Lamma, There's no-one else in to replace them. Parking was never a problem there, until UKPC arrived that is! The end result was that people voted with their feet and went 500 yards down the road to Asda, Wilkinsons and Lidl. Not sure if they'll return.

I noticed today that my local Tesco has given UKPC the heave-ho at long last. When I asked one of the staff what the reason was she said that they had had so many complaints from customers about UKPC's dodgy practices and unpleasant staff that they'd dispensed with their services. Wonder how many customers they lost before the penny dropped? It's worth complaining, folks. Every little helps.........

I heard on the 'Today' programme this morning that the Disability Alliance group are taking UKPC etc to task for limiting parking times for disabled motorists then charging them when if they exceed the times. They also put the blame firmly on the supermarkets and other companies for using these [problematic] in the first place. Here's the info from the BBC news site: UK's big supermarkets are breaking disability laws by having strict time limits in about two-thirds of their car parks, charities have told the BBC. Private firms run some of the parking areas for Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's and Morrisons and customers face penalty charges for overstaying. But under the Disability Discrimination Act, businesses need to make extra allowances for disabled people. The supermarkets say they will review their policies on disabled parking. Supermarkets are increasingly using private parking firms and automatic number plate recognition systems to limit customer parking, often to two hours. The restrictions are to discourage drivers from abusing the free parking spaces. A survey for BBC Breakfast - which contacted 200 different large supermarkets from the four main chains, and spoke to 124 - suggests about two-thirds of the car parks that impose time limits do not give disabled people any extra time to shop, which is a breach of the law. Neil Coyle, from the charity Disability Alliance, said: "Supermarkets need to acknowledge there is a problem, and secondly, very quickly they need to ensure their car parking procedures conform with the law. "You or I can stamp our feet and say how outrageous it is but at the end of the day there is a law that protects disabled people from this happening." He said the supermarkets needed to end the "unfair charges" or "they can wait until someone takes a legal case and potentially face a considerable compensation case". Motorist campaigner Neil Herron said supermarkets should get rid of the "draconian" and "legally questionable" private enforcement process and handle car parking in house. "If someone is abusing the system, clamp them, charge them a £2.50 clamp release fee, handled by their own staff. Britain's motorists are being stealth taxed by another dubious practice," he said.

I know what you mean, Buzby. What I meant was that Tesco and the others use these firms to 'regulate' parking. They're still damned by association, in my eyes.

On the BBC News site today: A new independent appeals panel to stop motorists from being unfairly fined by unscrupulous private car parking companies is to be established. Transport minister Sadiq Khan said self-regulation was not working and the government needed to step in. Currently there is little regulation of the private car parking industry and no independent adjudicator. Drivers have complained of a lack of accountability, heavy-handed tactics and threats of county court judgements. One driver who received a parking ticket was Tracey Tremlett, who was targeted after visiting a drive-in restaurant twice in 41 days. She told BBC Breakfast: "They said I had actually overstayed my period by 60,235 minutes, I couldn't believe it. They threatened me with a county court judgement. "It was quite scary to have it through the post in the beginning, knowing I hadn't done anything. I really didn't know what to do." There are 26,000 permanent private car parks in the UK. Most complaints come from people fined on these sites, but there are now calls for reform of the entire private parking industry. The AA said it believed the industry was "running amok". Paul Waters from the organisation explained: "It's really rapidly growing; they are trying to extort more and more sums from people. Enforcement is quite heavy-handed, in the night and in the day. They target people through number plate-reading cameras. "People sometimes do not even know there are restrictions in force and they get a penalty in the post later." The British Parking Association represents private firms and only its members can access the DVLA database to trace vehicle owners and send out fines. Even it admits a more robust system is needed. Its chief executive Patrick Troy said: "There is no law which requires operators of car parks to abide by any kind of code of practice. "That is why we have introduced a code of practice for our members and they are required to comply with that code as a condition of their membership. We are calling on the government to look at this and to consider regulating car parks." Mr Khan said it was clearly time for the government to step in. "What the current bill going through parliament is saying is that there will now be hopefully be an independent complaints mechanism available so people who are aggrieved can make a complaint to an independent appeals panel," he said. The AA welcomed the move but said it hoped the complicated legislation would get through parliament before the election, or motorists would continue to be victims of unscrupulous operators. The RAC also urged the government to take decisive action. RAC Foundation director Professor Stephen Glaister said: "Even now the minister is holding back. He is quoted as saying there will 'hopefully' be an independent appeals service. Yet why the uncertainty? "Such a procedure is central to a reform of this wayward industry and is backed by many politicians from all parties. The government needs to stop talking and start delivering." I wonder what Tesco and the other companies who employ these charlatans will do now the wraps are coming off. Their names will be linked with the dishonest and extortionate practices.

Yep, ignore them and their silly letters. I'd like to know how they'd prove that someone left the site if the only photograph they provide is of the car, and if the person denies it anyway. What a bunch of chancers they are.

Buzby, I agree, the supermarkets should supervise the parking with their own staff. At least then there'd be a chance of some fair play. I'm amazed that they think it's cost effective to have to provide parking complaints staff and still lose customers under the present system. When I called Tesco Central originally, I asked the lady I spoke to whether they were having many complaints about the parking. "Don't ask", she said, "We're snowed under". The local store here didn't have parking issues before UKPC blighted the landscape - there were always free spaces. Seems like a centrally-imposed solution when there wasn't even a problem ............

Foxtescos, Well done you! The problem I had was at the same store - probably the same lowlife issuing the ticket, who was rude and bordering on abusive. It's interesting that they seem to have a tannoy system now to contact people before handing out these invoices (I refuse to call them parking fines). They must be losing customers like anything - I've been shopping at Asda ever since. Did you get your letter to the paper published?

Morrida, I suggest you write back with the additional details you mention here, again copied to the CEO. It took me a couple of emails before they saw sense. It's not even as if you went anywhere else - you were spending money in their godforsaken store. I agree with you about not shopping there in future. I worked out that last year I'd spent just under £5000 at Tesco, between groceries, petrol and on-line goods. I haven't shopped there since my little run-in with UKPC. Kind of an expensive mistake on Tesco's part, although it's a drop in the ocean to them. Still, every little (less) helps, eh? PS - Hope you'll go ahead with your thought of involving the local paper - Tesco/UKPC's treatment of you and your wife has been disgraceful.

Beddy, Email tesco's CEO and explain that his parking department is not performing. His office followed up a complaint from me and got it sorted out very quickly: Terry.Leahy@uk.tesco.com

Morrida, I suggest that you write/email to Sir Terry Leahy, CEO of Tesco, with the details and let him know that you're also writing to your local paper. Here's the email address: Terry.Leahy@uk.tesco.com UKPC - how low can they sink?

Beddy, Here is a useful email address within Tesco's Customer Services Dept, and that of the CEO, Sir Terry Leahy. I suggest you email the first, copied to the CEO, explaining what has happened and saying that you're disappointed that they seem unable to resolve the issue. Some of us have had positive results via this route. Good luck. Kavitha Shadaksharaiah Customer Service Manager customer.service@tesco.co.uk Sir Terry Leahy Terry.Leahy@uk.tesco.com

Hickup - excellent news!

Yes, with Singey's line in witty repartee and type of employment I bet he/she/it has got lots of friends. Pity none of them are on this forum ..............!

Yeah, whatever!