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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to refuse to pay?

73 replies

BeeBawBabbity · 09/03/2012 14:58

My Mum had a total knee replacement a few weeks ago. She's only just started to get back on her feet, but can only walk a short distance with a stick. She needed some shopping so I took her to tesco and parked in a disabled bay, and got the wheelchair for her. When we came out I had a £40 fine.

I found the parking guy and explained, but he said no blue badge no park, end of story. I feel quite strongly that I was not ABUSING the parking space. Am I being unreasonable?

OP posts:
GoEasyPudding · 09/03/2012 15:00

Have a look here on this other useful site. I dont think you have to pay.

forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=3211294

LaurieFairyCake · 09/03/2012 15:01

If it's a Tesco space you don't need to pay.

But you still shouldn't generally take a disabled space without a blue badge - your mum may not qualify as she's temporarily disabled.

Teeb · 09/03/2012 15:02

You could try sending an appeal letter to the local authority, possibly with some sort of doctors paper explaining the knee op and hope for the best!

TimothyClaypoleLover · 09/03/2012 15:02

Unfortunately, as you have no blue badge you were not entitled to park in the disabled bay but that does not mean the parking attendant wasn't being a complete knob!

Does the car park come under Tesco's jurisdictions or is it one of these dubious private car parking companies?

Boston2Step · 09/03/2012 15:04

She isn't disabled.... You shouldn't have parked in it!
Sorry

Original poster
BeeBawBabbity · 09/03/2012 15:08

It's a dubious private company. Tesco were sympathetic. I realise the parking guy couldn't tell from the car that we had good reason to park there but you think he'd have some discretion to take back the ticket after I explained.

OP posts:
Original poster
BeeBawBabbity · 09/03/2012 15:09

Boston she can't walk. I think most people would consider that disabled.

OP posts:
AMumInScotland · 09/03/2012 15:18

The actual guy who issues the tickets probably has no authority to revoke them - there'd be a risk of people bribing him if he could just "forget" them when he chose to. And, personally, I'm glad that a few companies actually try to do something to keep the disabled bays available for those who need them.

If it's a private company you can refuse to pay, they have limited legal options. But if its a counciol carpark or on-street parking, refusing is more serious. But you could write to them and explain the situation and see if you can get any sympathy, since you had a reason for breaking the rules.

Ineedadollar · 09/03/2012 15:20

OP, if it's a private ticket, just ignore it. It's not enforceable.

Boston2Step · 09/03/2012 15:20

Oh, did I miss that bit? Thought you had no blue badge?

Hellboy · 09/03/2012 15:21

I think that if its a private company then the fine is unenforceable, its more like an invoice that you can just ignore and they will eventually stop mithering you.

I have to say though that I also agree that no badge = shouldnt park in a disabled bay. I get the argument that she cant walk properly temporarily. I couldnt when I had SPD but I wouldnt have dreamt of taking up a disabled space.

2shoes · 09/03/2012 15:22

no BB and you park in a BB bay, you have to pay

kilmuir · 09/03/2012 15:24

she was probably more disabled than some who manage to get a blue badge!

TimothyClaypoleLover · 09/03/2012 15:25

The parking attendant will not be able to revoke but if its private company it is not enforceable and you will get a few red reminders and a couple of threatening letters of court action but then nothing. DH got one in Sainsburys car park some time ago and we have heard nothing further for months now.

foreverondiet · 09/03/2012 15:33

Unless its a council car park then you don't have to pay. You can either ignore it or write to them explaining the circumstances, and that you know you don't have to pay, and that you won't be, and they are very welcome to contest in small claims court (they have to prove that you parking in that space actually cost them money) which they will be unable to do.

If its a council car park then you have to pay up as you didn't have a blue badge.

valiumredhead · 09/03/2012 15:44

YABU you could've dropped your mum off at the main door and gone and parked up. You said she can walk short distances, the wheelchairs are usually always by the main door.

I was in a wheel chair for 3 months and crutches for well over a year - never parked in a disabled bay. Once I had a BB obviously I did but not up until then.

By parking in the disabled bay you could be stopping someone who needs to park close to the entrance.

And contrary to popular belief it is really hard to get a BB!

peugotgringo · 09/03/2012 16:05

kilmuir are you one of the people who tut and glare at people like my dad who's got a BB but has no obvious disability?? Grin

OP - you shouldn't have parked there, no matter how good your intentions - would you have done the same on the street?

Having said that, YANBU by refusing to pay fine. You don't have to and I think supermarkets take the bloody piss with their car parks anyway.

Boston2Step · 09/03/2012 17:29

Supermarkets are getting tougher now with parking

Debsbear · 09/03/2012 17:35

Firstly Supermarkets cannot enforce their parking fines as it is private property. Secondly, a suggestion that next time you take your mother shopping you should pull into a disabled space, help her to get out of the car and then MOVE the car! lol

WorraLiberty · 09/03/2012 17:35

Why didn't you just use a P&T space? Confused

They're wide enough to help your mum into the wheelchair and you don't get fined for using them.

HalfPastWine · 09/03/2012 17:36

Why should you have to apply for a Blue Badge to prove you're disabled. A friend of mine is eligible for but he doesn't want one. He chooses not to be registered as disabled. Surely it's clear to the parking attendant that the lady was disabled. For disabilities that aren't always obvious to the eye I agree a blue badge would be the best way to go.

valiumredhead · 09/03/2012 17:38

I am not 'registered as disabled' it's just I need a BB. Is there such a thing? Confused Good for your friend if he can manage without - lots can't.

WorraLiberty · 09/03/2012 17:40

But the OP's mum can 'walk a short distance with a stick'

Therefore there was no need at all to park in the Blue badge bay.

She could have parked anyway, set the wheelchair up and her Mum could have walked over and sat in it.

No wonder they're issuing a fine because actually, it is an abuse of the parking bay...and there are people who really need these spaces.

WorraLiberty · 09/03/2012 17:41

*anywhere not anyway

Voidka · 09/03/2012 17:42

I wondered when we would have one of these threads!

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