Waitrose parking ticket
Discussion
Went into waitrose today, brought a paper nipped into town to pick something else up.
Was there no longer than 10 minutes. Went to car and was driving out, and chap steps out and ask for my receipt. I don’t have one. He steps round the front of the car and writes out a ticket, I explode and hopefully put the dampers on his day somewhat. It was a somewhat memorable rant.
Some thoughts:
1) The ticket was issued at the wrong time, 40minutes before I left. If they check the CCTV I and my car wont be on it. The idiot couldn’t even spell Mazda properly.
2) the ticket was for “not producing a valid receipt“. I was given the ticket before I left the car park I.e I was still in it. Therefore I suggested going back and purchasing further items but wasn’t allowed.
3) I am the registered keeper but am under no obligation to tell the Waitrose parking scum who was driving the car at the time of the alleged infringement. They cant prove who it was that was driving and I don’t have to tell them. As this ticket is based on a breach of contract, they have to sue the correct party.
The ticket is £15 quid if paid in 2 weeks, £25 if paid after. I really cant remember seeing the notice signs as I drove in, this is something ill have to check.
At the moment I have no intention to pay and will look forward to them chasing me for the money, unless any one convinces me to pay in the meantime.
Thoughts?
Was there no longer than 10 minutes. Went to car and was driving out, and chap steps out and ask for my receipt. I don’t have one. He steps round the front of the car and writes out a ticket, I explode and hopefully put the dampers on his day somewhat. It was a somewhat memorable rant.
Some thoughts:
1) The ticket was issued at the wrong time, 40minutes before I left. If they check the CCTV I and my car wont be on it. The idiot couldn’t even spell Mazda properly.
2) the ticket was for “not producing a valid receipt“. I was given the ticket before I left the car park I.e I was still in it. Therefore I suggested going back and purchasing further items but wasn’t allowed.
3) I am the registered keeper but am under no obligation to tell the Waitrose parking scum who was driving the car at the time of the alleged infringement. They cant prove who it was that was driving and I don’t have to tell them. As this ticket is based on a breach of contract, they have to sue the correct party.
The ticket is £15 quid if paid in 2 weeks, £25 if paid after. I really cant remember seeing the notice signs as I drove in, this is something ill have to check.
At the moment I have no intention to pay and will look forward to them chasing me for the money, unless any one convinces me to pay in the meantime.
Thoughts?
Edited by princeperch on Wednesday 27th June 18:12
princeperch said:
Went into waitrose today, brought a paper nipped into town to pick something else up.
Was there no longer than 10 minutes. Went to car and was driving out, and chap steps out and ask for my receipt. I don’t have one. He steps round the front of the car and writes out a ticket, I explode and hopefully put the dampers on his day somewhat. It was a somewhat memorable rant.
Some thoughts:
1) The ticket was issued at the wrong time, 40minutes before I left. If they check the CCTV I and my car wont be on it. The idiot couldn’t even spell Mazda properly.
2) the ticket was for “not producing a valid receipt“. I was given the ticket before I left the car park I.e I was still in it. Therefore I suggested going back and purchasing further items but wasn’t allowed.
3) I am the registered keeper but am under no obligation to tell the Waitrose parking scum who was driving the car at the time of the alleged infringement. They cant prove who it was that was driving and I don’t have to tell them. As this ticket is based on a breach of contract, they have to sue the correct party.
The ticket is £15 quid if paid in 2 weeks, £25 if paid after. I really cant remember seeing the notice signs as I drove in, this is something ill have to check.
At the moment I have no intention to pay and will look forward to them chasing me for the money, unless any one convinces me to pay in the meantime.
Thoughts?
Ignore the whole thing. Read through http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... and similar. And anyway, they can't force you to buy something ... what if the thing you went shopping for was out of stock? I note that you did make a purchase, but didn't collect a receipt (I wouldn't for just a newspaper) - StreakyWas there no longer than 10 minutes. Went to car and was driving out, and chap steps out and ask for my receipt. I don’t have one. He steps round the front of the car and writes out a ticket, I explode and hopefully put the dampers on his day somewhat. It was a somewhat memorable rant.
Some thoughts:
1) The ticket was issued at the wrong time, 40minutes before I left. If they check the CCTV I and my car wont be on it. The idiot couldn’t even spell Mazda properly.
2) the ticket was for “not producing a valid receipt“. I was given the ticket before I left the car park I.e I was still in it. Therefore I suggested going back and purchasing further items but wasn’t allowed.
3) I am the registered keeper but am under no obligation to tell the Waitrose parking scum who was driving the car at the time of the alleged infringement. They cant prove who it was that was driving and I don’t have to tell them. As this ticket is based on a breach of contract, they have to sue the correct party.
The ticket is £15 quid if paid in 2 weeks, £25 if paid after. I really cant remember seeing the notice signs as I drove in, this is something ill have to check.
At the moment I have no intention to pay and will look forward to them chasing me for the money, unless any one convinces me to pay in the meantime.
Thoughts?
although Ive been looking through pepipoo tonight and am in a quandry, it is only 15 quid if I pay now and that 15 quid will be worth it if it means I wont be getting letters and visits to be honest, although if the consensus is that if I write to them and tell them to F.Off, that should be the end of the matter i'll do that.
I would appreciate anyone from PH who has gone down this road piping up!
I would appreciate anyone from PH who has gone down this road piping up!
Nooooooooo! Don't just accpet the fine.
Tell them what happened.
Waitrose are the most customer-sensitive retail orgainisation that i have ever worked with in 25+ years. This is the company that has the most generous returns policy you could imagine. If your bottle of wine is corked, and you return it, not only will you get a replacement bottle of wine, you will also get a full refund.
It's not just about the £15, its about the prinicple.
Stand your ground, and i suspect that one appropriately directed, but polite letter, will seee this resolved.
Good luck
Tell them what happened.
Waitrose are the most customer-sensitive retail orgainisation that i have ever worked with in 25+ years. This is the company that has the most generous returns policy you could imagine. If your bottle of wine is corked, and you return it, not only will you get a replacement bottle of wine, you will also get a full refund.
It's not just about the £15, its about the prinicple.
Stand your ground, and i suspect that one appropriately directed, but polite letter, will seee this resolved.
Good luck
E2DJH said:
Nooooooooo! Don't just accpet the fine.
Tell them what happened.
Waitrose are the most customer-sensitive retail orgainisation that i have ever worked with in 25+ years. This is the company that has the most generous returns policy you could imagine. If your bottle of wine is corked, and you return it, not only will you get a replacement bottle of wine, you will also get a full refund.
It's not just about the £15, its about the prinicple.
Stand your ground, and i suspect that one appropriately directed, but polite letter, will seee this resolved.
Good luck
Youre not wrong. My sister works for the JL partnership, and I worked for Waitrose many moons ago.Tell them what happened.
Waitrose are the most customer-sensitive retail orgainisation that i have ever worked with in 25+ years. This is the company that has the most generous returns policy you could imagine. If your bottle of wine is corked, and you return it, not only will you get a replacement bottle of wine, you will also get a full refund.
It's not just about the £15, its about the prinicple.
Stand your ground, and i suspect that one appropriately directed, but polite letter, will seee this resolved.
Good luck
However I think they might write back saying "sorry to hear this but its now down to the parking co to deal with the ticket not us"
I dont really want to go back to the store and show my face/speak to the manager as I gave this attendant several barrel fulls of my finest abuse, so if this got back to the manager I doubt he would be on my side in any case...
princeperch said:
Thoughts?
What do the actual signs in the car park say?Are they suitably positioned and clear so that you can see them and understand them before you park?
Are they reasonable or is it a case of unfair T&Cs?
Scenario one.
Suppose you went into the car park, stopped, got out, read the T&Cs, thought sod that for a game of soldiers and leave, you haven't got a receipt. So are they going to ticket you for that?
Scenario two.
You park up to shop in Waitrose, they don't have the product you want, so you leave, again no receipt. So now they want to ticket you for not buying anything when they didn't have it in stock?
Big enough holes to drive a coach and horses through.
My thoughts are that there are a number of options.
a) you could go back, get evidence and confront the store management.
b) you could communicate with whoever and tell them to GFAM, maybe altering Streaky's letter
c) you could wait until they start the debt hounds, who will screw up and commit criminal acts in trying to harrass you for money without a CCJ in place.
Whichever you do GET THE PRESS INVOLVED, you'll find others who have suffered the same.
The big gripe I have with the local press in the incidents discussed on the various other threads is that the local press are big on making people aware that there is a problem and putting pressure on the establishment, however they will not publish anything which deals with the legal side. It seems local solicitors when consulted are advising people to pay up which is an utter disgrace given the legal position.
In the scenario described my first bet is that it's down to some jumped up little arsehole of a car park attendant who has misunderstood his instructions. A word with the store management should sort it.
Having said all that tbh I despise people who abuse facilities which Companies provide for the use of their customers and staff so I can see the other side of the fence. I'm not saying you abused their facilities note, just a general observation.
Edited to add
DON'T PAY IT THATS WHAT THE FESTERING BLOODSUCKERS WANTEdited by Flat in Fifth on Wednesday 27th June 21:48
FIF: In both scenarios I guess you would be issued with a ticket based on what ive seen.
Going back to the store isnt really an option, if the bloke had been ok about it and said, nip back in, buy the tenners worth and come out I would have done it. As it was it turned nasty, and I lost my rag, and told him to bastically to F.off and that he should have worked harder at school etc
It was the way I was given no option to do so when I found out about the "Terms".
The way I see it is this; £15 quid now and the jobs done. Or I write a couple of letters and hope itll go away.
I'm not prepared to prejure myself given the fact I am a few weeks away from starting my training to be a solicitor, if (in the unlikely) event it got to a court. So I have to be careful with what I say in my letters, as it was me driving and I am the registered keeper...
decisions, decisions...
Going back to the store isnt really an option, if the bloke had been ok about it and said, nip back in, buy the tenners worth and come out I would have done it. As it was it turned nasty, and I lost my rag, and told him to bastically to F.off and that he should have worked harder at school etc
It was the way I was given no option to do so when I found out about the "Terms".
The way I see it is this; £15 quid now and the jobs done. Or I write a couple of letters and hope itll go away.
I'm not prepared to prejure myself given the fact I am a few weeks away from starting my training to be a solicitor, if (in the unlikely) event it got to a court. So I have to be careful with what I say in my letters, as it was me driving and I am the registered keeper...
decisions, decisions...
Edited by princeperch on Wednesday 27th June 21:53
princeperch said:
I dont really want to go back to the store and show my face/speak to the manager as I gave this attendant several barrel fulls of my finest abuse, so if this got back to the manager I doubt he would be on my side in any case...
OK, in understand that, so write to head office at Bracknell. Mither on about being a long term, regular customer etc etc.
Address it to the Managing Director... i'm sure it will work in your favour.
BUT, don't pay. This will just encourage them to do it even more
odyssey2200 said:
what happens if you just ignore it?
bluff, bluster, well take you to court etc...It would 99.9% never happen, but I am slightly concerned given the way I exploded that this one might have become a priority for the ticket chap..
ETA: If I write in to Waitrose admitting I am the driver I have waived my protection that could be useful in defending against the ticket by using Streakys letter...
Therefore the decision to make is appeal to waitrose's better nature or use streakys letter and tell them to prove their case.
I cant do both..
Edited by princeperch on Wednesday 27th June 22:02
princeperch said:
odyssey2200 said:
what happens if you just ignore it?
bluff, bluster, well take you to court etc...It would 99.9% never happen, but I am slightly concerned given the way I exploded that this one might have become a priority for the ticket chap..
Is he legally a traffic warden or some jumped up arse with a ticket book and a uniform?
Maybe I should get a book of tickets and just go around car parks writing them out.
At what point does it become demanding monies with menace
princeperch said:
FIF: In both scenarios I guess you would be issued with a ticket based on what ive seen.
Going back to the store isnt really an option, if the bloke had been ok about it and said, nip back in, buy the tenners worth and come out I would have done it.
It was the way I was given no option to do so when I found out about the "Terms".
OK I understand, people wanting to keep a clean nose is what the buggers rely on.Going back to the store isnt really an option, if the bloke had been ok about it and said, nip back in, buy the tenners worth and come out I would have done it.
It was the way I was given no option to do so when I found out about the "Terms".
So I'm confused now, are the T&Cs saying that you can only park there if you buy a 'tenners worth' of goods and if you don't buy >=£10 what do you do then?
The question still stands are the T&Cs an unfair contract? And are you given sufficient opportunity to see and understand these T&Cs before you park?
Speaking bluntly, if you aren't prepared to go back and get your evidence just because you had a shouting match then looks like you either pay up or sit and whittle yourself about where it's going to end up. Are you sure you want to be a solicitor? Why not park up elsewhere in town and make a recce on foot? I'd put a fiver you'll get enough evidence to hang em.
On the other hand if you broke a set of reasonable T&Cs which are adequately displayed then it's a fair cop, take it on the chin.
But you have to get your evidence to make your decision on what to do!
Don't get mad get even. Remember these people are not that intelligent!
Flat in Fifth said:
princeperch said:
FIF: In both scenarios I guess you would be issued with a ticket based on what ive seen.
Going back to the store isnt really an option, if the bloke had been ok about it and said, nip back in, buy the tenners worth and come out I would have done it.
It was the way I was given no option to do so when I found out about the "Terms".
OK I understand, people wanting to keep a clean nose is what the buggers rely on.Going back to the store isnt really an option, if the bloke had been ok about it and said, nip back in, buy the tenners worth and come out I would have done it.
It was the way I was given no option to do so when I found out about the "Terms".
So I'm confused now, are the T&Cs saying that you can only park there if you buy a 'tenners worth' of goods and if you don't buy >=£10 what do you do then?
The question still stands are the T&Cs an unfair contract? And are you given sufficient opportunity to see and understand these T&Cs before you park?
Speaking bluntly, if you aren't prepared to go back and get your evidence just because you had a shouting match then looks like you either pay up or sit and whittle yourself about where it's going to end up. Are you sure you want to be a solicitor? Why not park up elsewhere in town and make a recce on foot? I'd put a fiver you'll get enough evidence to hang em.
On the other hand if you broke a set of reasonable T&Cs which are adequately displayed then it's a fair cop, take it on the chin.
But you have to get your evidence to make your decision on what to do!
Don't get mad get even. Remember these people are not that intelligent!
I would have no problem in turning up to court to fight this if they are stupid enough to proceed with it.
A further consideration is that they would have to issue proceedings against me in my home court, somewhere in Hertfordshire. Their company is registered a couple of hundred miles away..
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