It's not a fine Sandy. It's a charge for entering into a contract. And it's disputable. What's the signage like ? Usually you can fook em off.
Got done at the Stanley store, was in there and argos for 1.50 mins, not realising only allowed 1.30 mins, most of their car parks are about 3 hours
Further to my off-topic post re parking at South Shields Home Bargains. They claim (and their camera supports this) that I spent 1 hour 51 minutes parked. That’s nearly 2 hours spent shopping! My bill came to almost £70. I am 86 years old and usually can’t stay on my feet for more than 1 hour. According to their timings and the time on my store receipt I took 17 minutes to put I bag into my car, return the trolley and the leave the car park. I am not as fast as I used to be but I’m not doddery either so this just doesn’t seem right. However, their clock seems irrefutable so I’ll have to pay. Apparently there are notices warning of the time limit which I did not notice. My priority in car parks is to find a parking space whilst avoiding other cars and people, and not to look for notices to read.I emailed customer services and was informed that there is an appeals system with Parkingeye, which I will use, though I do not hold out much hope. I get the impression Home Bargains don’t really care about their customers so I will not return to any branches ofHome Bargains. I prefer to shop in stores where I can relax and take my time, and not have to remember to contstantly check my watch. Also how could I spend nearly 2 hours shopping in a small store like that one? I suppose I must have, but better for me to be safe and avoid this store in future. Sorry for the long rant!
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6281740/home-bargains-parking-fine Don't admit to driving. They get your details from DVLA, they pay them for it FFS. So they chase the registered keeper. They try and frighten people to pay but it's all bullshìt mate. Stand your ground and fook em off. Join pepipoo and they will help you with it. http://forums.pepipoo.com/
Surely if you can prove you were in their shop the whole time they’ll waive it. It’s not like you took free parking to visit a blar job specialist.
That first link at the top sandy is an excellent sub on that forum that is people who are there to just help people appeal the fines. Join that forum and tell them guys everything and they will 100% tell you how to dispute it and what gives you best chance if winning the case. I will say with the appeal parking eye will almost certainly reject it. But then it goes to POPLA who is like the parking ombudsman who is a lot fairer. I had an appeal that was successful and the guys on that forum gave excellent advice on what to put in my appeal. Interestingly when it goes through to POPLA, parking eye will have to provide a full evidence pack! But just on what you have said if you use your age and say takes you a bit longer to get around and POPLA would probably side with you anyway and dismiss the charge.
Sandy. A lot of people needlessly stress over these charges. These parking firms try to make everything look really bad like ccj's etc. The reality is. Worst case scenario civil court. Not criminal. And then it is just the charge plus small fees if, IF you lose the case. Ccj's etc only happen if someone goes to court. Lose, then refuse to pay. https://www.parkingcowboys.co.uk/popla-appeals/ Read that link mate. I would advise everyone to do a popla appeal, although they side more to parking firms. 1- it costs the parking firm to go through popla. So make them lose money. 2- even if you lose an appeal you can still refuse to pay. I have refused after popla . I had fun for 6 years with one firm. They had bogus solicitors mailing me. Those clowns from "can't pay we'll take it away" bellends. After 6 years the opportunity for them to take me to court had passed.
POPLA sided with me recently in an appeal. Try to keep a long story short, I parked and one of two parking meters was broken. I queued to pay then when I got to the fron the contactless wouldn't work and only had my phone to pay. Tried ringing the number to pay over the phone and that wouldn't register my new car. So I left and went to another car park but I had a feeling they would fine me saying I was in there too long so I took photos of broken machine etc... and I argued it took me longer to attempt to pay due to broken machine etc.. and the car park company rejected it and POPLA sided with me. Imo Sandy would easily win if he send them proof of age, says he doesn't get around as well as he used to. He went in the shop got what he needed, paid (provide copy of recepit) and left. If he overstayed its because that how long he took and they need to make a reasonable adjustment for his mobility! But that popla section on money saving forum is a great resource and I reckon one of them will provide a great templet to fill in the blanks for an appeal.
@Oldsandy I've just had a thought. I have an account of that forum with the guys who advise on appealing parking fines. If its easier than you setting up an account I'm happy to put the question on there for you? I'll just say you parked at Home Bargain, did your shopping paid and left. You are 86 and don't get around quite as well as you used to so this is the reason you overstayed? See what they suggest you say in an appeal.
I spent 3 hours 20 minutes in Morrisons carpark and received an automated fine letter with photographic evidence of my arrival and departure. After a load of head scratching I realised I'd shopped, drove off, and returned and shopped again. I appealed with a simple sentence advising them to check their cameras as I'd returned to the shop. They waived the fine without any request for evidence. Worth a try?
HB seem to want to leave everything in the hands of Parkingeye. I’ve already contacted HB head office and they’ve just recommended I contact Parkingeye.
Cheers mate! That might save me a lot of bother. I tire easy these days and your generous offer may take some of the strain off my tired old brain!
First thing is never admit to being the driver. They will say that you can't go to a popla appeal but that is bullshìt. They are liars. Get the popla appeal without disclosing who was driving.
Sandy, if you can be arsed I'd send a copy of your receipt which is the proof you shopped there. Then tell your story re age and mobility (no offence there mate). Rather that than pay them anything. I've won 100% claims against parking firms. Won 0% against council.
I've PM'd you about another legal forum I'm involved with. Parking Lie won't cancel the invoice because all they're interested in is £££££. However, get onto the CEO of Home Bargains https://www.ceoemail.com/s.php?id=ceo-76615&c=Home Bargains-Operations%20Director and request they call their dogs off. Getting on to the organ grinder often works. Explain what happened in the way that SAFCDRUM suggests.
