VARS Technology PCN for overstay in Starbucks Carpark

dizzyblonde2015

Hi
I am looking for some advice for my Son please.  He has received a PCN for an overstay in a Starbucks Cafe.  The cafe has a tablet at the counter for you to enter your registration into to allow you to stay for longer than the permitted 90 mins.  He uses this Starbucks on a regular basis and has never had a PCN until now.  He feels sure he filled his registration into the tablet at the counter as usual.
He has been into the Cafe and asked if they can get it cancelled and they said they can't. 
The alleged overstay was on the 26/03/2024.  The First letter he received was dated 20/04/24 and titled "Final Reminder" and NTK. The letter also unfortunately didn't get opened until the end of April, so when he contacted VARS Technology to appeal the charge they said it was too late to appeal it.
I have searched the forum for anything similar but only found one other issue with Starbucks and VARS Technology and that PCN was dealt with by Starbucks.
Thank you in Advance

Gr1pr

Study the newbies FAQ sticky thread in announcements by coupon mad first 

What happened to the NTK PCN letter ? The first one that was or should have been received, because a final reminder is the second letter, not the initial NTK letter

Redact the PCN and post pictures of both sides of the PCN, leaving all the dates and times showing etc

prowla

Starbucks saying they can't sort it out is a crock.

I hope he's told them he won't be a customer anymore.

Hoenir

prowla said:

Starbucks saying they can't sort it out is a crock.

I hope he's told them he won't be a customer anymore.

Starbucks should be boycotted in any event. 

Coupon-mad

The First letter he received was dated 20/04/24 and titled "Final Reminder" and NTK. 

Please show us both sides of that letter.

Make sure he doesn't pay it.

Fruitcake

Plan A is a complaint from the keeper to the manager and/or the UK CEO of Starbucks, or the landowner if different, and the keeper's MP.

Plan B is to appeal, but this will be difficult if the keeper doesn't have the original NTK. They could try appealing by post stating that since the reminder is the first document received, they, the keeper, are treating it as the NTK.
The keeper should in any case complain to VARS Tech. that they never received the NTK, quoting the latest version of the BPA CoP that states a duplicate NTK should be sent to the keeper and the clock reset.
If they fail to comply, then the keeper should complain to the BPA about yet another missing NTK.

Where did the alleged event occur? It may have cropped up here before.

The keeper should get photos of the site and signage, and search the forum for posts about "hidden keypad."

Umkomaas

VARS Technology?  Talk about jumping on the football bandwagon. The website suggests 'Facial Recognition' and 'Forecourt Protection' capability.  All that's missing is shop lifing and illegal immigrant spotting and ..... ANPR in a Box!

Smacks a lot of our erstwhile friend owd Trev Whitehouse. And a Blackpool business address ain't a million miles away from Preston!

This has got Trev written all over it. Read this BS about 'Forecourt Protection'. Absolute fantasy!

https://www.varstechnology.co.uk/services/forecourt_protection.html

Further investigation!  ..... If Trev's not involved here somehow .....

https://home.nationalbusinesscrimesolution.com/vars-technology-joins-nbcs-to-expand-our-anpr-reach/

dizzyblonde2015

prowla said:

Starbucks saying they can't sort it out is a crock.

I hope he's told them he won't be a customer anymore.

I know they can get it canceled but the Manager wasn't in on the day he went to complain and the waitress had been told by VARS that they have to tell customers who ask them to intervene that they are not able to help and that the complaint has to been emailed to VARS.
He didn't tell them he wouldn't be back but after she told us she couldn't help she asked "what would you like?" there were 3 of us at the counter and we all answered "Nothing Now" and just left.

Gr1pr

Always talk to the organ grinder and not the monkey, but better still , complain to the CEO involved, in this case Starbucks CEO, order find out who owns the land or retail park or business and complain to them, without revealing who was driving the vehicle.  The royal WE will suffice, as in WE are NOT amused 

The business or landowner of the property is deemed to be jointly and severally liable for the actions of their contractors, so fobbing people off is not a legal getout 

I would suggest that the driver may have input the VRM into the terminal incorrectly, a typo, or similar, plus we have not seen any pictures yet 

I doubt that VARS will take this to court, I definitely would not pay, just keep all the paperwork and pictures of signs etc safe for the next 6 years following the incident date, just in case they are needed.  Meanwhile, complain directly to the CEO of Starbucks, if they say they have no contract with VARS, then find out who the landowner or managing agent is and complain to them 

Coupon-mad

Yep, complain to the CEO (or at least the Head Office).

dizzyblonde2015

Hi All
Thank you so much for all your valuable advice up to press.
I have contacted the Starbucks in question today to speak to the manager but unfortunately she is not in today and currently unwell so they don't know when she will be next at work. I will keep trying to contact her. I've looked into the head of Starbucks Uk and that is one Alex Rayner who I will complain to once I have all the information I need.  I'm going to get some photo's of signs this afternoon and try and find out who the land owner is. There is a large Esso Garage on the same site whose manager might be available to speak to (worth a try)

My Son will definitely not be paying the charge, he caused them no loss at all and has proof that he was in the Premises on the day in question, so as suggested he could of miss keyed his reg into the keypad.

Pictures on there way :-)