Notice To Keeper from Euro Car Parks - Sainsburys

digitalend

I'm sorry if this has been answered elsewhere. I am not sure if my situation is covered in the Newbies thread.

I've received the standard Euro Car Parks Notice to keeper for parking from 8:12 to 8:42 in a Sainsbury's car park on a Sunday. I had gone there to help my 8-year old son learn to ride his bike, as the far end of the car park is completely empty at that time obviously - and wonderfully flat. Usually this car park is free for up to three hours. It had not occurred to me that I could get fined for being out of store hours.

I'm going to go to the store this evening to see if customer services or a manager can help - and also to look at signs around the car park.

Annoyingly, I was there again yesterday for the same reason (again before store opening time) - so I expect to receive another one of these in a couple of weeks. I shouldn't need to return though because he successfully started riding on his own - in that very car park. 

If the staff in the store can't help - what should be my next approach? Does it depend on signage, etc?

Gr1pr

Signage is definitely crucial,  especially if they were closed at the time 

It may be forbidding signage,  no offer,  no consideration,  no contract 

But plan A is by far the best option for this, it always is 

Coupon-mad

Get some pics of signs while you are there.

The t&cs sign AND the P entrance sign (both).

Brie

Our local Tesco has a confusing array of allowed times to park.  2 hours during the day, less in the evening, 15 minutes after closing on a Sunday.  All very annoying given that the parking lot was provided to the community to allow people to use adjacent businesses like a gym and restaurants.  

Hopefully the staff at your store will be able to assist.

digitalend

I visited the store last night, and thankfully the manager has cancelled the notice. I have checked on the Euro Car Parks website this morning and it says 'This ticket has already been paid or has been closed.'

Interestingly, the car park is split into two sections. One section nearer the store has clearly visible signs stating 3 hours maximum stay, 10 minutes outside of trading hours, possible fine of £85, etc. Had I of seen those signs I would not have stayed. The section further away from this where I parked (separated by a road) has different signs to try to indicate that the car park is closed outside of store hours - but it doesn't mention parking charge notices and only the maximum stay of 3 hours. So I think I probably would have had an open and shut case anyway. Thankfully, since it's simply cancelled I don't need to go any further.

I think it's all a bit silly anyway, because this Sainsburys is far from the town centre and every other nearby amenity has good parking - including all houses, etc. I don't think many people would be taking advantage of the situation.I would understand a little more if it was a prime town centre hotspot and got abused.

Gr1pr

They get abused a lot by some travellers that park up for free during the evening or night,  plus people travelling around in camper vehicles looking to overnight for free,  or some lorry drivers. Plus the illegal car meets and doughnuts or racing brigade, Or occasional thieves, as has happened at my local Sainsbury's,  which is close to 2 motorways

So I get why they deter overnight visitors with forbidding notices , even if any pcns are unenforceable. It's certainly why they do this around Manchester,  especially because our local MP looked into a local supermarket site that brought in ECP and the overnighters received pcns, a few years ago. Our council also deter parking overnight on official car parks 

You could say, any excuse , but with the proliferation of cameras and private parking companies,  etc, its the current way of the world in a currently unregulated industry,  so learning to drive on retail park or supermarket car parks is no longer a good place to visit