Page 5 | Parking fine at Sainsburys superstore

MyCheekyEagle · 2025-12-04T10:40:28+00:00

Recently I did a big shop at Sainsburys, which included trying & buying clothes and a big food shop. I ended up over staying by 18 minutes & have a parking fine from Euro car parks. I sometimes read that people refuse to pay these extortionate parking fines to private companies. Is this true, has anyone ever not paid and got away with it? I'm really cross that I have been penalised for buying clothes as well as my big shop 😡

ConveyancingHelll · 04/12/2025 17:25

VanCleefArpels · 04/12/2025 15:23

The fact of the court order is what ruins your credit rating whether or not it is later paid. The most important thing is to prevent it getting to that point. What happens a lot of times is that people move house, don’t update DVLA records and/or don’t set up postal redirection and so miss the initial claim / summons and so end up with a CCJ they know nothing about.

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A court order in itself does not affect credit rating. It is the unpaid court order that is the problem.

And yes, of course the OP should make sure her address is up to date etc. But thats not a reason to just blindly pay a £50 charge.

ConveyancingHelll · 04/12/2025 17:26

VanCleefArpels · 04/12/2025 16:15

My actual experience advising people about parking tickets counters your claim. There are very few grounds on which these types of tickets can be disputed, that’s the bottom line and that’s the advice that would be given if someone in OP’s position were to contact CAB. And as I’ve said before usually it’s gone way further down the line by the time people come to CAB where options are even worse.

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But you said you thought signage not being clear was one of the only real avenues for OP to challenge on.

But depending on the car park, she could well have been within (or only very marginally outside) the grace periods required by the code of practice governing this industry.

Politicians247UnderwearExtinguishingService · 04/12/2025 17:30

Are you on SM? Tweet/message/whatever Sainsburys and tell them what you've told us.

If they don't immediately respond and confirm that they've got it cancelled, follow up using appropriate hashtags (including Sainsburys and the town name), warning people to beware of buying much from that shop; if you know of another local supermarket that doesn't have a restrictive car park run by a predatory company, urge everybody to only use the Sainsbury's for little top-up shops, but for a proper shop, clothes etc., strongly advise them to use the other one instead.

I'd also take it to the local paper if you have one. As PP have said, it's fair enough if non-shoppers are using their car park, but they/their goons should not be profiting from penalising people for spending too much time - and money - in their shop.

It absolutely amazes me why some of these huge businesses spend millions on blanket advertising - presumably to increase custom - yet then go out of their way to deter custom from people who actually turn up wanting to spend money with them. Utter buffoons.

ConveyancingHelll · 04/12/2025 17:31

Hortesne · 04/12/2025 16:08

No, the contract is free parking for two hours. If you stay longer you've breached the contract and the company can pursue you through the civil courts for that breach. To avoid that you can pay the penalty charge of £50 which settles the civil course of action. Or, you can challenge the allegation of breach, either by arguing the company has not upheld their side of the contract (insufficient signage etc) or by arguing that in pursuing the suit they are deviating from the broad purpose of the contract which is to provide parking for shop customers (which is when you ask the shop for help and show your receipts).

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That's not correct.

The terms and conditions of these car park providers invariably frame the 'fine' as a parking charge which is payable only if you stay beyond a certain amount of time.

Their claim is that if you fail to pay that charge, then you are in breach of contract. But of course to allege that they need to demonstrate that you entered a contract to pay them that money in the first place.

BrownTroutBluesAgain · 04/12/2025 17:35

MyCheekyEagle · 04/12/2025 10:47

Unfortunately I've lost the receipt. If I pay in 14 days the fine is reduced to £50, which is not a massive amount, but it's still annoying

We’ve had this with a Tescos car park
We sent them a bank screen shot of the spend as we’d lost the receipt.

We’ve done the same with a few car parks
Never a problem.

VanCleefArpels · 04/12/2025 17:42

Owly11 · 04/12/2025 17:18

Exactly - you advise them not to challenge, which may be pragmatic (especially for people who would find it too complicated) but that doesn't mean that detailed advice about how you can challenge tickets if you wish to is terrible advice. You see people when it is already too late to challenge or people who aren't capable of challenging not people who have just received the fine and have detailed legal advice as to what to do next and the will to do so. You are comparing apples and pears.

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No, we advise on liability (rarely questionable) then advise on enforcement options if the ticket isn’t paid. These are two different issues. What the MSE “process” seems to be aimed at is to try to dissuade enforcement by basically being a pain in the arse. Which may or may not work. As I’ve said the downside of that particular gamble is, in my book, not worth it and certainly not what a responsible adviser should be advocating.

Extraenergyneeded · 04/12/2025 17:42

If you used a Nectar card the store can look up all your purchases

VanCleefArpels · 04/12/2025 17:51

ConveyancingHelll · 04/12/2025 17:26

But you said you thought signage not being clear was one of the only real avenues for OP to challenge on.

But depending on the car park, she could well have been within (or only very marginally outside) the grace periods required by the code of practice governing this industry.

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ONE OF - not the only grounds for appeal. In any event Not all parking companies have signed up to this code of conduct

Hicupping · 04/12/2025 17:59

I think I might be petty enough to return everything (assuming got receipt) and let Sainsbury's know that I needed to, to pay the fine. 2 hours before xmas is miserly for families. I'd also be looking for a supermarket with 3 hours.

Hortesne · 04/12/2025 18:08

@ConveyancingHelll seriously, you're wrong.

But of course to allege that they need to demonstrate that you entered a contract to pay them that money in the first place.

No they don't. They just need to prove that you entered into a contract to park on land controlled by them according to their terms and conditions. The terms and conditions are on the signs. You parking on the land means you have accepted the terms and conditions on the signs. You doing anything that breaks the rules on the signs (staying too long, parking in a disabled bay without a blue badge, returning too soon etc) means that you've gone against the terms and conditions and have breached the contract you accepted by parking.

https://bridgelawsolicitors.co.uk/a-short-guide-to-dealing-with-unfair-parking-tickets/

'it is effectively a notice to pay for a breach of contract.'

https://insights.doughtystreet.co.uk/post/102ike8/private-parking-charges-why-pay

'the alleged breach of contract which forms the legal basis for a PCN '

I hope you're not actually a conveyancer!

A Short Guide to Dealing with Unfair Parking Tickets - Bridge Law

When exactly can you defend a claim for a parking fine? The general rule is of course that you cannot. If you park where it is prohibited or where a ticket is

https://bridgelawsolicitors.co.uk/a-short-guide-to-dealing-with-unfair-parking-tickets/

Legobricksinatub · 04/12/2025 18:19

Hortesne · 04/12/2025 16:08

No, the contract is free parking for two hours. If you stay longer you've breached the contract and the company can pursue you through the civil courts for that breach. To avoid that you can pay the penalty charge of £50 which settles the civil course of action. Or, you can challenge the allegation of breach, either by arguing the company has not upheld their side of the contract (insufficient signage etc) or by arguing that in pursuing the suit they are deviating from the broad purpose of the contract which is to provide parking for shop customers (which is when you ask the shop for help and show your receipts).

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You can’t charge people for breaching a contract, you charge people in line with the contract - which is if you stay over 2 hours a £50 charge applies. The company are pursuing you for their contractual payment - a contract you agreed to by parking having had the opportunity to read the clear signs. They could call it a penalty charge but it is still a contractual clause.

Hortesne · 04/12/2025 18:29

Of course you can charge people for breach, happens all the time. Pay late on a contract/fail to pay? Incur a fee, enforceable in civil courts.

HazelMember · 04/12/2025 18:48

Hicupping · 04/12/2025 17:59

I think I might be petty enough to return everything (assuming got receipt) and let Sainsbury's know that I needed to, to pay the fine. 2 hours before xmas is miserly for families. I'd also be looking for a supermarket with 3 hours.

Do you think Sainsburys would care? Their profits were £242 million in this years report up 76% year on year.

Hicupping · 04/12/2025 19:04

It's not about Sainsbury's.

Douchey · 04/12/2025 19:23

MyCheekyEagle · 04/12/2025 15:06

Thank you all for your advice. It looks like I'm going to have to suck it up & pay £50, or try to appeal to Euro Car Parks. The reduced figure has to be paid by 10/12. I'm going away & won't be back in time to pop into Sainsburys

You dont have to pop back, email them.

Doris86 · 05/12/2025 08:12

MyCheekyEagle · 04/12/2025 10:49

@VanCleefArpels thank you. I guess I'll just have to pay it promptly to get the reduced rate and be more careful in future. There are signs in the car park, it's my fault.

No speak to Sainsbury’s and they WIlL cancel it, as you can show you were a genuine customer in their store for
a long time and spending lots of money.

Doris86 · 05/12/2025 08:15

Hicupping · 04/12/2025 19:04

It's not about Sainsbury's.

It is. It’s their car park, and they decided to employ this company to police it. Sainsburys can get any parking charges cancelled
if they so wish, and they normally do if you show you were a genuine customer.

Doris86 · 05/12/2025 08:22

MyCheekyEagle · 04/12/2025 10:47

Unfortunately I've lost the receipt. If I pay in 14 days the fine is reduced to £50, which is not a massive amount, but it's still annoying

Can You show them your bank statement?

Often they don’t need proof anyway and Sainsburys will cancel it out of goodwill if they believe you.

ConveyancingHelll · 05/12/2025 12:25

Hortesne · 04/12/2025 18:08

@ConveyancingHelll seriously, you're wrong.

But of course to allege that they need to demonstrate that you entered a contract to pay them that money in the first place.

No they don't. They just need to prove that you entered into a contract to park on land controlled by them according to their terms and conditions. The terms and conditions are on the signs. You parking on the land means you have accepted the terms and conditions on the signs. You doing anything that breaks the rules on the signs (staying too long, parking in a disabled bay without a blue badge, returning too soon etc) means that you've gone against the terms and conditions and have breached the contract you accepted by parking.

https://bridgelawsolicitors.co.uk/a-short-guide-to-dealing-with-unfair-parking-tickets/

'it is effectively a notice to pay for a breach of contract.'

https://insights.doughtystreet.co.uk/post/102ike8/private-parking-charges-why-pay

'the alleged breach of contract which forms the legal basis for a PCN '

I hope you're not actually a conveyancer!

Edited

I think you are now dancing on the head of a pin here.

The point is the car parking firms claim that you are entering a contract to pay them £X amount if you park for in excess of Y minutes.

Calling it a 'charge for breach of contract' or a 'parking charge notice' doesn't change what it fundamentally is: a bill from one private individual to another claiming that they owe money which may or may not be correct.

Only a court can actually determine that there has been a breach of contract. Until then it is just an invoice. Which someone may or may not be liable to pay.

In OP's circumstances there are potentially very solid reasons to consider that she may not be liable to pay it because she did not not, in fact, breach the contract that the company claims she entered into.

HazelMember · 05/12/2025 12:40

Doris86 · 05/12/2025 08:15

It is. It’s their car park, and they decided to employ this company to police it. Sainsburys can get any parking charges cancelled
if they so wish, and they normally do if you show you were a genuine customer.

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This did not work with Asda for me. I showed them the receipts. They said they had no authority to cancel the charges as they did not own the land outside or employ the company. I had to take it up with the company.

ForPlumReader · 05/12/2025 12:45

Take a copy of your bank statement into the shop. I'm sure they'll sort it.

OneProudAquaFinch · 05/12/2025 13:16

Someone told a dislike to pay machines in Dartford and smashed the lot up

Isobel201 · 05/12/2025 13:37

Yeah its a time limit for our Sainsburys around me, although they don't have changing rooms so if I buy anything, I just take it back if it doesn't fit. You could try appealing with the receipts, but offer payment at the same time.

BoredZelda · 05/12/2025 20:11

MiddleAgedDread · 04/12/2025 10:42

where do you live? In Scotland these fines are unenforceable but in England I think they are. Also, you're lucky your Sainsburys has changing rooms, ours haven't reopened since lockdown!

This is not true. Many people in Scotland have been prosecuted for ignoring these.

GaIadriel · 05/12/2025 20:48

I got one cancelled last weekend. It was one of those chain pubs with a big car park. You were apparently supposed to give your reg at the bar but there wasn't any signs where I parked - I came in the side entrance and parked right by the side door. I facebooked the pub and it was cancelled within 10 mins.

Didn't have a receipt as my mate bought me the one drink I had. Was for £100, reducing to £60 if paid immediately.