Apcoa parking charge notice - Tesco carpark, St. Stephens, Hull - Unfair?

Coupon-mad

It doesn't matter if it doesn't because a registered keeper (not admitting driver) appeal is a 100% slam dunk WIN against APCOA.

Ralph-y

when you visit the store ... do not be put off by customer service .... speak to the manager.....

Ralph

MiddleAgedDad

Like you neither of us can believe we didn't do the parking validation (but how do you prove it?)

Exactly 

In this particular car park, the time/receipt validating machines have regularly had a message on the display screen, in recent months, stating 'No need to validate today'.

During the first few months of lockdown, they were regularly like that for weeks at a time, presumably because the huge panic buying queues snaking well outside Tescos entrance, meant that a full shop was impossible in two hours?  

The message still periodically appears (it was there again on Wednesday afternoon) so my guess is that it was there on the day that my PCN ticket was issued but of course the driver can't remember for sure, 5/6 weeks later but can't believe that they would have simply forgot to validate, if the machine was working, after doing so on hundreds of previous visits?

Redx

All background noise when you are all aware that under POFA the keeper has no liability due to Apcoa not complying with POFA , the law !!

By all means complain about it to Tesco in these pandemic times , the driver should take pictures of the machines with the display showing the timestamp , with date and time embedded as well , as proof , belt and braces approach

But it's an easy win at Popla for any Keeper , so nobody should stress about it , providing the drivers details are not divulged

DrDonothing

Hi all.  We had the same problem - got the charge letter two days ago stating we hadn't validated on the 9th October. Fortunately we distinctly remembered the validation machines not working so, armed with the charge notice and a bank statement showing we'd spent lots I went to Tesco's yesterday.  A nice lady called Dani admitted there'd been problems around that time, and happily read the bank statement and photocopied the charge notice. She then put it on a pile with several other identical sheets and assured me it would be cancelled and that I need take no further action.  Simple enough, but you have to wonder whether Tesco inform APCOA when the machines are down to save their customers being hounded. If not then they should.  If they do so then clearly APCOA are relying on a percentage of gullible or worried people just paying up, which would be disgraceful.  Anyway, no need to respond in any way to the charge notice, just pop into Tesco and they'll sort it.

Redx

I would still appeal as keeper before day 25 following the date on the NTK , using the blue text template , unless Apcoa send a cancellation beforehand

Belt and braces approach , easier to deal with his rather than 6 years of harassment

MiddleAgedDad

DrDonothing said:

Hi all.  We had the same problem - got the charge letter two days ago stating we hadn't validated on the 9th October. Fortunately we distinctly remembered the validation machines not working so, armed with the charge notice and a bank statement showing we'd spent lots I went to Tesco's yesterday.  A nice lady called Dani admitted there'd been problems around that time, and happily read the bank statement and photocopied the charge notice. She then put it on a pile with several other identical sheets and assured me it would be cancelled and that I need take no further action.  

Was that Hull St Stephens, Tesco?

I went in this morning and was told the complete opposite, at the Customer Service desk! 

Appearantly they can't do anything about tickets (& the Manager would confirm the same if I asked him) but I would definitely get the PCN dropped, if I appeal to  APCOA, with  proof of purchase details.

Redx

Ensure that the driver is not revealed when appealing , even if adding copies of proof of purchase receipts !!

Sometimes less is more , I wouldn't trust Tesco or APCOA in these cases , a keeper appeal will see it off.  Regardless

DrDonothing

Yes it was Tesco St Stephens, and Dani was the Customer Service person I spoke to. Strange to get two conflicting tales!  She already had several notices that she'd dealt with, and was very confident that I need do nothing more.  I'll wait and see.

Coupon-mad

Well it sounds like the OP needs to ask for Dani and complain to the Store Manager that the other girl lied to him.