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Original poster

FFS Tesco

289 replies

HaveringWavering · 07/07/2022 02:43

I did a massive shop the other week, spent over £250 quid, spent ages browsing the clothes and homewares, stocking up tins and freezer stuff.

I’ve just received a sodding parking ticket in the post because apparently the car park has a 2 hour limit and I was in there 2 hours and 10 minutes!

I know they have them to stop people using supermarket car parks as all-day parking but 2 hours? It’s pretty easy to spend 2 hours shopping, and I’d have bought a hell of a lot less if I’d realised I had to be out quicker.

I know that Tesco subcontract parking to an independent company so no point complaining I guess. And no I didn’t pay attention to the signs, or think about what time it was when I was in the shop. Never occurred to me that the parking rules would apply to genuine shoppers.

OP posts:
Floella22 · 07/07/2022 06:57

girlmom21 · 07/07/2022 06:27

And when you both find out there's certain things you're not allowed to do because you have CCJ's against you? What then?

Show quote history

Never happened.

headiintheclouds · 07/07/2022 06:59

2 hours isn't long enough for a huge superstore when there are clothes, cafe, toys, house stuff, it's easily done if you are having a good mooch about aswell as doing the food shop.

I find Twitter/Facebook direct messenger the best way of getting help with things like this. I would send a screen shot of the transaction and ask them to assist with cancelling the fine.

Ultimately the time limit is there to deter people using the carpark and going elsewhere, not genuine shoppers. They should cancel the fine when they see you spent a large amount of money and genuinely did spend the whole time in their store.

MardyBumm · 07/07/2022 07:00

I worked in Tesco many moons ago on the customer service desk. They have a back office system so if you go into the same store, know the approximate time/date and method of payment (they may ask for your card number) they can usually print off a copy of the receipt. Not sure if the parking company will accept it and wipe the fine but worth a tray.

floweringpoppies · 07/07/2022 07:00

They've just put this 2 hour sign at our Tesco. Think it'll stop people having a coffee and meeting there.

easyday · 07/07/2022 07:01

The big Sainsburys/M&S near me has one of those registration readers as you come in that flash up your plate and say what time you have till - except there's a delay so one has driven by by the time it does. But the mere fact it's there reminds you there's a limit.
Easily spend two hours in a shop, and if you do a food shop, visit M&S and try on clothes, stop in the café, do your recycling, go get petrol (all available there), it's pushing three.
The limit is three hours at the Tescoextra. .

Pootle40 · 07/07/2022 07:02

You can ignore those 'invoices' anyway.

Westfacing · 07/07/2022 07:02

What's the legal situation with private parking matters I wonder?

Someone I used to clear my garden told me he just ignores any private fines and hasn't had any further action - no idea how many time he's done this.

JimmyMcNultyIsMine · 07/07/2022 07:03

RamblingFar · 07/07/2022 02:58

Have you tried taking the ticket and receipt into Tesco and asking them to cancel it? I know you say they don't own the car park, but I've heard of at least two supermarkets on Facebook managing to cancel tickets anyway.

Do this.

Icequeen01 · 07/07/2022 07:06

It's pointless going into the store. Tesco do not own their car parks - I think it's Horizon. Tesco staff have no way of cancelling tickets parking tickets. I got a ticket in our local Tesco which has a 2 hour limit as I had taken my mum shopping who uses a mobility scooter and it takes ages to do the shopping when I have her with me.

Our larger store is 3 hours so I usually use this now to make sure I have plenty of time.

Neveranynamesleft · 07/07/2022 07:06

Moneysavingexpert.com pcn
Parking tickets fines and parking forum

Tesco can, and do, cancel these parking tickets from the cowboy companies. Go onto the moneysaving forum for help on how to sort this ticket. Things are expensive enough without having a ridiculous charge added onto your shopping bill.

Icequeen01 · 07/07/2022 07:08

Meant to add to my post below - my DS currently works for Tesco Mobile and is constantly having customers raging at him about this but there is nothing he can do but refer them to Horizon.

Holymole · 07/07/2022 07:10

Did you use your club card? That will prove your spending. Definitely go in and show them the transaction on your bank statement/app, they can intervene.

Quiet14u · 07/07/2022 07:11

If I see any of these type of parking rules at shopping premises I simply boycott the retailer and take my business / money else where. I am personally sick and tired of these companies farming out their parking lots to sub contractors. Same thing with hospitals. People rushing into hospitals to see loved ones who are ill or possibly going to die and having to pay for parking.

Your two hour shop is not a long time. Its so lovely to take your time browsing around the Isles etc. For some people it's a pleasure to take your time not rushing and not watching the dam clock.

AmaryIlis · 07/07/2022 07:12

HerRoyalHappiness · 07/07/2022 03:05

So because you decided to take your time they should bend the rules? I like a good mooch round the shop as much as the next person, but I still wouldn't spend 2 hours in one. This isn't tesco or the parking company at fault. This is on you for being too slow to abide by the rules. You know for next time, set a timer so you don't spend too long looking at makeup and kids clothes.

This is daft. What is "too long looking at kid's clothes" and why would it be a problem for Tesco's? They're trying to sell them, after all. The reason OP was slow was essentially because she was spending a lot of money there, which surely is what they need to encourage. I'm prepared to bet she wasn't taking up space in the car park that others were queuing up for. 2.5 or 3 hours would be a more sensible time limit for a big Tesco Extra.

fyn · 07/07/2022 07:12

Our supermarket override the fines if you’ve been shopping. Just go to customer service with a copy of your bank statement.

Icequeen01 · 07/07/2022 07:12

Daffodilsdance · 07/07/2022 06:35

Tesco can overrule it . My car broke down in a Tesco’s car park and I knew I would go over the time before the AA came . I went to customer services . They were lovely and had some way to input my reg number - I guess they do the same for staff parking all day . Take your ticket and receipt to customer services and see what they say .

They didn't over rule a parking fine though because they were able to add you to their authorised list. That's slightly different.

GiantCheeseMonster · 07/07/2022 07:18

I wouldn’t pay and I don’t know why some posters are being so snarky. Two hours at a massive Tesco Extra isn’t much time. I used to take my Gran to one every week. We’d have lunch first in the cafe, then she’d potter doing her shopping/I’d do mine, then I’d help her pack and sort her debit card etc. I would struggle to do that in two hours tbh and I don’t think it’s unreasonable to have spent 2 hours 10 mins doing the kind of shop that costs £250. These big stores are designed to make you want to browse and linger. All the supermarkets round here give you 3 hours, which is reasonable. OP I would first approach Tesco politely and see what you get. Then if no joy, I would look on the Martin Lewis website as I think there’s lots of advice on there as to how to avoid paying these fines.

Hlglu56 · 07/07/2022 07:19

2 hours isn’t long for a Tesco Extra, especially if they have a cafe or anything. Our one is 3 hours.

DasGirl · 07/07/2022 07:20

Agree 2 hours is ridiculously short for a Tesco extra. It's probably got a Cafe as well.
It's 3 hours at all the supermarkets near me

Lovemusic33 · 07/07/2022 07:22

If you used a Tesco club card your receipt will be on your account? I would argue the ticket if you can prove you were in Tesco. 2 hours is silly especially as some people do a big shop and maybe visit the cafe? I think our local Tesco has a 2 hour rule too but it’s a smaller store and no one can really spend 2 hours in there (no clothes etc..).

Philisophigal · 07/07/2022 07:22

This reply has been deleted

This has been withdrawn at the user's request.

alwaysontheloo · 07/07/2022 07:23

So if you know it's a subcontracted company who runs the car park what on earth does that have to do with Tesco? 😳
If you parked in any other car park and went over your allotted time you'd expect a ticket so why is this different?

HerRoyalHappiness · 07/07/2022 07:26

Sorry your life is so shit that you wake up and have to have a go at someone.
Yet here you are... having a go... maybe I hit too close to home about people being twats 🤔 I mean, you have no idea about my life but go off dear.

RewildingAmbridge · 07/07/2022 07:27

This happened to me in Aldi a few years ago 90 minute max in the car park I was ten minutes over, I did contact aldi customer service and they were able to contact the company and waive the fine, go to head office though not the store.
I did point out that I'd queued for half an hour (never enough tills open) so wouldn't have been in there so long if they'd had an appropriate level of staffing...

alwaysontheloo · 07/07/2022 07:29

Sorry your life is so shit that you wake up and have to have a go at someone.

Looks like someone is projecting 😂😂😂