Horizon/Tesco Parking Fine - LBC from Gladstones

Unrequited

Hi all,

Looking for some advice around an LBC I've received from Gladstones.

I received the letter to my current address, whereas all the previous correspondence of the fine which related to May last year went to an old address I hadn't been present at for well over a year. I do acknowledge some fault in that as I hadn't updated it with the DVLA at the time, but has since been updated some time ago.  

The fine is for overstaying at a Tesco car park. I, maybe stupidly, called them yesterday asking what this related to and they've since emailed over the details and original fine letters which show my car entering and exiting four hours apart. Both myself and my wife have use of the car and neither have any idea whether we were driving. 

I wasn't aware there we're any restrictions in place at this particular Tesco but I can't speak to validity of their claim as it is a random Saturday in May last year, no discernable reason why we would have been at that particular Tesco for the four hours it appears to show.

Having called them yesterday they've said the 30 days I have to respond expires today, and I'm unsure what my process should be from here. I have read through the newbies thread and was going to email them with the initial response suggested in the thread for LBC letters. But I'm unsure on a few points:

1) Should I start by speaking to Tesco before any response, even with them saying the time expires before proceeding with court today?
2) Do I even have a claim to appeal if they've got the car entering and exiting beyond their proposed time limits? I can't speak to signs on the car park, it was well over a year ago! I'm not sure what other claim we would have to appeal.

Many thanks all.

Gr1pr

1) yes, ideally plan A , a complaint,  should have been done by the victim from day one, never too late 

2) it's much too late to appeal 

If you want to delay the likely court claim,  use the LoC response template to Gladstones 

Then start studying the forum so you know what to do if or when you receive an N1SDT court claim pack from the CNBC in Northampton using MCOL in the post,  a Money Claim 

Unrequited

Thank you. Have just sent the response template across to them via email. I've been reading all morning of similar threads. My main concern right now is on what grounds I can fight it, I simply don't remember anything about the day in question and neither does my partner, we couldn't even say who would have been driving never mind what took place for us to 'overstay'.

Thanks again!

Coupon-mad

Go take some photos of the signs now. Many Horizon claims have stated the wrong PCN amount! Get evidence.

Gr1pr

Unrequited said:

Thank you. Have just sent the response template across to them via email. I've been reading all morning of similar threads. My main concern right now is on what grounds I can fight it,

I simply don't remember anything about the day in question and neither does my partner, we couldn't even say who would have been driving never mind what took place for us to 'overstay'.

Thanks again!

You will be using the template defence by coupon mad in announcements to fight it,  plus read a dozen or more Gladstones cases over the last 8 months too, especially any Horizon Gladstones cases 

The above sentence is definitely part of the defence statement , but do gather your evidence whilst waiting 

1505grandad

"Both myself and my wife have use of the car and neither have any idea whether we were driving."

Just checking  -  is it possible that two visits were made during the period  -  either by the same driver or each visit by a different driver?

Unrequited

I have wondered this too, but we genuinely can't remember the day or why we would have been there (beyond a standard shop). Will keep digging into our bank statements/emails to see if it provides any clues. In the meantime will be heading down to the store to grab some photos and see if the manager will help.

Ralph-y

please make sure it is the manager and not customer service you speak to .... if the manager plays hard ball tell him/her that you will now be shopping else where and you will get in touch with the CEO to let him/her know

Car1980

Having called them yesterday they've said the 30 days I have to respond expires today

You don't have to respond. So don't stress out at their threats.