Tesco Slough APCOA help

kisaki757

Hi,

I searched the forum before posting but the advice found does not seem current?

We recently got a "Parking Charge Notice" from APCOA regarding a visit to Tesco Slough from a month ago. I assume they are claiming we did not validate the ticket as even on the pictures provided it shows we stayed under 3h. However the parking validation machines at this particular Tescos have been off for months, pretty much since Covid started. We spent over £100 on this visit and used the clubcard.

Looking at older threads, they suggest calling customer support to get this cancelled but we rang a bunch of times and in all cases they stonewalled us and told us to go through the APCOA appeal process. I would really rather not deal with these charlatans in any way at all!

On one of the Tesco numbers we called they even specifically mention in the recording before the call is put through that they can't cancel these parking charges.

Has anyone recently managed to get Tesco to cancel the charge? And if so, what number did you call/how did you convince them to cancel it?

Thank you in advance!

Ralph-y

Hi, and welcome to the forum ..

I can assure you that the newbies thread/discussion is up to date.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4816822/newbies-private-parking-ticket-old-or-new-read-these-faqs-first-thankyou/p1
make sure you start at the first page not last

not sure where you got this "Looking at older threads, they suggest calling customer support"

we never say customer support as they are inclined to fob you off.

You speak to the manager and or the CEO at head office, and tel him/her that you want to return £100 worth of stuff due to the surcharge. And you will now shop else where....

Tesco can be a bit funny on cancellations but that is plan A

do not miss the deadline to appeal using the blue template found in the newbies thread.

Ralph

beamerguy

APCOA ...... not the normal scammer Tesco uses.   The CEO of Tesco has been playing hardball about parking tickets for at least a year, he has lost many customers for Tesco.  They have their own parking dept who clearly hate customers

Still worth contacting the CEO (search google) with your story and if the validation machines has not worked for months, then Tesco are allowing the scam.  

Umkomaas

APCOA parking tickets are among the easiest to get cancelled. Simply send the blue text initial appeal template from the NEWBIES FAQ sticky, first post, send it unaltered. You might get a cancellation from that, at worst a POPLA code where you can get the ticket overturned using the auspices of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (Schedule 4) as APCOA do not meet its strict requirements. 

Just follow advice, it's not for debate, we've done this for years, we know what we are doing!

Coupon-mad

APCOA is now the PPC that Tesco use, £70 reduced to £20.

Not to be paid though.   ALWAYS ALWAYS COMPLAIN TO THE RETAILER, FIRST.

Do what the NEWBIES thread tells you and add a sentence to replace the one about PDT machines in the template appeal, saying that you can see the NTK is non-POFA so they may as well cancel because they can't hold you liable.  Same as the CP Plus thread currently on page one - works  a treat.

Please don't post asking which BOX TO TICK on APCOA's appeal page...fed up with people asking that.  If they read the NEWBIES thread, everyone knows NOT to tick 'I was the driver and' and I am not sure how much clearer the NEWBIES thread can make it...

P.S. I edit the NEWBIES sticky thread often.  The date I started it is not the date last edited!

D_P_Dance

However the parking validation machines at this particular Tescos have been off for months, 

Goggle "frustration of contract " and complain to your MP  Never try to conduct matters such as this by telephone,  everything on paper.

kisaki757

Coupon-mad said:

APCOA is now the PPC that Tesco use, £70 reduced to £20.

Not to be paid though.   ALWAYS ALWAYS COMPLAIN TO THE RETAILER, FIRST.

Do what the NEWBIES thread tells you and add a sentence to replace the one about PDT machines in the template appeal, saying that you can see the NTK is non-POFA so they may as well cancel because they can't hold you liable.  Same as the CP Plus thread currently on page one - works  a treat.

Please don't post asking which BOX TO TICK on APCOA's appeal page...fed up with people asking that.  If they read the NEWBIES thread, everyone knows NOT to tick 'I was the driver and' and I am not sure how much clearer the NEWBIES thread can make it...

P.S. I edit the NEWBIES sticky thread often.  The date I started it is not the date last edited!

Thanks for your reply!

FYI, it's £70 reduced to £30 in my case. Maybe they've increased it recently - not enough suckers are paying in?!

I plan to go in store later this week and complain to a manager. I don't have much hope, though, the employees at that store are not exactly the best or helpful. Assuming by a miracle they do agree to get rid of the charge, what evidence can I ask from Tesco to prove they did so (i.e. they're not saying it just to get rid of me)?

If the complaint fails, I will do the appeal on the apcoa page (I won't tick "I was the driver" ). I'll use the template in the newbie thread but I am thinking to make some changes so it suits my situation. I am not good with legal lingo - does the below look right? I highlighted what I changed

Also the letter was sent 1 month after the fact. I understand that means the keeper can't be liable. Do I have to mention it in THIS letter or the next appeal if this one fails?

I dispute your 'parking charge', as the keeper of the vehicle. I deny any liability or contractual agreement and I will be making a complaint about your predatory conduct to your client landowner.

There will be no admissions as to who was driving and no assumptions can be drawn. Since your PCN is a vague template, I require an explanation of the allegation and your evidence. You must include a close up actual photograph of the sign you contend was at the location on the material date as well as your images of the vehicle and time stamps when they were captured as they are not visible in the letter you provided.

If the allegation concerns failure to validate the parking, please be advised the validation machines at this store have not been functioning for months. The data supplied in response to this appeal must include proof that the validation machines were operational on the date of the alleged event.  

If the allegation involves an alleged overstay of minutes, your evidence must include the actual grace period agreed by the landowner.

Umkomaas

Looks ok, no driver identified. 

Why not add 'You have failed to comply with the requirements of Schedule 4 of The Protection Of Freedoms Act 2012 namely, but not limited to, failing to give the invitation to keeper in the format prescribed by section 9 (2) (e) of the Act. You cannot, therefore, transfer liability for the alleged charge from the driver at the time to me, the keeper.

There is no legal requirement to name the driver at the time and I will not be doing so.

I do not expect to hear from you again, or your debt collectors, except to confirm that no further action will be taken on this matter and my personal details have been removed from your records.'

Coupon-mad

Also the letter was sent 1 month after the fact. I understand that means the keeper can't be liable. Do I have to mention it in THIS letter or the next appeal if this one fails?

 I already answered this, why do I bother?

Do what the NEWBIES thread tells you and add a sentence to replace the one about PDT machines in the template appeal, saying that you can see the NTK is non-POFA so they may as well cancel because they can't hold you liable.  Same as the CP Plus thread currently on page one - works  a treat.

BrownTrout

Coupon-mad said:

APCOA is now the PPC that Tesco use, £70 reduced to £20.

Not to be paid though.   ALWAYS ALWAYS COMPLAIN TO THE RETAILER, FIRST.

Do what the NEWBIES thread tells you and add a sentence to replace the one about PDT machines in the template appeal, saying that you can see the NTK is non-POFA so they may as well cancel because they can't hold you liable.  Same as the CP Plus thread currently on page one - works  a treat.

Please don't post asking which BOX TO TICK on APCOA's appeal page...fed up with people asking that.  If they read the NEWBIES thread, everyone knows NOT to tick 'I was the driver and' and I am not sure how much clearer the NEWBIES thread can make it...

P.S. I edit the NEWBIES sticky thread often.  The date I started it is not the date last edited!

have APCOA now got the contract for the tesco estate?

Coupon-mad

Don't know but have seen it at more than one Tesco, and people mentioned the same on here.