Asda Car Parking, Beware!

gon2seed

gon2seed

(and me! - Ed)
I parked on the car park yesterday, visited the new riverside, came back, did my shopping, and returned all within the two hours allowed.

I was approached by the Car Park Attendant, who said I had been picked out by CCTV as attending the Gym.

"Yes, and I have been and shopped, and returned within the allotted time."

"Ah!" says he, "your 2 hours is for Asda Shopping and nothing else"

"So, I can't go into town then?"

"Well, no not really!" (Well you either can or you can't!)

"Where does it state this?" says I.

"Signs all over the car park" My chum replied. "We are warning people this week, and after that will be issuing tickets." (I am not sure he is right about the signs.)

Well I wasn't going to get into an argument with this fella, but as I drove away I got increasingly thoughtful. I have used Asda car park ever since it opened, have always gone into town, and indeed the old Riverside, and never been challenged.

I phoned the store, who said, as far as they were aware there had been no policy change, indeed as long as you used the store, what you did in your two hours was up to you.

I politely assured them if they wanted to avoid, a stream of angry customers, and front page headlines, they better sort our their act. They assured me they would.

Don't get me wrong, I have every sympathy, the council has built a facility without sufficient car parking, why should Asda be expected to provide free spaces for the council's facility? The problem is, that is exactly what they have been doing for years. The people of Stafford use Asda's car park as free parking, and have done so unmolested. If they are going to change that, I think they need to advise people with advertising in the store, the car park, maybe even the local press. To not do that, and then start issuing tickets, willl no doubt bring a fearsome backlash.

The store assured me that this would be sorted, ....

But you have been warned.
 
wildwood

wildwood

Well-Known Forumite
They shot themselves in the foot when they did away with the ticket booths IMO.

It should become a "paid for" car park again, and bring back the first two hours free if you get your ticket stamped when you spend over£10. This way all their customers would be parking free unless that is you take longer than 2 hours to walk round Asda!
 
db

db

#chaplife
wildwood said:
They shot themselves in the foot when they did away with the ticket booths IMO.
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exactly.. everyone uses sainsbury's carpark for town parking, and you don't hear either party complaining about that arrangement!
 
A

Anders_Panders

Official 6000th poster!
eeks, I was gonna do the same thing tomorrow- do a bit of shopping then go over to the gym. might have to carry my asda bag at all times
 
Wormella

Wormella

Well-Known Forumite
dirtybobby said:
wildwood said:
They shot themselves in the foot when they did away with the ticket booths IMO.
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exactly.. everyone uses sainsbury's carpark for town parking, and you don't hear either party complaining about that arrangement!
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Sainsbury's is pay and display though, and you can get your parking back if you spend in store - other then that it's a council run.

I think - I don't know, I don't drive.
 
db

db

#chaplife
Wormella said:
dirtybobby said:
wildwood said:
They shot themselves in the foot when they did away with the ticket booths IMO.
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exactly.. everyone uses sainsbury's carpark for town parking, and you don't hear either party complaining about that arrangement!
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Sainsbury's is pay and display though, and you can get your parking back if you spend in store
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erm, i know - that's the point i (and wildwood) was making :?:
 
gon2seed

gon2seed

(and me! - Ed)
Anders_Panders said:
eeks, I was gonna do the same thing tomorrow- do a bit of shopping then go over to the gym. might have to carry my asda bag at all times
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That's the point Anders, my chum the attendant said you can't go off the car park/premises or you are liable for a ticket! I had my Asda bag on me, he saw me come out of the store with it, but still warned me that as from next week, I would be liable for a ticket, because I had been to the gym within my two hours!!!!!

I still think he's wrong, I have had a look at the signs on the car park today, (on my bike!) And I can't find any reference to having to stay within the car park/shop! I think this may be the case of a rogue jobsworth getting ahead of himself. I will contact the store next week, to find out, and post the stores reply on here.

As a matter of interest I visited the gym again to day (very impressive), on my bike! It was lunch time but the car park was deserted. Of course you have to pay, so perhaps people are reluctant to use it, but it may be that they do have enough spaces, and I am wrong, however it could be a much different story on weekends or in the evening.
 
Toble

Toble

Well-Known Forumite
tek-monkey said:
I thought the Asda car park was run by the council, not Asda themselves?
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No, it is run by ASDA. Just like the Tesco car park is run by Tesco.
(If you visit Tesco twice in one day, their number-plate reading system will clock you as spending all the intervening time in the car park and automatically send you a ticket. Now, how many times do you think a taxi will go in and out of Tesco in a day?)
 
M

MISS T

Forum user & abuser
What's wrong with you people?
Asda has a car park, for Asda customers. Stafford Leisure Centre has it's own car park, pay as you might but thats the way it is. I saw this coming along time ago, so had decided then to cycle down to the gym to avoid the charges. Nothing would annoy me more then struggling with my trolley load to a space in the back of beyond to see some lycra-clad nimbit strolling to their car front of house.
 
S

simon

Ex Bare Nastyman
MISS T said:
Nothing would annoy me more then struggling with my trolley load to a space in the back of beyond to see some lycra-clad nimbit strolling to their car front of house.
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Struggling with your trolley with a 5 year old and baby in car seat in tow and seeing some lycra-clad nimbit strolling to their car parked in a parent and child space, which were all full when you arrived, leaving you with no other choice than to park at the furthest point away from the shop!...oh, and it's persisting down!
That would probably annoy you more!
 
M

Mrs M

Well-Known Forumite
MISS T said:
What's wrong with you people?
Asda has a car park, for Asda customers. Stafford Leisure Centre has it's own car park, pay as you might but thats the way it is. ........ Nothing would annoy me more then struggling with my trolley load to a space in the back of beyond to see some lycra-clad nimbit strolling to their car front of house.
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My thoughts exactly, though as much as it would annoy me I cannot say honestly that I would not do it myself.

Edit: The sign on Asda car park reads;

Asda Customer Car park, Maximum Stay 2hrs no return within 5hrs.

A civil penallty charge notice of £60 will be issued in the following cicumstances:
1. Parking over 2hrs
2. No return within 5hrs
3 Parking in a disabled bay without displaying a valid disabled badge.
4 Obstructive parking

If the civil penalty charge notice is not paid within 28 days an additional administrative £10 charge will be levied.

Full terms and conditions available from Town and City parking ltd. On behalf of Asda Stores ltd. Vehicles left at owners risk.

Then a helpline phone number.(could not remember number)
 
S

Sofa

I'm a Staffooooooordian
There was a story on radio 4 a couple of months ago about a lady who got a parking ticket for a violation of that nature and she refused to pay up. The parking fascists took her to court and it got thrown out because the "contract" stated on the sign was not worded clearly enough. I wonder whether the contract you enter into when parking at Asda is clearly enough displayed or worded.
 
db

db

#chaplife
MISS T said:
What's wrong with you people?
Asda has a car park, for Asda customers. Stafford Leisure Centre has it's own car park, pay as you might but thats the way it is. I saw this coming along time ago, so had decided then to cycle down to the gym to avoid the charges. Nothing would annoy me more then struggling with my trolley load to a space in the back of beyond to see some lycra-clad nimbit strolling to their car front of house.
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exactly.. i can totally appreciate what gon2seed is saying - if i was doing my big shop, i would feel perfectly within my rights to nip to the gym provided i could get both done in the alloted time frame.. but just blagging free parking then moaning about it when you get told off is ree dick you louse :roll:
 
gon2seed

gon2seed

(and me! - Ed)
MISS T said:
What's wrong with you people?
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How long have you got? ;)

I think my point may have been misconstrued!

Firstly, Asda have every right to do what they want with their car park.
However nowhere does it say on their signs you have to use the store exclusively, or even the store at all. (Thankyou for the sign info' labcm) Custom and practice has been that people have used the car park, (and Tesco & Sains's) as free parking as long as they stay within the time limit.
IF Asda want to change their policy, I think it is behoven upon them to tell us in advance, so we can modify our behaviour in accordance.
And really the reason for my post was to advise people of these potential changes so that folk would know to beware.
I am surprised though MISS T, that you have not been previously annoyed when struggling with your "trolley load to a space in the back of beyond, to see some lycra-clad nimbit strolling to their car front of house;" because of course, many people have used the car park as an overspill for the Old Riverside for years. Indeed take away the lycra clad element, and I would hazard a guess that many of the spaces on Asda Customer Car Park have always been used by people not exclusively shopping in the store, or for that matter even visitng it!

I think the change in mood stems from The Borough Council's approach to Asda for some spaces in their car park, which was re-buffed.

I have yet to re-visit Asda to ask what the policy is, when I do, I will post ... bet you can't wait!
 
gon2seed

gon2seed

(and me! - Ed)
Popped in today:

From the horses mouth:
No you are not allowed to visit anywhere else other than the store.
You are liable to a fine for faulty parking if you are caught off the premises and car park..
Yes that does include people visiting anywhere else other than the stafford sports centre, i.e town.

You have been warned...

....however, in my non legal opinion seeing as they haven't changed the signs, have been letting people do it for years without challenge, have failed to ever inforce this "rule" before, I don't think they have a leg to stand on, and Sofa is spot on.
The risk, as they say, is yours.
 
henryscat

henryscat

Well-Known Forumite
I agree. The definitive answer must lie in the "terms and conditions available from Town and Country Parking Ltd" and not what staff at Asda think the terms and conditions are.

gon2seed said:
....however, in my non legal opinion seeing as they haven't changed the signs, have been letting people do it for years without challenge, have failed to ever inforce this "rule" before, I don't think they have a leg to stand on, and Sofa is spot on.
The risk, as they say, is yours.
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