Parking Charge Notice appeal rejected - issued while unwell shopping at Aldi's

Zoho

Parking Awareness company has rejected my appeal for taking 20 mins extra this month to do my shopping while unwell. I explained I had to take three breaks in my car while shopping at the only two shops linked to the car park, and no idea there was a maximum stay of 90 mins.

I sent them my GP's letter showing an urgent referral to the hospital due to internal bleeding, and a hospital letter showing my urgent appointment end of May to eliminate the posiibility of 'serious illness'.  

In response Parking Awareness said 'Customers are not exempt from the terms and conditions of the site. To be considered extenuating circumstances, medical professionals would have needed to attend on site.'

The Manager of Home Bargains, one of the shops said the signs were only displayed since January 2024 and the landlord of the car park had poor communication with them. Apparently, hundreds of customers are contacting them due to fines, and saying they will not shop there again. I had no idea of the signs, as I'd shopped there for several years and being unwell I would not have noticed them on the day. Initially, I appealed to Aldi but they refused to help, so I am trying again, as they entice customers to shop there, and indirectly colluding with them.

I have 21 days to appeal to IAS. I don't know what to do as they are all heartless putting profit before people's wellbeing and the stress this is causing for not being able to shop quickly while ill, and I am over 60 on a low income, and potentially very unwell.

Parking Awareness say: Due to the above, we are unable to cancel the Parking Charge Notice as we believe, with the evidence we have, that it was issued correctly. Please now make payment of £60 to reach us by 06/06/2024 or £100 to reach us by 20/06/2024 using one of the below methods.

All I can say is don't shop anywhere that puts profit and gangsters before people.

Half_way

Have you complained to the site owner ?

where is this site?

With an IPC company there is no Independent appeals service, the IAS is not independent, nor can it be considered an Appeals service or even a service .

 The parking industry is completely un regulated and makes up its own rules to suit itself.

Who is the landowner of the site?

 where is it?

Do not attempt to guess as to who may have been driving to the site

Fruitcake

Complain to the CEOs of all the stores you visited, and the landowner or land agent if different. This is sometimes displayed on the main entrance totem sign.

Where did it happen? It may have cropped up here before.

Do not try an IAS appeal.
Ignore powerless debt collectors.

Get photos of the site and signage.

Grizebeck

Parking awareness are a joke
I've met the owner
A few choice words would describe him

Coupon-mad

Zoho said:

Parking Awareness company has rejected my appeal for taking 20 mins extra this month to do my shopping while unwell. I explained I had to take three breaks in my car while shopping at the only two shops linked to the car park, and no idea there was a maximum stay of 90 mins.

I sent them my GP's letter showing an urgent referral to the hospital due to internal bleeding, and a hospital letter showing my urgent appointment end of May to eliminate the posiibility of 'serious illness'.  

In response Parking Awareness said 'Customers are not exempt from the terms and conditions of the site. To be considered extenuating circumstances, medical professionals would have needed to attend on site.'

The Manager of Home Bargains, one of the shops said the signs were only displayed since January 2024 and the landlord of the car park had poor communication with them. Apparently, hundreds of customers are contacting them due to fines, and saying they will not shop there again. I had no idea of the signs, as I'd shopped there for several years and being unwell I would not have noticed them on the day. Initially, I appealed to Aldi but they refused to help, so I am trying again, as they entice customers to shop there, and indirectly colluding with them.

I have 21 days to appeal to IAS. I don't know what to do as they are all heartless putting profit before people's wellbeing and the stress this is causing for not being able to shop quickly while ill, and I am over 60 on a low income, and potentially very unwell.

Parking Awareness say: Due to the above, we are unable to cancel the Parking Charge Notice as we believe, with the evidence we have, that it was issued correctly. Please now make payment of £60 to reach us by 06/06/2024 or £100 to reach us by 20/06/2024 using one of the below methods.

All I can say is don't shop anywhere that puts profit and gangsters before people.

You know to just ignore them, yes?

No paying.

Zoho

Many thanks for the replies, I hear what you are saying - do not pay. The car park is in Norwich, but I don't know who the landlord is, but I will take steps to find out. 

Thanks again.

Gr1pr

Landowner, not landlord !

Zoho

Ok, landowner. Hopefully, I can find out who they are through Home Bargains, as they complained to the landowner over their lack of communication about Parking Awareness new signs and short stay for shopping. 

The landowner though is probably happy to be in league with Parking Awareness. 

I might also contact my MP, or find out which MP is taking forward the bill against car parking charges, so as to help others in similar situation. 

It would be interesting to know the legal perspective on whether an appeal is only justifiable if emergency treatment is adminstered on site, and not through general serious illness. They may well have said 'find someone to send your death certificate, then we might consider the appeal'.

KeithP

Which Home Bargains?

There are two in Norwich, at Drayton Road NR3 2DW and at Hall Road Retail Park NR4 6DH.

You mention 'only two shops linked to the car park' so I guess it's the Drayton Road one.

Zoho

Drayton Road. 

Land Registry have Freehold and Leasehold documents relating to Unit 1, 36 Drayton Road, NR3 2DW. The freehold sold for £8,182,228 May 2017. I would have to pay Land Registry to find out more.

Umkomaas

Here's some standard advice I post from time to time:

SOME IDEAS FOR DETERMINING WHO OWNS THE LAND 

1. Google searches

2. If a retail park, check on any signage which lists the on-site outlets

3. Ask retailers on the site if there is a managing agent

4. Ask retailers on the site to whom do they pay rent

5. Contact the local authority and ask who pays the non-domestic/business rate for the car park (some councils have a spreadsheet on their website)

6. Contact the local Valuation Office and ask if they know. They often have a website which might provide the information 

7. Contact The Land Registry and for around £3 they should be able to provide definitive detail

8. If you haven't already done so, give us the name of the car park/site/location, we may have seen other cases there.