Tesco Parking Fine – Pay or Appeal?
Have you got a Tesco parking fine and are wondering whether to pay or appeal?
Welcome, you’ve come to the right place. Every month, over 130,000 people visit our website looking for guidance on fines and parking tickets.
This article will provide you with simple and clear advice on:
- The difference between Parking Charge Notices and council-issued fines.
- Deciding if you should pay Tesco parking fines.
- Understanding who manages Tesco car parks.
- Learning about the enforceability of Horizon parking charges.
- What evidence you need for an appeal.
The DVLA report that over 11 million parking tickets were issued last year, which is up by 29% year on year!1. Rest assured, you’re not alone.
We know it can be really annoying to get a private parking fine. But don’t worry, we’re here to help you understand your options.
Not sure what to write in your parking appeal?
You don’t need to start with a blank page.
We’ve created a free parking ticket appeal letter template that gives you a clear structure to follow.
Free editable parking appeal letter template from MoneyNerd.
Does Horizon manage Tesco car parks?
Yes, Horizon manages eighty-four Tesco car parks.
Plus, many private parking operators, including the operator Horizon, may also use number plate recognition technology (ANPR)2!
Having third party companies manage their car parks means there’s always a watchful eye on how people use them. Sometimes private parking firms can be overzealous! They don’t follow the Private Parking Code of Practice. These private companies make money by issuing tickets, and tend to issue many of them!
You see, the RAC found that the number of parking tickets being issued is up by nearly 30%! The report also found that misleading and deliberately confusing signage in private car parks is part of the problem.3
Appeal Process Steps
If you believe the Tesco parking ticket was unfairly issued, you have the option to appeal. Here’s how to do it.
If you want to learn more about the actions involved in the appeal process, make sure to read our specialized guide.
| Process: | Steps you should take: |
|---|---|
| When you receive the ticket… | You should gather as much evidence as you can to support your appeal claim and prove that the ticket was unfairly issued. |
| If you were given the ticket in person/attached to your car… | You must make an informal appeal (sent to the local authority/council that issued the PCN) within 14 days. This should be a letter with the evidence proving why the ticket was incorrectly given. |
| If it was posted to you… | You will be given 21 days to submit an informal appeal (from the day you received the letter). Your informal appeal should be a letter with the evidence proving why the ticket was incorrectly given. |
| If the informal appeal is rejected… | You will receive a Notice to Owner and will have 28 days to respond to this with a formal appeal. You can conduct the formal appeal online or via paper form. The Traffic Penalty Tribunal can send you one of these forms. |
| If the formal appeal is rejected… | You will receive a Notice of Rejection. From here, you are free to challenge the council’s verdict at an independent tribunal. |
| If the independent tribunal disagrees with your appeal… | You should pay the ticket within 28 days of the tribunal rejecting your appeal. If you don’t, the fine will be increased by 50%. If you don’t have the money to pay the fine, you should contact Citizens Advice or another debt charity. |
What’s Included in the Free Appeal Template
A clear structure
The template gives you a simple framework for putting your parking appeal together, so you don’t have to work out what to write from scratch.
What you’ll add
- Your parking charge details
- Why you’re appealing
- Any relevant evidence
- What you want the parking company to do
Easy to adapt
Just replace the sections in [square brackets] with the details of your own situation and edit the wording where needed.
You’ll get the template by email so you can save it, edit it and use it when you’re ready.
Free parking appeal letter template from MoneyNerd.
Do You have to pay the parking fine from Horizon?
Although Tesco has given the authority to Horizon to issue Parking Charge Notices, don’t treat the ticket as you would a Fixed Penalty Notice or a Penalty Charge Notice. These are actual fines which the police and local authorities issue for parking infringements, amongst other things.
A Penalty Charge Notice is enforceable by law! A Parking Charge Notice is not!
You have the right to challenge a fine when Horizon fails to follow the guidelines for issuing a ticket on behalf of Tesco.
If you think the penalty was given unfairly:
- First, tell the Tesco store manager about it
- Next, file an appeal with Horizon
- Finally, take the matter to the POPLA if the initial appeal is rejected
You could be given a Parking Charge Notice in a Tesco car park for the following reasons:
- You stayed too long – over the maximum free time allowed
- You parked outside a marked pay
- You used a disabled or a parent with child bay
There’s no legal obligation to pay parking fines on private land unless a court orders you to pay.
Are Horizon parking charges enforceable?
Tesco has given Horizon the authority to issue them on their behalf. However, they must follow the guidelines issued by the British Parking Association (BPA) approved operator scheme.
A Parking Charge Penalty is only really enforceable when there’s a court order to pay!
When you use a Tesco car park, you enter into an agreement/contract with the company.
If you abuse the contract, Horizon can issue a Parking Charge Notice. However, enforcing a Parking Charge Notice is not something UK law covers.
Instead, it is a civil matter because the fine is really an ‘invoice’ for breaching a contract.
So, in short, a parking ticket on private land is only legally enforceable when the issuer takes you to court and wins the case.
A car park management company can legally demand you pay when this happens.
When you think the parking charge notice is unfair or the operator failed to follow the Code of Practice. If they didn’t meet British Parking Association (BPA) standards, you have the right to file an appeal against the penalty!
The information on how to appeal the ticket should be on the notice you receive.
Feel more confident before you send your appeal
Writing a parking appeal can be difficult when you’re not sure what to include or how to structure it.
Our free template gives you a clear starting point, helping you:
- Set out what happened clearly
- Explain why you’re disputing the charge
- Include the important details
- Avoid starting from a blank page
Simply adapt the template to your own circumstances before sending it.
Free parking appeal letter template from MoneyNerd.
Is it worth appealing a parking ticket?
Yes, it is! The success rate of parking ticket appeals should not be overlooked. Plus, there are several Benefits of contesting parking tickets on private land.
One is it’s free to do if you think the ticket is unfair, you have the right to challenge it!
All third party parking operators must follow specific guidelines. One of which gives you the right to challenge a parking charge notice!
However, first, tell the store manager about it. They may decide to get the ticket cancelled! A manager can do this, and keeping customers happy is high on their list of priorities.
If that fails, follow the appeals procedure on the ticket as soon as possible.
The quicker you get an appeal filed, the sooner the problem could be resolved – either way!
What evidence do you need with an appeal?
The more evidence you provide to support an appeal, the better.
We suggest you gather the following as proof the parking ticket is not merited:
- Photos of a ticket you purchased to park
- Photos of unclear signage or road markings
- Witness statements, if possible
- Copies of your Tesco shopping receipts
- Copies of communication you had with Tesco customer services and the operator
Check out the message posted on a popular forum about escalating a Tesco parking ticket appeal.
Source: Moneysavingexpert
» TAKE ACTION NOW: Get legal support from JustAnswer
The importance of clear car park signage
All signage in Tesco’s car parks must clearly state the Terms and Conditions for using their sites.
The signs should be placed at the entrance of car parks so that motorists can familiarise themselves with the T&Cs before parking their vehicles.
The signs must meet BPA parking regulations and guidelines.
If signs must be clear, not hidden by trees or missing, you could have grounds to challenge a parking ticket.
Is there a grace period in a Tesco car park?
We were recently featured in The Sun to help educate people around the 10-minute grace period. This means you can’t be fined if you overstayed by 10 minutes or less.
Third-party operators should respect the 10-minute grace period before issuing a Parking Charge Notice to you. Failure to do so could result in challenging the fine. If this happens to you, we suggest you appeal the Tesco fine by following the instructions found on the parking ticket!
Make sure you can prove the operator failed to follow the guidelines before you file an appeal.
Ready to appeal your parking ticket?
Don’t start with a blank page.
Get our free parking ticket appeal letter template and use it as the starting point for your response.
Add the details of your parking charge, explain why you’re appealing and adapt the wording to your circumstances.
We’ll send the template straight to your email.
Free parking appeal letter template from MoneyNerd.
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