Smart Parking PCN/Popla Asda

[PeeCn]

Hi all,

Have been trawling the net for info (as is advised) and would like some advice as how to go about my claim.

Usual story from what I have gathered: overstaying in a carpark caught by timestamped camera. The driver was caught twice in the space of ten days and i have appealed one ticket through smartparking and left the other until I have more experience.

I sent what I thought was a well put together appeal letter combining lots of arguments from several sources, but this was rejected. I have come to the understanding that this is usual and the real claims begin at POPLA.

My main arugument would be that the signage was not clear and have photos to help this, is this a strong enough leg to stand on as I dont want to fill my appeal with "noise"? The idea being that there are no timelimit signs near ASDA's own and none in normal pedestrian location therefore not expected to be seen when learning information about the store.

One of my requests was a copy of the contract between the landowner (ASDA) and Smartparking, I didn't receive such a document, I have read also that companies are usually unwilling to provide it as it would contain additional information that they dont want to disclose. Is this a genuine thing?

They have extened the discount period a further two weeks, am I sensing a weakness in smartparking?:tinysmile_twink_t2:

I can provide a copy of the origional appeal letter if needed.

Thankyou for any advice or guidance.

[mystery1]

Re: Smart Parking PCN/Popla Asda

Contact the store manager and see if they'l cancel.

Can you suitably sanitise the PCN and post it up ?

M1

[PeeCn]

Re: Smart Parking PCN/Popla Asda

Thanks for the reply, here are the two PCNs. I can provide to appeal rejection if needed.

Have called Asda but will try again tonight, and tomorrow failing that I will visit in person, any advice on what to say?

[mystery1]

Re: Smart Parking PCN/Popla Asda

Depends on whether you have receipts, lots of shopping options, agood reason for etc.

I want to speak to the manager.....

Got these when spending money ... (show them and receipts) can't believe as a genuine customer i'm being treated like this. Can you get them cancelled or will i shop in Tesco instead ?



Something like that.

M1

[PeeCn]

Re: Smart Parking PCN/Popla Asda

An Employee at Asda said to write a letter and address it to the store manager to make your case, I will also call tomorrow and speak to the manager directly as he was not in. I am an ex-employee at Asda (non dishonourable discharge) so will try an 'inside' approach aswell.

[ostell]

Re: Smart Parking PCN/Popla Asda

Looking at street view from July last year there is nothing at the entrance to the site that says that there is a limit when entering the site, though a sign saying 2.5 hours at the start of the building and a small sign behind that which would be difficult to read from a car as the large sign partially hides it from view. It is possible to park and go into the entrance without being able to read any other signs.

It does say, on the main ASDA sign, that if you need more then just ask so this is not a hard and fast limit.

Letters to the branch don't seem to work, face to face with the manager is better.

[PeeCn]

Re: Smart Parking PCN/Popla Asda

Hi again, I called today and was told to come in store with the tickets, and any relevant receipts (of which I have none) and speak to the customer service manager (name: Colin Simms @ this date). So I visited the store and spoke to a customer service employee and was told there was nothing they could do as they did not own the car park... hmm. I asked to speak to the manager but he was not in store, but he would agree that asda did not own the land.

So Popla appeal seems like they way forward. Would I have a case with the argument that I did not see the signs and they are easily missed?

How would I go about identifying the landowner?

I could get additional photographs if needed.

[mystery1]

Re: Smart Parking PCN/Popla Asda

Employees usually say stuff like that.

Was Ostell right about the signs ?

M1

[PeeCn]

Re: Smart Parking PCN/Popla Asda

Yes he was, there is one sign that you have to drive by to enter the store, its the only one with large enough font, but its on the first corner, near lots of other signs, this is the only sign you could be expected to read but one cannot expected a dilligent driver to focus on anything but the road as there are pedestrians and crossing oncoming traffic, also there is a wealth of information in one focused area.


Called again today and was told that if I had a receipt for a large shop at the time the store manager could help/cancel the PCN. Good to know if you have such evidence.

Edit - Added photos, looking again and it doesnt look good, but I did not see the sign, honest

[ostell]

Re: Smart Parking PCN/Popla Asda

You got the photos from GSV. Remember that the camera on the Street View car is on a pole some distance above the top of the car. The second and third photos you put up, showing the large ASDA sign and the small sign behind, were taken from the right hand side of the road. When you enter you will (should!) be on the left hand side and should be 2 or 3 feet (or more) lower down so that second sign is partially blocked by the first sign. And the writing is so small that you could not read it.

Perhaps walk to the pickup area sometime and take a photo of the signs from the left hand side of the road and from the same height that your eyes would be in a car. When the second sign gets to reading distance I guess it will be blocked by the first sign.

[PeeCn]

Re: Smart Parking PCN/Popla Asda

So it looks like the sign were visible and it was daylight, yay for me. Should I just give in and pay up, really losing the will to fight this, POPLA appeals have only a 50% sucess rate. I dont know what to do

[Kati]

Re: Smart Parking PCN/Popla Asda

So it looks like the sign were visible and it was daylight, yay for me. Should I just give in and pay up, really losing the will to fight this, POPLA appeals have only a 50% sucess rate. I dont know what to do

You might as well go for it (IMO) ... M1s POPLA wins are way above the 50% mark xx