One Parking Solution issues me a fine Full disclosure, I made a mistake. Read on to find out why I still feel this post is necessary.
I have just received a parking fine for stopping in an area of a free car park for just over one minute. The fine issued by One Parking Solution was for getting off my motorbike in a layby area directly opposite the cashpoint at the Tesco Express store, Ashby Fields Local Centre, Wimborne Place, Daventry.
Getting off my bike, getting money out of the cashpoint, getting back on it and riding away took one minute and eight seconds – the fine was £100 (or £60 if paid within 14 days).
I have added some photos to show that it was hardly clear from the road surface that parking in that space was not allowed. A sign was up but I simply didn’t see it – my fault and my problem then. One Parking Solution was just doing the job it was contracted for.
In my defence though, it’s a free car park, I wasn’t even looking for a sign (though I did go back after the event to find it). And I would argue that no one riding up on a motorbike in a full-face crash helmet would have any chance of reading the sign without getting off of said bike … and thereby incurring a fine anyway.
I saw the red lines and avoided stopping on those. All this stated, I did break the rules, and I paid the penalty even though I think it is completely out of proportion to the offence.
I know that there are legal protections for the parking companies and case law in respect of such issues, but really!
I think the corporate behaviour (from the landowner as much as the parking company) is morally and ethically bankrupt and shouldn’t go unchallenged. To me the fine is nothing more than legalised extortion.
No law was broken, no harm was done, no inconvenience was caused for anyone. I understood that grace periods normally apply to carparks … but apparently that’s not necessarily the case when private land is involved. In this instance ‘zero tolerance’ was the reality.
The Google reviews for One Parking Solution make for grim reading, the company is reported to dismiss appeals, instruct bailiffs and take offenders to court. I therefore paid the fine, which maybe I shouldn’t have done.
It ended there from One Parking Solution’s perspective, but not from mine. I will leave my appeal to the court of public opinion; you dear reader can make your own mind up about what you think is fair and just.
I phoned One Parking Solution on the 3rd July and, after selection new business sales from the menu, I spoke to a chap called Jack (the call was recorded). I asked him if the fines generated are automated or subject to some form of employee review before they are issued. I also asked if the fines income is shared in anyway with the landlord. He wouldn’t answer me but just suggested I contact the business via this email address [email protected]. I will use that address to share this piece.
I was hoping to find out if any human being takes a sensible view about the appropriateness of issuing a fine for a minor indiscretion. I effectively came away with a ‘no comment’ response. If the fine is automated, the AI agent would simply follow the rules set for it. If a person signed off the fine, then I pity the individual and I’ll hope for karma.
I will share this article with Gavin Price the Sales Director via LinkedIn and see if I get a better response from him.
Ordinary people have no power against these companies, other than sharing their experiences and calling out poor corporate behaviours. My fightback is via the keyboard, my website and my social media channels.
I don’t know if Tesco is the landowner of the Ashby Fields Local Centre, it might just have a lease, but it is the most significant business and it’s negotiating power is ferocious and well known. The layby is right outside its store, right in front of its cashpoint and whilst Tesco isn’t levying the fines, it at best condones them or at worst is complicit.
For a business that trumps ‘every little helps’, I say shame on you for allowing this kind of thing to happen on your doorstep.
Arguably, the area I stopped in was originally created with visitors to the cashpoint in mind. It bothers me, but I think that locating the layby right in front of the cash point and then allowing one to be fined for stopping in it amounts to entrapment.
In these days of CSR strategies and ESG reporting, I’d hope that corporates might do better – I guess that’s just me being naïve.
I am a loyal Tesco customer and have been for years, but I will have to start spending my money somewhere else. Again, how else can I protest? This ticket will cost Tesco more than the £60 it cost me.
This post is born out of a sense of injustice, but I’ll go beyond moaning and offer a positive way to improve things.
There is a scenario where the process could have been less aggressive and even generate goodwill. What if the corporate tenants of the Ashby Fields Local Centre agreed with the landlord that One Parking Solution would only issue a warning for a first offence and that if the number plate cropped up again, there would be no leniency? If I had received a warning, I would have been grateful for it.
I did learn a lesson regardless, but not all lessons need to be so brutal!
Click on images to enlarge.
I have just received a parking fine for stopping in an area of a free car park for just over one minute. The fine issued by One Parking Solution was for getting off my motorbike in a layby area directly opposite the cashpoint at the Tesco Express store, Ashby Fields Local Centre, Wimborne Place, Daventry.
Getting off my bike, getting money out of the cashpoint, getting back on it and riding away took one minute and eight seconds – the fine was £100 (or £60 if paid within 14 days).
I have added some photos to show that it was hardly clear from the road surface that parking in that space was not allowed. A sign was up but I simply didn’t see it – my fault and my problem then. One Parking Solution was just doing the job it was contracted for.
In my defence though, it’s a free car park, I wasn’t even looking for a sign (though I did go back after the event to find it). And I would argue that no one riding up on a motorbike in a full-face crash helmet would have any chance of reading the sign without getting off of said bike … and thereby incurring a fine anyway.
I saw the red lines and avoided stopping on those. All this stated, I did break the rules, and I paid the penalty even though I think it is completely out of proportion to the offence.
I know that there are legal protections for the parking companies and case law in respect of such issues, but really!
I think the corporate behaviour (from the landowner as much as the parking company) is morally and ethically bankrupt and shouldn’t go unchallenged. To me the fine is nothing more than legalised extortion.
No law was broken, no harm was done, no inconvenience was caused for anyone. I understood that grace periods normally apply to carparks … but apparently that’s not necessarily the case when private land is involved. In this instance ‘zero tolerance’ was the reality.
The Google reviews for One Parking Solution make for grim reading, the company is reported to dismiss appeals, instruct bailiffs and take offenders to court. I therefore paid the fine, which maybe I shouldn’t have done.
It ended there from One Parking Solution’s perspective, but not from mine. I will leave my appeal to the court of public opinion; you dear reader can make your own mind up about what you think is fair and just.
I phoned One Parking Solution on the 3rd July and, after selection new business sales from the menu, I spoke to a chap called Jack (the call was recorded). I asked him if the fines generated are automated or subject to some form of employee review before they are issued. I also asked if the fines income is shared in anyway with the landlord. He wouldn’t answer me but just suggested I contact the business via this email address [email protected]. I will use that address to share this piece.
I was hoping to find out if any human being takes a sensible view about the appropriateness of issuing a fine for a minor indiscretion. I effectively came away with a ‘no comment’ response. If the fine is automated, the AI agent would simply follow the rules set for it. If a person signed off the fine, then I pity the individual and I’ll hope for karma.
I will share this article with Gavin Price the Sales Director via LinkedIn and see if I get a better response from him.
Ordinary people have no power against these companies, other than sharing their experiences and calling out poor corporate behaviours. My fightback is via the keyboard, my website and my social media channels.
I don’t know if Tesco is the landowner of the Ashby Fields Local Centre, it might just have a lease, but it is the most significant business and it’s negotiating power is ferocious and well known. The layby is right outside its store, right in front of its cashpoint and whilst Tesco isn’t levying the fines, it at best condones them or at worst is complicit.
For a business that trumps ‘every little helps’, I say shame on you for allowing this kind of thing to happen on your doorstep.
Arguably, the area I stopped in was originally created with visitors to the cashpoint in mind. It bothers me, but I think that locating the layby right in front of the cash point and then allowing one to be fined for stopping in it amounts to entrapment.
In these days of CSR strategies and ESG reporting, I’d hope that corporates might do better – I guess that’s just me being naïve.
I am a loyal Tesco customer and have been for years, but I will have to start spending my money somewhere else. Again, how else can I protest? This ticket will cost Tesco more than the £60 it cost me.
This post is born out of a sense of injustice, but I’ll go beyond moaning and offer a positive way to improve things.
There is a scenario where the process could have been less aggressive and even generate goodwill. What if the corporate tenants of the Ashby Fields Local Centre agreed with the landlord that One Parking Solution would only issue a warning for a first offence and that if the number plate cropped up again, there would be no leniency? If I had received a warning, I would have been grateful for it.
I did learn a lesson regardless, but not all lessons need to be so brutal!
Click on images to enlarge.
UPDATE 08/07/26
Here's an update to my post following on from email exchanges with Tim and James at One Parking Solution. The following text is verbatim:
From James at OPS 12:01pm 07/07/26 to me:
Good afternoon,
Thank you for your email,
The parking charge was issued as the vehicle parked in an area strictly reserved for:
Commercial delivery vehicles legitimately loading or unloading
Liveried taxi’s or private vehicles dropping off or picking up passenger(s)
This is stated on the terms & conditions of the signage on site, which also states no parking, waiting or idling is permitted at any time in this area for any duration.
As the driver parked and made use of the land, a parking charge was issued.
From Me 12:31pm 08/07/26 to James at OPS:
Hi James,
Thank you for this email. Telling me what I did wrong was of little value.
However, stating in writing that private vehicles can drop off people or pick them up gives me a challenge to your charging process. It means a vehicle which you wouldn't charge could be stopped for longer than one minute and eight seconds in the same space as one you would charge.
Easy to visualise someone being picked up, loading their shopping into their boot, getting belted in and leaving taking a couple of minutes at least. That's double standards. You have a grace period in one instance and yet not in the other.
Interesting, and more fuel for the fire.
Kind regards,
Adrian
This whole scenario is ridiculous and shouldn't be allowed to continue unchallenged. Please tell me if you disagree. I bet that the allowance for dropping off or picking up was negotiated by Tesco to stop the parents of their employees being busted for dropping the kids at work.
Here's an update to my post following on from email exchanges with Tim and James at One Parking Solution. The following text is verbatim:
From James at OPS 12:01pm 07/07/26 to me:
Good afternoon,
Thank you for your email,
The parking charge was issued as the vehicle parked in an area strictly reserved for:
Commercial delivery vehicles legitimately loading or unloading
Liveried taxi’s or private vehicles dropping off or picking up passenger(s)
This is stated on the terms & conditions of the signage on site, which also states no parking, waiting or idling is permitted at any time in this area for any duration.
As the driver parked and made use of the land, a parking charge was issued.
From Me 12:31pm 08/07/26 to James at OPS:
Hi James,
Thank you for this email. Telling me what I did wrong was of little value.
However, stating in writing that private vehicles can drop off people or pick them up gives me a challenge to your charging process. It means a vehicle which you wouldn't charge could be stopped for longer than one minute and eight seconds in the same space as one you would charge.
Easy to visualise someone being picked up, loading their shopping into their boot, getting belted in and leaving taking a couple of minutes at least. That's double standards. You have a grace period in one instance and yet not in the other.
Interesting, and more fuel for the fire.
Kind regards,
Adrian
This whole scenario is ridiculous and shouldn't be allowed to continue unchallenged. Please tell me if you disagree. I bet that the allowance for dropping off or picking up was negotiated by Tesco to stop the parents of their employees being busted for dropping the kids at work.
UPDATE 04/04/26
My post has been picked up by the Northampton Chronicle - https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/people/i-was-there-for-68-seconds-motorcyclists-anger-after-ps100-parking-charge-near-store-8836831
My post has been picked up by the Northampton Chronicle - https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/people/i-was-there-for-68-seconds-motorcyclists-anger-after-ps100-parking-charge-near-store-8836831
UPDATE 05/08/26
Having written to Tesco, here's the correspondence so far:
Case ID 5957020 [#992775] JWL
Executive_Response, CS_Emails
8:30 AM (11 minutes ago)
to me
Hello Adrian,
Thank you for your email.
I apologise for the delay in responding to your correspondence.
Having reviewed your concerns, I can confirm that the car park you refer to is not owned or managed by Tesco. As such, Tesco is not responsible for the parking arrangements, enforcement activity, or the issuance of Parking Charge Notices at this location.
I note the information you have shared from both the blog article and the subsequent media coverage. However, as the car park is operated independently of Tesco, I am unable to comment on the circumstances of individual Parking Charge Notices or the policies applied by the landowner and their parking management provider.
If you wish to challenge the arrangements in place or appeal any Parking Charge Notice, this would need to be raised directly with the organisation responsible for managing the site or issuing the Parking Charge Notice.
John
Customer Service Specialist
Not much surpise, the response was basically 'not our problem', a typical corporate type response. My reply:
Adrian Baldwin
8:39 AM (3 minutes ago)
to CS_Emails
Hi John,
Thank you for coming back to me and clarifying that the carpark doesn't belong to Tesco.
As you know that this problem is going on right outside the cashpoint at your Ashby Fields store, is Tesco's position that you support it? Are you comfortable that your customers get abused in this way?
I have always been a card carrying, flag waving, advocate of Tesco - the best of British brands in my opinion. I even worked for the company for a little while. I am hugely disappointed that you appear to be condoning extortion on your own doorstep. So much for every little helps.
You should do something about it; no doubt Tesco has a huge sway with the landowner. What is going on is simply wrong - and you are part of it!
Kind regards,
Adrian
Executive_Response, CS_Emails
8:55 AM (11 minutes ago)
to me
Hello Adrian,
Thanks for your email.
As I explained previously, the car park is neither owned nor managed by Tesco. Any parking terms and conditions, and any enforcement of those terms, are matters for the landowner and their appointed parking operator.
I appreciate that you disagree with the arrangements in place. If you wish to challenge them or raise concerns regarding their operation, this would need to be taken up directly with the owner of the car park.
As Tesco is not responsible for the management of the site, I am unable to comment further on the matter.
John
Customer Service Specialist
On behalf of the Executive’s Office
My response:
Adrian Baldwin
9:05 AM (1 minute ago)
to CS_Emails
Hi John,
A typical corporate type "not our problem" response. Whilst I expected it ... it's not right; Tesco has power with the landlord and you are choosing not to exercise it.
Have you looked at the markings in the bay in question? Do you think that they are as clear as they could be?
My suggestion, get your contractual/legal team to work with the landlord to have the red lines painted through the bay, or 'no stopping' painted into it. You can stop this kind of legalised extortion - why would you choose not to?
Kind regards,
Adrian
Having written to Tesco, here's the correspondence so far:
Case ID 5957020 [#992775] JWL
Executive_Response, CS_Emails
8:30 AM (11 minutes ago)
to me
Hello Adrian,
Thank you for your email.
I apologise for the delay in responding to your correspondence.
Having reviewed your concerns, I can confirm that the car park you refer to is not owned or managed by Tesco. As such, Tesco is not responsible for the parking arrangements, enforcement activity, or the issuance of Parking Charge Notices at this location.
I note the information you have shared from both the blog article and the subsequent media coverage. However, as the car park is operated independently of Tesco, I am unable to comment on the circumstances of individual Parking Charge Notices or the policies applied by the landowner and their parking management provider.
If you wish to challenge the arrangements in place or appeal any Parking Charge Notice, this would need to be raised directly with the organisation responsible for managing the site or issuing the Parking Charge Notice.
John
Customer Service Specialist
Not much surpise, the response was basically 'not our problem', a typical corporate type response. My reply:
Adrian Baldwin
8:39 AM (3 minutes ago)
to CS_Emails
Hi John,
Thank you for coming back to me and clarifying that the carpark doesn't belong to Tesco.
As you know that this problem is going on right outside the cashpoint at your Ashby Fields store, is Tesco's position that you support it? Are you comfortable that your customers get abused in this way?
I have always been a card carrying, flag waving, advocate of Tesco - the best of British brands in my opinion. I even worked for the company for a little while. I am hugely disappointed that you appear to be condoning extortion on your own doorstep. So much for every little helps.
You should do something about it; no doubt Tesco has a huge sway with the landowner. What is going on is simply wrong - and you are part of it!
Kind regards,
Adrian
Executive_Response, CS_Emails
8:55 AM (11 minutes ago)
to me
Hello Adrian,
Thanks for your email.
As I explained previously, the car park is neither owned nor managed by Tesco. Any parking terms and conditions, and any enforcement of those terms, are matters for the landowner and their appointed parking operator.
I appreciate that you disagree with the arrangements in place. If you wish to challenge them or raise concerns regarding their operation, this would need to be taken up directly with the owner of the car park.
As Tesco is not responsible for the management of the site, I am unable to comment further on the matter.
John
Customer Service Specialist
On behalf of the Executive’s Office
My response:
Adrian Baldwin
9:05 AM (1 minute ago)
to CS_Emails
Hi John,
A typical corporate type "not our problem" response. Whilst I expected it ... it's not right; Tesco has power with the landlord and you are choosing not to exercise it.
Have you looked at the markings in the bay in question? Do you think that they are as clear as they could be?
My suggestion, get your contractual/legal team to work with the landlord to have the red lines painted through the bay, or 'no stopping' painted into it. You can stop this kind of legalised extortion - why would you choose not to?
Kind regards,
Adrian
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