Parking Eye, Home Bargains Kidsgrove, Stoke-on-Trent

Valefan

Hi All,

I received a PCN from PE regarding a 6 minute stop on a Home Bargains Car Park  While this is my hometown, I haven't lived there for 5 years.

I pulled onto the store carpark  thinking it was a 8pm close store, then realized it wasn't.  Proceeded to google the nearest store with an 8pm close and off I went to said store. 

It was dark and genuinely didn't see any signs (will be my argument if this escalates that from the direction i entered the sign isn't clearly visible) and when I was last this way it wasn't under PE surveillance. While this is my hometown, I haven't lived there for 5 years. 

I looked at some advise and settled on getting my Father, who is local to request if they could cancel, they agreed to do this but they needed the original which i sent tracked RM and he went  to arrange the same day he received it. The store manager then arranged and stated to wait a few business days and it would resolve. I did receive a chaser letter  but it was received during the few business days. Heard nothing from then until yesterday stating the full amount of £100 was due. Greatly annoyed at this point, my Father went to the store again on my behalf, spoke to the same manager, who did remember him and went off to cancel again, he was gone only a minute according to my Father, he did ask for proof but the store manager didn't come back with any, I plan to call the store in a few days and request.

I didn't appeal or acknowledge PE as I thought the store cancellation would resolve.

A couple of concerns I have are:-

1. Is the store manager saying he is cancelling and not, based on time elapsed to cancel? Pessimistic, I know  but trying to cover all eventualities.

2. I skimmed the Newbie page last night, but if someone can advise where to look on how to appeal once their 28 day time period has elapsed if the 2nd attempt to cancel this way is unsuccessful.

Timeline as per below, apologies if overkill:-

Incident date: 7th March 2025
PCN issued: 10th March 2025
Postal receipt: 13th March 2025
Store cancellation: request 15th March 2025
PCN reminder: 18th March 2025
Full amount / appeal lost request Issued: 13th April 2025
Full amount / appeal lost request received: 16th April 2025
2nd store cancellation request 17th April 2025

Any help is greatly appreciated, thank you in advance.

Gr1pr

Too late to appeal once the 28 day deadline is exceeded 

The driver did not park, they stopped onsite whilst checking the details,  closing times etc 

6 minutes is a reasonable amount of time for a consideration period 

Ideally you complain about the PCN to the retail park management company,  not the store manager,  so directly to the company that contracted with Parking Eye  ( the store is a tenant,  but they might be able to get it cancelled via the retail park management company or landlord   )

Coupon-mad

Put in a complaint with the store Head office.

Car1980

They say they won't accept appeals, but the 28 day deadline isn't backed up by any laws. The only 28 timescale is that is the day they can send a letter telling the Keeper to pay (which they probably did anyway).

It's just an invoice and it can disputed at any time.

Refusing to communicate enables the creation of a handy paragraph in any court defence.

Valefan

@Gr1pr, i appreciate the response, this one is not on a retail park, it's on its own.  Assuming they are still tenants, which is the best way to find out?

Valefan

@Car1980, I've had no letter titled that but I assume the PCN incorporates that. I'm not refusing to communicate, i just thought it was sorted. 

Valefan

@Coupon-mad next on my list, hopefully 2nd attempt will work.

Gr1pr

Valefan said:

@Gr1pr, i appreciate the response, this one is not on a retail park, it's on its own. 

  Assuming they are still tenants, which is the best way to find out?

Extremely common question on here,  so study the usual reply in the thread below 

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6337652/how-to-find-details-of-landowner

Car1980

Valefan said:

@Car1980, I've had no letter titled that but I assume the PCN incorporates that. I'm not refusing to communicate, i just thought it was sorted. 

No, they would be if they refused to respond to anything after 28 days. Usually they say "talk to our debt collectors not us"

Valefan

OK, I had a response frome Home Bargains head office, as per below:-

Thank you for your email.
 
I was sorry to read of the problem you have described below.
 
In the first instance we request that customers appeal the fine through the relevant car parking company. We have an appeals process outlined with them and they have the ability to cancel any fines that are issued.
 
Please accept my apologies for any inconvenience caused.

Kind Regards

Obviously, I'm past the 28 days, do I just appeal on PE online form?

Thanks in advance.

Gr1pr

Clearly Home Bargains havent a clue due to mentioning the word FINE, which it definitely isn't,  because its an invoice from a private parking company for the alleged breach of the parking contract on that private property

I have never seen a case where Home Bargains managed to cancel a pcn  !  Whereas landlords and landowners do  !

If you are past the 28 days to appeal it,  you might not be able to appeal it,  but try anyway,  ideally with proof of patronage if money was spent , but I dont think it was spent 

This is likely to drag on, unless you complain to the landlord or landowner