Tesco parking fine from January
Discussion
Apologies as this has probably been done to death but my Google Fu fails me.
A friend has just received the letter below demanding £170 or threatening court action over apparently staying over the allowed hours in Tescos car park back in January.
This is the first and only letter she has received on the matter and she is adamant that she would not have overstayed.
Is there anything she can do beyond Citizens Advice and writing for local councillors involvement? Anyone have any experience of receiving a final demand but none earlier?
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
A friend has just received the letter below demanding £170 or threatening court action over apparently staying over the allowed hours in Tescos car park back in January.
This is the first and only letter she has received on the matter and she is adamant that she would not have overstayed.
Is there anything she can do beyond Citizens Advice and writing for local councillors involvement? Anyone have any experience of receiving a final demand but none earlier?
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
First tell your friend DO NOT ADMIT TO BEING THE DRIVER AT ANY TIME. Next contact the Tesco where they were parked and talk to the manager asking him to get the matter voided, as they were a customer shopping at Tesco.
Next, can they remember if they visited the car park more than once that day. The systems used cannot/do not differentiate between multiple visits in a 24 hour period,
At the moment it would seem that this is an invoice, (no court action has been taken), not a fine/penalty, so engage with the parking company, and get them to expand on the "overstay" period. Have a look at money saving expert, reference the parking ticket section.
Next, can they remember if they visited the car park more than once that day. The systems used cannot/do not differentiate between multiple visits in a 24 hour period,
At the moment it would seem that this is an invoice, (no court action has been taken), not a fine/penalty, so engage with the parking company, and get them to expand on the "overstay" period. Have a look at money saving expert, reference the parking ticket section.
If it is genuinely the first correspondence, then the Parking Company are out of luck as they haven't complied with the requirements for Notice to Keeper (where a notice to driver was not given).
Of course, they will say they did. You can't easily prove you didn't receive one and throw it away. They, if naughty, could realise their mistake and send you a 'copy'.
Tesco may or may not wish to help as they may or may not own the land.
As mentioned above, the systems are not always that good at determining double visits.
Do you have any useful proof such as a dashcam (probably long overwritten I guess) or any Google tracking info turned on?
However, if you haven't complied with the rules, then you may be on the hook for the invoice.
Of course, they will say they did. You can't easily prove you didn't receive one and throw it away. They, if naughty, could realise their mistake and send you a 'copy'.
Tesco may or may not wish to help as they may or may not own the land.
As mentioned above, the systems are not always that good at determining double visits.
Do you have any useful proof such as a dashcam (probably long overwritten I guess) or any Google tracking info turned on?
However, if you haven't complied with the rules, then you may be on the hook for the invoice.
Edited by No ideas for a name on Tuesday 25th March 16:35
Must be going blind but where does that letter refer to Tesco’s ?
It seems to relate to a Retail Park which on a quick Google says “ next “ to a Tescos express.
I would go back to the management company that passed the details to the bailiffs and protest my innocence on whatever grounds your friend thinks is pertinent and ask for the so called debt to be recalled.
Cc the bailiffs.
It seems to relate to a Retail Park which on a quick Google says “ next “ to a Tescos express.
I would go back to the management company that passed the details to the bailiffs and protest my innocence on whatever grounds your friend thinks is pertinent and ask for the so called debt to be recalled.
Cc the bailiffs.
E-bmw said:
My thoughts also, but then it is from Bailiffs, not a car park enforcement organisation.
No it isn't, they are flyboys trying it on to make you think that, hence the name and the "can't pay take it away" reference and yet on the same letter it says "this case is not subject to high court or bailiff action" not far away from the BPA logo they are showing 
Last time I checked high court bailiffs didn't belong to the BPAA correctly worded letter pointing out their misdemeanors and errors will probably see it disappear
alscar said:
Must be going blind but where does that letter refer to Tesco’s ?
It seems to relate to a Retail Park which on a quick Google says “ next “ to a Tescos express.
I would go back to the management company that passed the details to the bailiffs and protest my innocence on whatever grounds your friend thinks is pertinent and ask for the so called debt to be recalled.
Cc the bailiffs.
They are NOT bailiffsIt seems to relate to a Retail Park which on a quick Google says “ next “ to a Tescos express.
I would go back to the management company that passed the details to the bailiffs and protest my innocence on whatever grounds your friend thinks is pertinent and ask for the so called debt to be recalled.
Cc the bailiffs.
Strongly recommend reading money saving expert on this.
I got caught on something which I was somewhat aggrieved about and was planning to write an explanation of the scenario and requesting the notice to be cancelled
Mse forum said don’t do that and instead provided a proforma response which got the notice cancelled straight away
I got caught on something which I was somewhat aggrieved about and was planning to write an explanation of the scenario and requesting the notice to be cancelled
Mse forum said don’t do that and instead provided a proforma response which got the notice cancelled straight away
She needs the original NtK from UK Parking Control.
It is required to have the entry and exit times on it - from that you can make more sense of the request.
It can make her more sure of an overstay or not.
[I had one recently where I was accused of overstaying at Wickes.. stated 08:30 to 19:00 - but I had been twice for about 15 mins each visit and could prove I was somwhere else in the middle, was dropped when I asked them to review the video]
It is required to have the entry and exit times on it - from that you can make more sense of the request.
It can make her more sure of an overstay or not.
[I had one recently where I was accused of overstaying at Wickes.. stated 08:30 to 19:00 - but I had been twice for about 15 mins each visit and could prove I was somwhere else in the middle, was dropped when I asked them to review the video]
Hugo Stiglitz said:
Abit weird. You've not had any letters nor a CCJ from a missed court attendance?
It hasn't been to court.The firm of bailifs are not being bailifs at this stage.. they are just inviting the OP's friend to pay on behalf of their client. Providing a service of collecting money for the invoice.
Next will come letters from 'fake' solicitors - often with the same address as the parking company.
No ideas for a name said:
It hasn't been to court.
The firm of bailifs are not being bailifs at this stage.. they are just inviting the OP's friend to pay on behalf of their client. Providing a service of collecting money for the invoice.
Next will come letters from 'fake' solicitors - often with the same address as the parking company.
Maybe I’ve imagined it. I seem to recall a legal bod on a consumer type programme that said parking firms should not (maybe in a code of practice) impersonate solicitors / bailiffs / legal entities.The firm of bailifs are not being bailifs at this stage.. they are just inviting the OP's friend to pay on behalf of their client. Providing a service of collecting money for the invoice.
Next will come letters from 'fake' solicitors - often with the same address as the parking company.
Is this a thing?
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff