Parking charge - Horizon Parking / Debt Collection

liamw91

Hi all,

Any advice for the following would be hugely appreciated:

We received a parking charge notice from Horizon parking on 11th November 23, after we used an Asda car park on 21st October 23. We actually originally parked and paid for the leisure centre next door to Asda as our children had swimming lessons, but there were bad floods on the day so about 20 minutes in, staff in the leisure centre announced to everyone that we had to move our cars as they were closing the car park. 

So we had to quickly move the car to Asda next door, and after the swimming lessons we we went into Asda to do some shopping.

When we received the original £45 fine we appealed out of principle as we still used the shop to buy things and had food in their cafe, and the flooding was out of our control (not that Horizon is going to care about that, but still). The appeal form stated to ignore further letters about the fine until a decision is made and we would only pay the original £45. Fast-forward to yesterday (February 5th), and still not hearing back from the appeal, we received a 'final warning' letter in the post, stating that it will be passed to a debt recovery agency if not paid within 14 days. 

I emailed Horizon (it took me a while to find their contact info as it seems they try to make it as tricky as possible to contact them!). They responded and stated they had already responded to the appeal on 13th November, a mere two days after I submitted it. They attached a letter to the email with that date on it and details of the decision. I never received this email, checking spam and inbox every day as I've been looking out for it. I assumed with Christmas hols there would be a delay, but I've had no letters/emails about the appeal decision apart from the reminders about the charge.

They haven't responded to my request to give me proof of sending me the decision via email as I have not received anything.

They have said it's now too late anyway as it's been passed to a debt recovery agency. I found this odd as the final warning letter was received yesterday, until I checked the date and realised the date on it is 12th January, and I've only just received it. 

I just feel so frustrated that I hadn't heard from the appeal, and turns out they did respond but I just hadn't been sent anything, and now it's too late anyway as it's been passed on.

What are my options now? Do I just pay the debt recovery agency to save all the hassle? Or do I just take my chances if it gets to court?

KeithP

What did the Customer Service people in Asda have to say when you asked them for help?

liamw91

KeithP said:

What did the Customer Service people in Asda have to say when you asked them for help?

We haven't asked anyone in Asda for help, only we received the charge letter and appealed it, and as far as we knew we were still waiting for the outcome of the appeal. It was only today when we emailed to ask what's happening with it that we were told it was rejected 2 days after I originally sent it in! So all this time it's just been racking up more charges but nobody sent us anything. 

Not sure if Asda can even do anything now can they if it's gone to debt recovery? I presumed Asda didn't have control over the parking anyway if it's done through horizon, but appreciate this is probably a newb error on my part

Coupon-mad

It sounds like you need to read the NEWBIES thread because it already tells everyone that retailers can and will cancel a PCN at any stage.

That is how to end this.  PLAN A.

However, it won't be Asda, it'll be the retail park managing agents who will cancel it for you.  As per every other retail park thread, you can find who runs the place easily.  You probably drive past their contact details every time you enter that site.

The NEWBIES thread also tells you to ignore the daft DRA demands and that getting a court claim is what you want (if PLAN A doesn't work).  It's certainly not 'taking a chance'!  Simple to defend and almost invariably won. No risk. No CCJ.

I so wish you'd come here before appealing because you had 100% win, which you binned by appealing as the driver.  Horizon ones are a cinch as long as you appeal as keeper.

troublemaker22

It might be ASDA’s own car park because not all ASDA stores are in retail parks. Most ASDA stores have their own car parks where ASDA has an absolute right to order their parking contractor to cancel parking tickets regardless of whether they have “gone to debt recovery” (which in this context is meaningless gibberish). The parking company works for ASDA not the other way round and ASDA are usually quite helpful when it comes to cancelling parking tickets for genuine customers, even for locations in retail parks. 

If the local store management won’t cancel it for you, send an email to [Removed by Forum Team]

Be sure to keep the email short and to the point. It’s about being a genuine customer who can’t afford to shop at ASDA any more if the shopping comes with a £100 surcharge. The flood at the gym is a side issue. Attach proof of shopping if you can, ideally the receipt but if you’ve lost the receipt a cop of the entry on your bank or credit card statement will do. 

fisherjim

It's not a fine it's an invoice from chancers, and debt collectors are powerless idiots

JemmaNCin7

liamw91 said:

KeithP said:

What did the Customer Service people in Asda have to say when you asked them for help?

We haven't asked anyone in Asda for help, only we received the charge letter and appealed it, and as far as we knew we were still waiting for the outcome of the appeal. It was only today when we emailed to ask what's happening with it that we were told it was rejected 2 days after I originally sent it in! So all this time it's just been racking up more charges but nobody sent us anything. 

Not sure if Asda can even do anything now can they if it's gone to debt recovery? I presumed Asda didn't have control over the parking anyway if it's done through horizon, but appreciate this is probably a newb error on my part

Hello. Would you be able to share the email address? I have exactly the same situation.