Three parking fines at Tesco Hove by Horizon

dahliafield_d11

I just realised that I made a terrible mistake! Today is the last day of the POPLA window, if counting from 27th Nov!! 

Coupon-mad

Pretty sure you add 33 days.

dahliafield_d11

Ah! It is tomorrow then. 

Coupon-mad

Sorry I was out again tonight!

This is what I prepared for another person with the same Tesco Hove PCN as you. Because a lack of entrance signage is fatal for a PPC, I didn't add much else except to ask for the landowner agreement.

I always put these two details as the header in a word doc, then the rest:

POPLA Code -

PCN ref -

The signage is totally inadequate to alert people to the changes in restrictions. Horizon is in breach of the BPA Code of Practice regarding signage. That Code still applies to signage in 2025 and this site fails to comply.

Apparently, Horizon changed the restrictions in September. Two material changes were made, but there was little or no warning. Hundreds of shoppers received PCNs in the first few weeks alone.

We have since found out that when this operator took over from APCOA they changed the free parking time from 3 hours to 2 hours and reintroduced the 'validate your VRM' system, which had been suspended since 2020.

Tesco tills at this store were always printing out a 'validation slip' after each receipt throughout that time and cashiers binned them automatically, so nothing appeared to be any different when shoppers made purchases this Autumn and still binned the little slips. No prominent signs (instore or outside) told anyone about the changes. There were always VRM kiosks beside the trolley bays but they were never in use since 2020, so even if Horizon contest this appeal and show images of their VRM kiosks, these were unremarkable and drivers had no way of knowing that they were suddenly required to use them.

People were used to ignoring the VRM requirement and it was well known that the only rule that applied was the 3 hours maximum stay. Which Horizon also changed - and removed the entrance sign completely.

There are now no entrance signs at all, in breach of the CoP at Appendix B which says'A standard form of entrance sign must be placed at the entrance to the parking area.'

There are none at all.  They removed the old sign APCOA had in place, and have still not replaced it. There is a complete lack of extra signs telling drivers about the changes.

This is also in breach of BPA CoP clause 19.10 'Material change – notices'.

They will also be in breach of any landowner agreement which no doubt requires Horizon to comply with the BPA CoP, therefore I want to see a copy of the landowner authority with Tesco produced for this POPLA appeal.

Here is what the entrance used to look like when APCOA ran this car park (image from Google Streetview), which shows where the entrance sign used to be:

 

 

Now there is no entrance sign.  Horizon removed it and they have not replaced it.

Photos taken 12th September by another local person who got a PCN. This is where the entrance sign was before.  You can see an empty space/two poles below the ANPR camera (where the sign was removed):

Here's what drivers on foot see as they enter the store. These photos were taken by another victim.

Firstly, pictures taken on 30th September. Entrance to Tesco on foot. Nothing to alert anyone:

and on 18th November, here are two more photos showing the entrance roadway as seen by a driver approaching along the private road (Miles Walk). Still no entrance signage:

 

 

 

dahliafield_d11

Hi Coupon-mad, 

Thank you so much helping me out on this! Can I ask if I add the shopping receipt in this POPLA would do any harm on the appeal? The two other appeals with horizon after providing shopping receipts were all accepted and it is self contradicting if they accepted two other shopping receipts and rejected this one. 

Gr1pr

By all means add a copy of any exhibit and mention that other appeals were accepted by Horizon after proof of patronage was produced 

Adding exhibits and anecdotal evidence cannot harm the case

dahliafield_d11

Below is the draft, can anyone have a look before I send off? A bit uncertain given this is the final challenge.

POPLA Code - xxx

PCN ref - xxx

Dear Sirs,

As the registered keeper, this is an appeal against the Parking Charge Notice issued by Horizon Parking for an alleged breach of the company's terms and conditions in Tesco Hove, on 14th Oct 2025 16:30:08. For the avoidance of doubt, the driver’s identity has not been provided and this statement remains purely from the registered keeper.

I wish to challenge this Parking Charge Notice on the following grounds:

The signage is totally inadequate to alert people to the changes in restrictions. Horizon is in breach of the BPA Code of Practice regarding signage. That Code still applies to signage in 2025 and this site fails to comply.

Apparently, Horizon changed the restrictions in September. Two material changes were made, but there was little or no warning. Hundreds of shoppers received PCNs in the first few weeks alone.

We have since found out that when this operator took over from APCOA they changed the free parking time from 3 hours to 2 hours and reintroduced the 'validate your VRM' system, which had been suspended since 2020.

Tesco tills at this store were always printing out a 'validation slip' after each receipt throughout that time and cashiers binned them automatically, so nothing appeared to be any different when shoppers made purchases this Autumn and still binned the little slips. No prominent signs (in store or outside) told anyone about the changes. There were always VRM kiosks beside the trolley bays but they were never in use since 2020, so even if Horizon contest this appeal and show images of their VRM kiosks, these were unremarkable and drivers had no way of knowing that they were suddenly required to use them.

People were used to ignoring the VRM requirement and it was well known that the only rule that applied was the 3 hours maximum stay. Which Horizon also changed - and removed the entrance sign completely. 

There are now no entrance signs at all, in breach of the CoP at Appendix B which says'A standard form of entrance sign must be placed at the entrance to the parking area.'

They removed the old sign APCOA had in place, and have still not replaced it. There is a complete lack of extra signs telling drivers about the changes.

This is also in breach of BPA CoP clause 19.10 'Material change – notices'.

They will also be in breach of any landowner agreement which no doubt requires Horizon to comply with the BPA CoP, therefore I want to see a copy of the landowner authority with Tesco produced for this POPLA appeal.

Here is what the entrance used to look like when APCOA ran this car park (image from Google Streetview), which shows where the entrance sign used to be: 

 

 

 

 

Below is the photo taken on 11th Nov 2025.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Below is the photo taken on 18th Nov 2025.

 

 

In addition, I must state that I also received two other PCNs issued by Horizon, which I made appeal on their websites after providing them with the shopping receipts found in the car. Please see the evidence below;

 

 

 

 

 

As the first PCN (xxxxx) was issued on 13th Oct, it also did not comply with POFA 2012. This meant that I was unaware of Horizon’s operation and subsequently, two other PCNs were on their way. After receiving three PCNs, I went to the TESCO store in Hove myself and found out a lot of customers were facing the same situation after speaking to the store staff. It was advised that receipts would be valid evidence to get PCNs cancelled. As shown above, the first two PCNs were both cancelled. Therefore, I can’t see why the shopping receipt dated 14th Oct 2025 would not be a valid evidence to cancel the PCN (xxxxx). Please see the shopping receipt found in the car. The time of the receipt was 16:24.

 

 

 

 

 

I also attach two other receipts relevant to PCN (xxxxx) and PCN (xxxxx).

 

 

 

 

 

 

As this operator does not have proprietary interest in the land then I require that they produce an unredacted copy of the contract with the landowner.

The contract and any 'site agreement' or 'User Manual' setting out details - such as any 'genuine customer' or 'genuine resident' exemptions or any site occupier's 'right of veto' charge cancellation rights, and of course all enforcement dates/times/days, and the boundary of the site - is key evidence to define what this operator is authorised to do, and when/where.

Clearly, all the parking events were only related to shopping in TESCO Hove and they were all within a reasonable period, no more than an hour. Had Horizon made their operation known to the public by providing sufficient notices, then there won’t be so many customers who would shop there without validating their stay. It is also self contradicting if receipts were valid proof, and they approved some and rejected others.

I respectfully request that POPLA reject this charge and uphold my appeal based on these grounds.

Thank you for considering my appeal.

 

Coupon-mad

You just copy & paste what I gave you into a Word Doc. You didn't need to add more.

Save it as s PDF then upload it as your evidence document. Fill in the required boxes. Job done.

dahliafield_d11

I won't be able to use some of the photos though as these were taken before the date of alleged contravention. I suppose they probably won't be regarded as valid photo evidence. 

Coupon-mad

dahliafield_d11 said:

I won't be able to use some of the photos though as these were taken before the date of alleged contravention.

No. That's the point....!

Same as the my friend's one (October).

You are showing proof that there was never an entrance sign since the APCOA one was removed in August or so.

Please.

Now.

Tonight.

After watching the match, maybe!

Just put the whole thing in that I wrote.