Blue Badge holder, Sainsbury's Horizon Charge notice

Buttonbaggins

Please excuse me, this is my first post. I have done my best to read the Newbie Thread and other replies but I have got myself in such a state I'm not sure where to turn next.


Today my husband received a Parking Charge Notice through the post from Horizon Parking, saying our car had failed to pay for full duration of stay on 28th November 2019 at Sainsbury's Southend On sea.


I was using the car that day and had parked in a disabled bay using my Blue Badge. On a previous visit when Horizon had taken over the parking we had asked in Sainsburys if we now had to pay with a blue badge. We were told that we just had to give them our Registration Number, which a lady wrote down in a book and that we didn't need to get any further tickets or payments to use the car park.


I did not get any parking fine ticket on my windscreen on the 28th November 2019. I was there for 45 mins as is stated on the fine recieved through the post.


What should I do now? I'm confused with all the forms and stuff (Sorry, I find paperwork confusing) to appeal etc. The ask me to tell them who the driver was, I understand from the threads that I shouldn't do that?


I would be grateful for any help as this has come at a very stressful and bad time for myself and I'm tears over it. Thank you

fisherjim

It's not a fine!


What did Sainsbury's say when you went and complained to them?

KeithP

It strikes me that the best thing to do would be to go back to the store and point out that their process has failed.

The driver gave them the car registration number following a promise by their representative that there would be no charge, but that isn't what happened.

Give them a copy of the Parking Charge Notice and instruct them to sort it out.

Fruitcake

As above, what did the Sainsbug's manager/CEO say when the keeper complained and threatened to shop elsewhere if this is not cancelled.
What did they say when you asked them why the vehicle reg is not on their exclusion list?

If this has not been cancelled in time, the keeper should appeal using the template in blue text you will find in post 1 of the NEWBIEDS.
Do not miss the appeal template, but do harangue the manager and/or the CEO, nobody lower.

Redx

The newbies thread tells you to complain to the landowner or retailer , so complain to the in store manager , tell them to put your VRM on a whitelist of exemptions with Horizon and also mention that this was previously recorded in that book , so you require them to cancel this PCN because they have failed the reasonable adjustments section of the Equality Act 2010

Do this asap , or sooner , but no blabbing about who was driving , use the royal WE when talking , we parked , we shopped , have your receipt and bank statements handy to prove patronage

If this fails , email their CEO and complain the same way , with copies of the BB and copies of the receipt an bank statements , but redact personal info from the copies

If you do this first , the next steps won't be required

Buttonbaggins

Thank you so much for your advise. I went into Sainsburys this morning armed with all the information etc and asked to see the manager. She at first said it wasnt their problem, but I pointed out they are the landowners etc. She then said, well I can check your registered and if you are I'll cancel this fine. She was gone for about fifteen minutes. Upon her return she was very apologetic and said she had cancelled it and that I was registered and shouldnt have further problems. If I do to phone or come and see her again. So there you go they have the ability to cancel the charges! Thank you again everyone xx:D:T

The_Deep

Are you sure that parking was free for BB holders, that is very unusual on private land.

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Nine times out of ten these tickets are scams, so consider complaining to your MP after the election, as it can cause the scammer extra costs and work, and has been known to get the charge cancelled.

Parliament is well aware of the MO of these private parking companies, many of whom are former clampers, 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.

[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2019/8/contents/enacted[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]

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

Half_way

Buttonbaggins wrote: »

Thank you so much for your advise. I went into Sainsburys this morning armed with all the information etc and asked to see the manager. She at first said it wasnt their problem, but I pointed out they are the landowners etc. She then said, well I can check your registered and if you are I'll cancel this fine. She was gone for about fifteen minutes. Upon her return she was very apologetic and said she had cancelled it and that I was registered and shouldnt have further problems. If I do to phone or come and see her again. So there you go they have the ability to cancel the charges! Thank you again everyone xx:D:T

It would be advisable to get a written, or emailed confirmation of this, verbal confirmations can sometimes be as much use as the paper they are written on, with an e-mail print it off and keep it safe, with a wrttin confirmation file it waya and keep it safe.


As for the Sainsburys in question - I've yet to come across a supermarket ( with its own car park) that required additional payment to use the car park. These places make enough money as it is without charging extra just to visit

Redx

Keep an eye on the PCN by pretending to pay it , if it comes up invalid or zero pounds owed it's probably been cancelled , if it says it's still outstanding just before the deadline day , appeal to Horizon with the blue text template , adding a note to state that Sainsbury's have cancelled it

Personally I would email their CEO with this saga , but praise the manager for finally sorting it out , but querying how a loyal customer can be so disrespected by their contractor and the exemption system is flawed and needs fixing, reminding him that bother supermarkets are available

FYI , I registered mine with Asda to prevent similar issues a couple of years ago , but head office did it for me after an online complaint

Do not let them get away with it , nothing will change unless people complain

jimbo24168

If you did get a ticket again, and I will not use the word 'fine' as it is not a fine, then personally I would let it go all the way before telling them what Sainburys have done. That includes appealing to POPLA, the so-called independent appeals people, as the parking company have to pay £30+ if you do, but it doesn't cost you anything. Also, the number one rule is never to tell them who the driver was at the time, all they have is the registered keeper, so put them to find out who the driver was.