Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

...or perhaps a bit petty - or justified.

53 replies

womblingfree · 24/02/2009 13:26

Just came out of supermarket with 4YO DD in tow, and as I was loading car, chap pulled up and asked me if I was leaving. I said yes, then noticed that he didn't have any kids/car seat (was probably well in 50's), and pointed out to him that it was a parent and child space.

He ignored me and stayed put.

Another woman came along who had at least 1 pre-school child with her and really needed the space, wound down her window and told him it was a parent and child space he was waiting for that he shouldn't be using.

He completely ignored her and stayed put.

I spun out sorting myself out as long as poss but he just waited and eventually pulled into my space as I drove off.

So I pulled up further down the car park, phoned customer services at the store and reported him. I was just not in the mood for that kind of crap, but I do feel a bit pathetic for having done it, even though I know I was in the right in theory.

OP posts:

lottiejenkins · 24/02/2009 13:35

Well done you!!!

Original poster

womblingfree · 24/02/2009 13:40

That was kind of how I felt TBH - it just really pissed me off that even after being told twice he still refused to go and park anywhere else.

OP posts:

Seeline · 24/02/2009 13:42

Good for you. Now my two are 4 and 7 I don't use the mother and child spaces so why should people like him? They should be regulated like the disabled spaces IMO

Fairynufff · 24/02/2009 13:42

YANBU - I've confronted a few in my time but what really annoys me is the supermarkets put the mum+kid spaces close to the store so people abuse them to get to the store quicker. Why not put them away from the store? Because it's not like we need the closeness just the elbow room.
I would rather not have them at all than to keep getting stressed out at all the selfish tossers abusing them.
Mind you - when I can't get a mum+kid space I just create my own by parking in the middle of two spaces so I suppose I must annoy people too!

Stretch · 24/02/2009 13:42

I wonder how much time he saved waiting for you? Surely he'd have been better off finding a place further away and taking 2 mins to walk??

Men!!!

PrettyCandles · 24/02/2009 13:43

You did the right thing. I don't see what else you could or should have done.

MrsMattie · 24/02/2009 13:44

Fair enough, I say.

SquonkWithABlackName · 24/02/2009 13:46

Oh it's so irritating when perfectly fine, kidless people nick those spaces isn't it!

Just one point though, are you sure he wasn't disabled in any way - if all the disabled spots were full perhaps he needed the extra space to get his wheelchair out or he needed to be close to the shop because of his angina...

Original poster

womblingfree · 24/02/2009 13:46

I can see your point Fairy, although I must admit that the two large supermarkets near us have very large, hazardous car parks, and trying to cross them with a small child whilst pushing a trolley isn't that easy.

OP posts:

Original poster

womblingfree · 24/02/2009 13:49

I can see your point Sqonk, but if that was the case why not say something.

I used a diabled space when I picked my dad up from hospital last year - he's a 70YO angina sufferer who'd just had an angioplasty so I didn't think that was too unreasonable and put a message in my windscreen explaining the situation.

Got the distinct impressiobn this was guy was your basic, arrogant lazy plonker TBH, certainly the way he was impatiently waving me out of the space when I eventually pulled away.

OP posts:

Bucharest · 24/02/2009 13:52

Hurrah for WF!
Bet he's the sort of person that says harumptey hump when 2 yr olds behave like er, 2 yr olds in public too!

Dottoressa · 24/02/2009 13:54

I tend to go up to offenders and tell them in a really helpful tone of voice: "you do know, don't you, that they're wheel-clamping people who park here without children?" It works wonders in our local M&S .

kickassangel · 24/02/2009 13:54

impatient waving? he deserved to get shopped!

Original poster

womblingfree · 24/02/2009 13:57

Dot - will remember the wheel clamping trick if it happens again

OP posts:

fryalot · 24/02/2009 13:57

dottoressa - that's a FAB idea! I'm going to nick that on Saturday when I go shopping

Dottoressa · 24/02/2009 14:01

I derive particular satisfaction from saying it to 4x4-ers .

abraid · 24/02/2009 14:09

'Because it's not like w'e need the closeness '

I appreciated the closeness when I was pushing a heavy trolley with a baby and todder in it across the carpark.

Sassybeast · 24/02/2009 14:10

I feel eternally guilty after having a run in with a middle aged woman who pulled in to the last baby/toddler space right in front of me (without kids) I had 2 toddlers and a 4 year old with me. I asked her politely if she would mind moving - got a mouthful of abuse for my trouble so a combination of PMT, sleep deprivation and general piss offedness led me to march up to customer services, DEMAND action and watch as they ticketed her car (£60 fine) I dread running into her ever again

Original poster

womblingfree · 24/02/2009 14:49

Bloody good on you Sassy - I don't think the person I reported it to will have done anything other than have a good laugh about me in the canteen with her mates later, but it made me feel better!

OP posts:

lottiejenkins · 24/02/2009 15:02

I complained to the local supermarket manager when the security guard employed by the store parked his van in the parent and child space . It was rather embarassing as he helped me negotiate my trolley into the car park on his way back and was glad he didnt know it was me who reported him!!

georgimama · 24/02/2009 15:15

Um, plenty of 4x4s have children in them.

threewisemonkeys · 24/02/2009 15:19

Too right Womble & nice one Sassy!

However, maybe this guy had a big car which was difficult to park elsewhere? (clutching at straws on his behalf)

I must confess I parked in a disabled space the other day as I have a wide car which doesn't fit easily into normal spaces (especially when trying to get kids in & out)

I only did it because there were no m&B spaces but absolutely loads of disabled ones free, so I went into customer services and explained what I'd done and asked if this was ok. (they said of course)

I bet anyone watching me would've been fuming though.

georgimama · 24/02/2009 15:26

threewisemonkeys, you are not helping with my "4x4 drivers are people too" argument here.

If you can't park your car properly, get a smaller one, or practice.

Dottoressa · 24/02/2009 15:54

Tell me about it, Georgiemama. My children go to a prep school. Hence my problem with them. I think they breed outside the school (the cars, that is).

That said, I do of course not threaten genuine child-owning 4x4-ers with the invisible Mr Wheel Clamper. I do accept - just about - that they have rights to a parent and child space, too.

georgimama · 24/02/2009 15:59

In mitigation for my 4x4 ownership I do live in genuine countryside, down a single track road, and often have to drive across fields and verges when people in unsuitable Pacific Rimmer vehicles come the other way.

Flip

1 2 3