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.

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.

When	Action
On receiving a council PCN	Read the notice, keep it, gather evidence and note all payment and challenge deadlines.
Windscreen or handed-to-driver PCN	An informal challenge may be available before the Notice to Owner. Early challenge can preserve a discount under the authority’s policy; 14 days is not a universal final appeal deadline.
Postal PCN or Notice to Owner	Normally make formal representations within 28 days as stated on the notice. Do not assume there is an extra informal stage.
Representations rejected	The Notice of Rejection explains how to appeal to the appropriate independent tribunal, normally within 28 days.
Appeal unsuccessful	Pay by the deadline given in the decision or obtain advice on any available review. Further statutory charges can follow if you do neither.
Other ticket type	Private parking charges and FPNs use different procedures; follow the actual notice.

Further guidance: Traffic Penalty Tribunal; Citizens Advice.

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.

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

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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.

References

1. RAC Foundation – Parking Tickets Statistics
2. Police UK – ANPR
3. RAC – Parking Tickets Statistics