Nurse hit with parking fine after car battery died outside Asda store

A nurse who stopped to get cash at Asda was left furious after she was ordered to pay a parking fine.

Pip Olliver had missed crucial small print on a car park sign, which stated no one is allowed to park at the supermarket when it is not open.

To make matters worse, her car battery died while she went to use the cash machine at Asda Minworth in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham.

The nurse had popped to the store’s ATM at around at 6:15pm on February 26.

But after getting her cash out she returned to her Honda Civic to find it wouldn’t start.

The 54-year-old called her husband who came quickly and helped her jumpstart the car. They then left the store seconds after 6:45pm – just over 30 minutes after arriving.

The NHS worker then received a £70 parking charge notice from Parkingeye, the company which manages the car park for Asda.

Pip told BirminghamMail: ‘I just needed the cashpoint to get some money out on a Sunday. My battery had been playing up but I didn’t expect it not to work.

‘I went to Asda out of store hours. It was flat and I called my husband who came from home and we got my car started. I wasn’t aware of the parking restrictions and about a week later I got the parking charge for £70 (which says it is discounted to £40 if you pay within 14 days).

‘I appealed to Parkingeye – went on their website and you tick a box to appeal. I said if you check your cameras you will see my husband came in a few minutes after and both our cars left together. But I got an email back to say my appeal had been rejected.

‘We went back and saw the small signs with very small print that said really you shouldn’t really be able to use the cashpoints, as you’re not allowed to park for any minutes at all out of hours.’

A sign above the cashpoints says ’24 hour cash’.

But signs in the car park state: ‘3 hours max stay. NO PARKING OUTSIDE OF STORE OPENING HOURS.’

Pip’s email from Parkingeye reads: ‘We have reviewed the details outlined in your appeal, but we are not in receipt of sufficient evidence to confirm that the terms and conditions were not breached. These terms are clearly displayed on the signage located throughout the above car park.

“Parkingeye are a member of the British Parking Association and can confirm that there is adequate signage at this site that is visible, appropriately located and in line with the guidelines set out in the BPA Code of Practice.”

Disheartened, Pip took to social media to highlight the issue and received differing advice about refusing to pay, appealing, and also about going into Asda to complain.

She later went into Asda and it cancelled her ticket.

An spokesman from the supermarket chain said: ‘The purpose of the parking restrictions at this store is well known and we are pleased that there has been a marked decrease in the number of anti-social behaviour complaints since their introduction.

‘We understand that the ATMs are still regularly used outside of our stores’ opening times which is why there is a short grace-period, and having spoken to this customer we are pleased that the parking notice she received has been rescinded.’

A spokesman for Parkingeye added: ‘The car park at Asda Minworth features prominent and highly-visible signs throughout providing information on how to use the car park responsibly. Asda customers have a maximum stay of three hours and the signage clearly states that there is no parking outside of the store opening hours.

‘The motorist received a Parking Charge Notice due to parking for over 30 minutes when the store was closed. However, following a review of the case, we have cancelled as a gesture of goodwill.

‘Parkingeye operates a BPA (British Parking Association) audited appeals process, which motorists can use to appeal their parking charge notice.

‘If anyone has mitigating circumstances, we would encourage them to highlight this by appealing. All motorists are also entitled to a further appeal via the independent appeals service POPLA. (Parking on Private Land Appeals).’

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