Misleading signage?

MummyNeedingAdvice

I have received a PCN from National Parking Enforcement. Reason for issue: parked in a child and parent bay whilst unaccompanied out of the vehicle by a child 12 year or less.
It is true I got out of the car, but didn't leave the vicinity (I stood by the door). Whist in the bay I was displaying a valid blue badge. It was my first time out of the house since lockdown and had my disabled daughter with me. I was panicked by the number of people and felt it was unsafe to take my daughter out of the car. A friend (in a separate car) went to check how busy the shop was, so I could make an informed decision on whether to take her out of the car and into the shop.  On my friends return and a 2 minute discussion (they had brought me a cuppa to calm my nerves) I decided that it was unsafe to enter the shop and left the car park. 
The photo evidence provided by NPE was a number of photos that had been reordered as not to be chronological and painted a picture different to reality. I appealed explaining the situation, I thought the sign allowed me to park as long as the blue badge was visible in either a disable or parent and child bay, but have had my appeal turned down. I am trying to decide whether to appeal to the IAS or pay the invoice. My friend is happy to make a supporting statement.
Any advice on whether the sign is misleading or whether I just got it wrong and should pay would be appreciated.
Photo displayed in the carpark below:

Coupon-mad

Obviously you don't pay NPE! Have you read the 3rd post of the NEWBIES thread about IAS?

This is that tedious old scam Co-op site at Earlham isn't it...Google it!

MummyNeedingAdvice

Coupon-mad said:

Obviously you don't pay NPE! Have you read the 3rd post of the NEWBIES thread about IAS?

This is that tedious old scam Co-op site at Earlham isn't it...Google it!

Thank you Coupon-mad It is a Co-op, this time at Combs Ford. - I found a newspaper article that says they issued 500 PCN's in the first 10 days of operation!
You say in the NEWBIES thread about IAS "I don't recommend trying the appeal at IAS stage, except in very rare cases where you have a slam-dunk winning point" - are you recommending on this occassion to stick to the 'don't bother with the appeal advice' or is the sign in your opinion a 'slam-dunk winning point' and worth the letter?

Fruitcake

The sign quite clearly states that,

VEHICLES PARKED IN A DISABLED BAY/PARENT & CHILD BAY MUST EITHER:

CLEARLY DISPLAY A VALID BLUE BADGE IN THE WINDSCREEN AT ALL TIMES,
OR BE ACCOMPANIED OUT OF THE VEHICLE BY A CILD 12 YEARS OLD OR UNDER.

The car was parked in a gimmick  parent and child bay, and fulfilled the requirements on the sign by displaying a blue badge all the time the vehicle was parked.
I believe the man on the Clapham Omnibus would agree with my interpretation of the words in bold.

The scammers had no business obtaining the keeper's data in the first place.

Complain to the store manager and/or the CEO (nobody lower down). 

Complain to the DVLA as well. This was both a data breach and a KADOE contract breach. The NTK has omitted half of the Ts and Cs displayed on the sign and only issued a charge based on the other half. 

Complain to the IPC that a PCN has been issued when the Ts and Cs were clearly not breached.

Please also complain to your MP about this unregulated scam.


 

MummyNeedingAdvice

Fruitcake said:

The sign quite clearly states that,

VEHICLES PARKED IN A DISABLED BAY/PARENT & CHILD BAY MUST EITHER:

CLEARLY DISPLAY A VALID BLUE BADGE IN THE WINDSCREEN AT ALL TIMES,
OR BE ACCOMPANIED OUT OF THE VEHICLE BY A CILD 12 YEARS OLD OR UNDER.

The car was parked in a gimmick  parent and child bay, and fulfilled the requirements on the sign by displaying a blue badge all the time the vehicle was parked.
I believe the man on the Clapham Omnibus would agree with my interpretation of the words in bold.

The scammers had no business obtaining the keeper's data in the first place.

Complain to the store manager and/or the CEO (nobody lower down). 

Complain to the DVLA as well. This was both a data breach and a KADOE contract breach. The NTK has omitted half of the Ts and Cs displayed on the sign and only issued a charge based on the other half. 

Complain to the IPC that a PCN has been issued when the Ts and Cs were clearly not breached.

Please also complain to your MP about this unregulated scam.


 

Thank you Fruitcake for your reassurance. I am now clear on next steps and get writing.

Coupon-mad

Appeal, using the point Fruitcake has just made.  The accessible bays are subject to the same t&cs!  There is nothing to say which bay has which term.

Slam dunk win at IAS,  surely.  Even Skippy the bush kangaroo couldn't miss that!

Scrapit

If some people out after lockdown is too much for you do you think battling a ppc is good idea?

MummyNeedingAdvice

Coupon-mad said:

Appeal, using the point Fruitcake has just made.  The accessible bays are subject to the same t&cs!  Thre is nothing to say which bay has which term.

Slam dunk win at IAS,  surely.  Even Skippy the bush kangaroo couldn't miss that!

Thank you Coupon-mad your advice is much appreciated 

MummyNeedingAdvice

Scrapit said:

If some people out after lockdown is too much for you do you think battling a ppc is good idea?

Scrapit, thank you for your concern. If I was told by this group I had read the sign wrong I would have paid and walked away as don't believe in creating stress unncessarily! I have started with a letter to CEO's of East of England Co-op and we'll take it from there. 

Fruitcake

Scrapit said:

If some people out after lockdown is too much for you do you think battling a ppc is good idea?

I don't understand the question.

How does seeing "some people out after lockdown" who could transmit a life threatening disease have any bearing or effect on typing a few words on a computer in a safe covid free environment at home, assisted by a supportive community?

The OP has not done anything wrong. They have completely complied with the contract requirements displayed on the signage at the site, yet are being unfairly punished for doing so.
I would be outraged by this behaviour and would want to put a stop to it.
The anger and stress of being falsely accused of a "crime" they did not commit may well be greater than the mild stress caused by fighting it.

Coupon-mad

Should be asy to defend based on that sign - tell the IAS abut the doctrine of contra proferentem...you can park there in any accessible bay, displaying a Blue Badge.