Computersaysno, the practice of this forum is honesty

Hi, when you write the email to the MD, do you write as a keeper saying the driver was shopping and also show the keeper's waitrose card as a proof of regular customer and receipt/redacted credit card statement? Do waitrose sometimes forward the email to the parking company?