Retail PCN!!! HELP!

smileysmile1966

I bet this forum receives so many questions about what to do when you receive a PCN on your window when you popped into a retail store.
I parked in a car park adjacent to B & M stores used by fellow shoppers. I returned to my car to find PCN on my window. The car park was free for 3 hours. The crime was "Not parked correctly within the markings of the bay or space."
Here's the thing. I have an SUV and my 83 year old aunt was with me. We couldn't park in the disabled bay so we wasn't entirely in the bay so overlapping the bay lines. This was to enable my elderly aunt to get out of the SUV without bashing any obstruction. Their were plenty of empty spaces.
I had contacted B & M stores customer services explaining this and they basically fobbed me off. The PCN says we have to pay £100 or £50 if paid within 14 days.
We were in the store for about half hour so I think we were being preyed on by UK Parking Control Ltd.
I have sent one more email to customer services asking for the stores managers name and number or better still the regional managers details. I have not received a reply yet. I was thinking of paying the store a visit to see the manager tomorrow (10th) as this happened on the 6th, My aunt is worried and not in the best of health and feels guilty. Come on for heavens sake! We were customers and preyed on by these sniffling thugs!

So first contact the retailer. If they can't help (which I believe they can as they pay the landlord and they surely do not want to upset their customers) if that fails contact the LandLord (if I can get the details).
Up to now this is all I have done but I am adamant I am not going to pay this fine! Would much appreciate your thoughts. :whistle:

Umkomaas

You definitely need to see the manager, not the fob-off CS desk.

Read up on the Equality Act 2010 before you go, particularly the requirement on service providers to make 'Reasonable Adjustments' for those with 'Protected Characteristics' (old age being one such category). Tell the manager that unless he/she gets this cancelled, you will be issuing a claim under the Act against B&M Stores, the minimum penalty the Act imposes is £500.

So spend a bit of time reading up on the Act (even if you delay your visit to the store by a day or two), then hit the manager hard with the knowledge you have gained.

By the way, you never did inform us the outcome of your other thread you received help with from the forum. It would have been nice to know whether forum efforts had been worthwhile! :cool:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5188425/gladstones-solicitors

smileysmile1966

Well good evening too you. Thank you for your prompt reply. I will do this tomorrow. Let's see if the manager fobs me off with BS! Oh yes. That happened a while back. My friend paid the fine as she crapped herself but I stood my ground and ignored the threats. I have heard nothing since OH and I sincerely commend you and the others for your help

smileysmile1966

I am struggling to find the correct wordage on Equality act 2010 page which I could specifically produce to the retail manager. You are very right though. This is something to point out to the manager.

1505grandad

A suggestion - go to the website of the Equality Advisory & Support Service (EASS) and in the search box put "discrimination template letter" - using the contents of the appropriate letter may give you some ideas to help focus the mind of the manager on their employers responsibility.

smileysmile1966

I went to store today with receipt and PCN. They were sympathetic but couldn't do much although manager told me he'd contact landowner and forward my request and why I parked as I did. I used the calm approach. The manager have had many customers complaining and said they'd not return to store again. He said the parking company were quite arrogant. I've not heard back from them. That is the landowner. I left my details.

I'm adamant not to pay. Its disgraceful. I'm thinking of sending an email to somebody higher up with B & M with the equality act. Shouldn't be treating customers like this.

I guess the time to send appeal to parking company is 25th day? Thanks

Umkomaas

Issue a Letter Before Claim for £500. It won't cost you anything at this sage, but it will sure wake them up. If you do issue proceedings for £500 via MCOL it will cost ~£35. If they fail to respond then, you get the Judgement in your favour - automatically.

Type this into Google and you'll find dozens of templates:

letter before claim template

You will need to set it in the context of the Equality Act 2010, and importantly, the Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims.

https://www.justice.gov.uk/courts/procedure-rules/civil/pdf/protocols/debt-pap.pdf

beamerguy

smileysmile1966 wrote: »

I went to store today with receipt and PCN. They were sympathetic but couldn't do much although manager told me he'd contact landowner and forward my request and why I parked as I did. I used the calm approach. The manager have had many customers complaining and said they'd not return to store again. He said the parking company were quite arrogant. I've not heard back from them. That is the landowner. I left my details.

I'm adamant not to pay. Its disgraceful. I'm thinking of sending an email to somebody higher up with B & M with the equality act. Shouldn't be treating customers like this.

I guess the time to send appeal to parking company is 25th day? Thanks

B&M has never been the most intelligent page in the book when it comes to customers. Bigger players than B&M have gone bust

I would go straight to the press, they love these stories and the time is ripe to remind the press and the public of the fraudulent activities of UKPC

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7215177/Parking-firm-hands-driver-two-100-fines-minutes-locations-15-miles-apart.html

Who cares what happens to B&M, they don't care about you ?

smileysmile1966

Yes I think I need to send something to B & M.
Because this is outrageous. They can contact the Landlord to quash this fine. It's a disgrace that they can treat customers this way. Just have to find the template and address. Letter would be better than email?

Half_way

Did you find who the landowner is?

beamerguy

smileysmile1966 wrote: »

Yes I think I need to send something to B & M.
Because this is outrageous. They can contact the Landlord to quash this fine. It's a disgrace that they can treat customers this way. Just have to find the template and address. Letter would be better than email?

No point in keep saying it's outrageous, we know

Why bother with B&M, why even spend with them. Go to the press and let them ask the questions. It's amazing what happens when the press are involved