On 20 Aug 2016 at 5:27pm dj wrote:
I received a parking ticket from a company monitoring Tesco car park for overstaying the allotted 3 hours. Is this enforceable or should I just ignore it?
On 20 Aug 2016 at 6:01pm Taff wrote:
Parking on roundabouts is free!
On 20 Aug 2016 at 6:02pm Reader wrote:
You obviously weren't in Tesco for over 3 hours so you were using their parking to avoid paying somewhere else.
That is taking the p!$$.
Do the honourable thing and pay up.
On 20 Aug 2016 at 6:50pm Parker wrote:
You can find information about this on the money saving expert website. Today you could have just parked on the A26.......
On 20 Aug 2016 at 6:50pm Many factors wrote:
Yes it's enforceable, whether it's legally enforceable is another matter. It's comes down to many factors, size and position of the signs, clear signage on the way in (I don't recall what the signs are like), but mostly it comes down to whether you want to take the gamble on a bailiff rocking up at your door or clamping your car, and how adept you are at arguing the finer points of civil law. You decide.
On 20 Aug 2016 at 9:41pm my town wrote:
so why was you shopping in Tesco for more then 3hrs
On 20 Aug 2016 at 9:41pm Crash Override wrote:
dj - it is enforceable. When you enter a car park on private land that is overseen by a member of an accredited trade association for parking (confusingly there are two, both called 'AOS'), they are legally allowed to request keeper details from the DVLA to pursue unpaid parking fines.
By choosing to park on the land you've accepted the 'contract' of the parking terms, which in Tesco's case is that you can have up to three hours of free parking. It's a bit of a sore point with many people as to the legality/morality of this type of contract law, and a lot of people on the internet will simply tell you to ignore such fines as they've either had experience of, or know of anecdotal evidence from others, that they won't be chased for it.
Quick aside - if you park on a private car park that's NOT overseen by an ATA member, don't pay it, tear it up, wipe your butt with it! People might put up signs themselves to 'mark their territory', but they can't go to DVLA and find out who you are to chase...unless you flat out hand over your contact details yourself to the landowner, you'll be fine. Great example of this - Glynde station car park.
The fact is you've got two choices. 1 - ignore it, and risk being one of the ones that the parking company goes after for payment. 2 - appeal it, if you think it's been given unfairly. 3 - pay it.
As mentioned in another response, you seem to have parked there to avoid paying and obviously weren't on the ball enough to read the terms. If you pay it promptly you get a discount off the full charge, so it may be worth it simply for peace of mind.
People get bent out of shape about parking fines. But basically if you park where you are allowed for the right amount of time, funnily enough you won't get a ticket! Simples.
On 20 Aug 2016 at 10:23pm Fairmeadow wrote:
It was a planning condition for the Tesco store that they must provide a car park to be used BOTH by Tesco shoppers and shoppers in the town, so you don't have to shop in Tesco to use it. Ditto Aldi. However, there is a 3 hr limit, and it is enforceable. However, if you are a valued Tesco customer (they will know if you use your Clubcard regularly) you might persuade them to call their dogs off. They can if they want to, and I have known cases where Aldi have. Noon experience of people being fined by Tesco's agents - don't think it happens much.
On 21 Aug 2016 at 12:01am Tasty Tracey wrote:
I have to ask the question what were you doing in Tesco's for over 3 hours? Just how long does it take you to choose what to buy? Alternatively if you weren't shopping in Tesco then many thanks for taking up someone else's space who actually wanted to shop there! Yes pay the ticket otherwise the parking company sell on the unpaid debt to a repossession company and you will find a couple of persuasive gentlemen knocking on your door 6 months down the line. In addition the registered unpaid debt against your name and address will effect any future credit checks or ratings.
On 21 Aug 2016 at 7:00am Dim wrote:
I think I got a warning when I did this rather than a fine but then I was only slightly over the three hours. I think a lot of people would be happy to pay a pound an hour for extra hours and Tesco might benefit but who knows.
On 21 Aug 2016 at 7:03am townie wrote:
Why is everyone asking why the OP was in Tesco for 3 hours?
Can you not work that out yourselves? You park in Tescos then go into town, have lunch, do some shopping, meet some friends and before you know it, 3 hours have passed.
Just because you park in their car park, it doesn't mean you have to use their store.
On 21 Aug 2016 at 9:23am Lady Penelope wrote:
I seem to remember that many years ago Tesco had barriers at the entrance to the carpark and a ticket machine in store, if you went over a certain time limit, you had to pay to get out of the car park.
On 21 Aug 2016 at 1:33pm Reality wrote:
Ignore it, do not pay it, don't even communicate with them & they will go away after a few letters. Sadly they rely on a few mugs paying it to make their money & wont persue legally those that don't
On 21 Aug 2016 at 2:00pm Townie wrote:
Yes don't pay, anyone who pays is a mug. It will all go away after a few letters. Save yourself the money and give it to charity or something.
On 22 Aug 2016 at 12:55am Not too far from town wrote:
Crash override, you say there are two choices, however you list three??
On 22 Aug 2016 at 7:37am Many factors wrote:
Crash's point 2 would lead to either 1 or 3. Your two choices are 1 or 3.
On 22 Aug 2016 at 9:21am Lewes 30 wrote:
It really does bug me that so many people are reluctant to take responsibility for their actions, it clearly states you can park for 3 hours for free in the tesco car park and an overstay will result in a fine, so why not just pay it.if any other authorities gave you a fine would you be questioning that?
On 22 Aug 2016 at 9:31am Reader wrote:
Caught bang to rights. Pay up.
On 22 Aug 2016 at 3:57pm pearliegirliestar wrote:
Do you have a receipt for that time? Could you argue your case with Tesco? Throw yourself on their mercy and say you are a good Tesco customer but you also nipped into town to for something? That's what I would do...
On 22 Aug 2016 at 4:21pm Ed Can Do wrote:
How much was the fine? People have in the past been successful in fighting parking fines on private land on the basis that the fine was not in line with the cost to the business of you taking up that space (They can't impose a fine as a punishment, just as a reflection of their costs). That said, it's a potentially very expensive and time consuming way to swerve a parking fine. Probably cheaper next time to park in Court Road and pay the four quid or so it costs to park all day like a sensible person would (South Street is even cheaper if memory serves).
On 22 Aug 2016 at 4:41pm Cardiff Taff wrote:
Waste of time pleading with Tesco as a private company will be contracted to run the parking side. First lesson in life is do not accept responsibility, someone else is to blame for this. I cannot believe they have the audasity to worry you over this. Are you okay? The way you wrote your question implies that you are stressed and worried to me. See a doctor, get a sick note and sue them for the anxiety it's causing you. Don't let them get the better of you, fight your corner. Remember this is not your fault. Good luck.
On 22 Aug 2016 at 5:32pm Chelsea Toff wrote:
Waste of time pleading with the private company or Tesco's, what I would recommend is having a word with your local Magistrate and Chief Constable when you're at the next Masonic gathering. Get them to send a thunderbolt down the line to the MD of the parking firm. Works for me like a charm every time. Chin, chin!
On 22 Aug 2016 at 6:11pm dj wrote:
Thanks all for the advice. I've posted cheque off. Lesson learnt for not keeping an eye on the time
On 22 Aug 2016 at 6:33pm Tasty tracey wrote:
Hooray!!! Well done dj, it was the right thing to do.....
On 22 Aug 2016 at 7:14pm Me too wrote:
Du how long over were you and when did this happen ?
On 22 Aug 2016 at 8:04pm Earl of Lewes wrote:
@Chelsea Toff - I know you were just being lighthearted, but I feel duty bound stress that when you apply to become a magistrate, it is made very clear that applications from Masons will not be accepted. You have to make a legal declaration that you have no association with a lodge.
On 23 Aug 2016 at 2:09pm Chelsea toff wrote:
Ahh yes but my local magistrate was only invited to join the local lodge AFTER he became a magistrate, so all good! Chin chin.