Charged for Co-op car park despite shopping there, can I pay instalments?

[UnitaBath]

A few weeks ago I visited a friend. I see her a few times a year. She lives 14 miles away in a small seaside town.

After I have visit her I sometimes pop into the town's local Co-op store, it has a small car park. I have parked in there several times without any issues.

However, I have just received a parking fine via a company called Ipserv. I had parked in the Co-op's car park and popped in to quickly buy a few bits. According to the parking company, I was 20 minutes.

I had no idea but apparently 2 months ago they have replaced the standard free customer parking with a new meter system. You are allowed 45 minutes free parking but upon parking you have to enter your details into the parking meter and it will allow for the free period. I had no idea, like most of us do, I parked up, whizzed into the store and out again and thought nothing of it, in all honesty I don't even recall seeing any payment meters or notifications (although there must have been). I shop in most of our local Co-op stores and I have not come across this with any other local ones to me so I genuinely wasn't expecting it.

The parking charge has come in today for £60, if paid within 17 days or £100 after this time. I have looked back on my bank statements, I spent £9.80 that day, wish I had never bothered now!

I know I will need to pay this but I care for my mum as she has advanced dementia and am in receipt of carers allowance. I just can't afford to pay £60 in one go. Is it worth asking the company if I can pay in installments? Has anyone done this before?

I am not sure what to do but paying this amount out right now will cause me a lot of issues financially.

This Facebook group is really good with advice - if you join and read the rules before posting they will be able to help!

Go Over to the Parking board on Money Saving Expert forum and have a read of the advice there - they'll tell you not to pay it and talk you through what is likely to happen next

Definitely appeal. Does the ticket show the time of parking as less than 45mins and do you have the coop receipt/can you find the transaction on your bank statement? I’d use chat GPT and that Facebook group to draft an appeal letter, noting that you weren’t aware the system had changed. Is it well signed? If not then flag this.

Thank you everyone, I'll have a look at those groups.

PapayaMarmalade I have the receipt on my bank statement. I honestly don't know if it's well signposted on the grounds or not tbh. I popped in quickly as you do and don't recall looking around the car park at all, none of the other local Co-op's that I shop.in have a system like this so I wasn't on alert for anything like that. I only go to that area every few months to see my friend but she's elderly and housebound so she's not sure about it either.
I'll have to go over at the weekend and have a look.

I'm annoyed with myself for being so blinkered, I don't recall anything about the car park.

These companies have no authority. You don't need to pay.

If Google street view is up to date, you might be able to see if the signage is clear. However, if the meters have recently been installed they might not have been there the last time the car went round that area.

In the first instance, I'd ask the Co-op if they could cancel the ticket for you - if it's a new system, you didn't notice but you also didn't break the rules as you were only 20 minutes and you did shop there. Hopefully they'll be accommodating.

I agree with going into coop do they can cancel it

Right, so if OP ends up owing even more and a CCJ you will pay that for her will you?

Might be worth posting on that town's local facebook. Someone local might be willing to go and take pictures of the signage or lack of signage. You might be able to show that you could not see the signs while driving etc.

Exactly. This kind of misinformation is not at all helpful.

Much simpler to use their online service to appeal a ticket, giving proof you were shopping there. I’ve done that twice recently and it is really easy.

@UnitaBath

You could also try contacting Co-op Customer Relations, either go back to the store or contact them online or by phone.

Tell them you were a genuine customer and show/upload your £9.80 receipt from that exact visit.

I've been with my mum most of the day but when I get home I will sit down and write a letter/email to the company and the Co-op and see if I can appeal to someone's, anyone's better nature. I really can not afford this unexpected bill right now but if I do have to pay it then I hope I can pay monthly or something.

I have just googled the company and see they are owned by Ipswich Country Council (This Co-op isn't even in Suffolk!). I had no idea councils owned private businesses like this. How naive am I?

Go into the coop and speak to the store manager show them your receipt they might be able to cancel it for you most supermarket store managers can.

If you have Google maps you should be able to view your Timeline which will show your time in the car park.

Perfumepanda I'm due to see my friend in the next couple of weeks so I'll pop in then.

LetMeStayInBed
I was just 20 minutes. Its says this on the fine, there is free parking for up to 45 minutes, I've parked and popped in several times in the past but what I didn't know is they had changed the system in July. You have to enter your car reg details into the parking meter before going into the store but I wasn't aware of this change.

Suggest that you check all future parking everywhere, because things do change.

Secondly apply for a didabled parking badge if you look after your DM. Parking is not always free, but park closer.

https://www.gov.uk/apply-blue-badge

Obviously I will from now on, that's the frustrating thing, you don't expect it in some places and they catch you out when you are at your most busiest.

Mum has had a blue badge for years but regardless she is in the advanced stages of her dementia so housebound.

Money Saving Expert's parking tickets/fines and charges forum is excellent.
Some very well-infomed and knowledgeable posters there. They will assist you.
Ipserv is mentioned quite a bit on there, which might help

Good luck

They can go to court, and use bailiffs.