Called a "c*nt" in front of his kid over a P&C spot...

[SorryIParkedWrong]

Hi all,
Need a sanity check on an interaction I had yesterday that's still bothering me.
I used a Parent & Child spot yesterday at a quiet retail park. I know, technically wrong, but I was doing a massive haul for a house move and needed the boot space, and loads of other P&C spots were free so I wasn't leaving anyone without.
The issue happened when I got back to my car after shopping. I was in the driver's seat, engine on, and was just about to reverse out and leave.
A car pulled into the P&C space next to me. A woman got out with her young child and. She came right up to my window, which was cracked open, and said in a really aggressive tone, "You shouldn't be parked there."
Not wanting any drama or to explain my point to an emotionally enraged individual, I just said, "Ok," and put the car fully in reverse to leave. That's when she and the dad who appeared completely kicked off. Standing right by my car door, she launched into an absolute tirade.
She was shouting all sorts - "cunt," "fucking little shit," "look at your shit car," "fucking shit driving." All while her own young child stood there watching the whole thing.
I briefly stopped reversing, said through the window "I hope you have a lovely rest of your day," and then started to move again. She and her husband just kept going with the abuse, so I stopped the car again because I was just in disbelief. I looked at her and started laughing at the sheer absurdity and the level of her rage.
I know I shouldn't have used the spot. But AIBU to think her reaction was completely unhinged? Does my minor error give someone the right to hurl that level of personal, nasty abuse at a stranger, especially in front of their own child?
It honestly felt like she was just projecting all her life's problems onto me over a parking space. What do you think?

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It wasn't an "error" though was it? You didn't not realise it was a P&C space - you chose to park there.

I am currently 37 weeks pregnant and parking in normal spaces. If I can manage that I'm sure you can manage to drag your trolley full of tat from B&M or whatever a bit further across the car park too.

I certainly wouldn't have shouted obscenities across the car park at you but I can't help feeling a bit, you play stupid games, you win stupid prizes, about this one.

I don't understand why parking in a P&C space gives you more boot space?, but yeah you know you shouldn't have parked there and their reaction to you was over the top.

You shouldn't have used the spot and they were right to call you out on it but not to behave in the way they did and use words like that. They overreacted.

P&C spots don’t give you boot space 😵‍💫 and if there were loads of P&C spaces, chances are there loads of regular spaces too.

They’re probably sick of people without a child using P&C spaces, they’re so useful and it’s selfish to use when not needed.

He didn’t lie tbh!

You were an entitled dick who laughed at someone who already in a rage with a child to create further issue with an unhinged person.

She was an unhinged person.

What do you want us to say? No, you shouldn't have parked there, no she shouldn't have sworn at you. Yes, those places aren't guaranteed but they're actually what makes life manageable for those with a few under fours. Lots of people probably thought you were a cunt and just didn't say it.

They both sound deranged.

Obviously her reaction was totally disproportionate. But stop parking in p&c spaces when you don't have a child with you. It's so fucking annoying. Just because there were loads of spaces available when you got there doesn't mean they won't fill up while you're in the store leaving someone to struggle or not be able to park and safely get their kids out. The number of selfish morons I see parking in p&c spaces when they don't have kids with them drives me mad. And I am SHIT at parking, I would love to always park in p&c spaces. But I don't if I don't have my baby with me. Because I'm not a twat.

You shouldn’t have parked there.
They shouldn’t have been shouting obscenities at you.
You would have been better not responding to their shouting in a passive aggressive, inflammatory manner.
Conclusion: neither party comes off well.

You are an entitled idiot. And they were rude idiots.
Level playing field i guess.

You shouldn't have parked there (but you know this), they were unhinged and need to get a life.

Wouldn’t have used that language in front of a child no, seems very unhinged, edited to mention - the woman and father seem totally unhinged.

But you was pulled up on parking in a P&C space, wish it was done more appropriately though and not in front of a kid. Fact is, you was in the wrong, no matter how entitled you think you might’ve been because you needed “ boot “ space. You wasn’t with a child, you shouldn’t have been parked there.

Also, it wasn’t a “ minor error “ OP, you knew it was a P&C space, and decided to park there.

Err this. You are lazy, selfish and entitled. The woman didn't react in a proportionate way. But she's probably sick of people like you

Lots of unreasonableness all round it seems

im sure you can still get into your boot in a normal space

Don't park in spaces that aren't allocated to you then you won't have a problem.

P & C spots are a discretionary space provided by business establishments. Non enforceable. Sorry you had to encounter such low class aggressive morons .

P&C isn’t more boot space, just own it- you wanted to be closer.

they were OTT, but why not just drive off and ignore? PA ‘ok‘ then laughing would only ever escalate the situation.
so everyone is U in this scene.

You were in the wrong . She was OTT .

I use them all the time when I've got mum with me whos having an off day and a bit wobbly on her feet, and i never get people gobbing off at me ☹️

You can only control your own behaviour, so focus on that.

You parked where you know you shouldn't and you laughed at someone who was visibly angry, I think there's two learning points there.

Parent and child spaces are there for…. Parents and children?

OP didn’t have a child with her? She was parking there with the entitled thoughts of “ I need more boot space “

I mean it is a dickish thing to do for an able bodied person to park there who doesn’t need the extra space either side to get babies and toddlers out of car seats.
Their reaction was OTT but your passive aggressive have a nice day was obviously meant to antagonise. Do you always play poke the bear?
You sound like an unkind, selfish individual reading between your entitled lines.

“was doing a massive haul for a house move and needed the boot space”

you lost me at this frankly. You didn’t need a P&C space just because you were doing a big shop. You just wanted the convenience. Zero sympathy.

bet it’s not the first time you’ve done this either, or used a disabled space “just this time because….insert bullshit excuse”

This comes up all the time. P&C spaces are enforceable if the owner of the car park chooses to do so. They can enforce clearly displayed rules (like they can for not parking for more than a set amount of time, or only customers being allowed to park there).

Assuming this actually happened….You didn’t do anything wrong, it’s not against the law for anyone to park in a p&c space. I often park in one if it’s quiet and there are plenty free so you arent denying anyone a spot.
Woman was obviously totally out of order. Should have called the police on them saying you’re feeling threatened.