Just to finish off this story, I wrote to Sir Terry Leahy, the Chief Executive of Tesco, and had a nice personal reply saying the action had been stopped and he added an apology. He didn't say anything about their use of Central Ticketing though!

Hi all, Just an update on my story above. I duly received a letter from Central Parking dated 10/12/09 stating 'Reason for Issue: No Ticket' and 'Time of Issue: 1:51pm' - remember I did have a ticket which expired at 1:49. It stated that the charge may now increase to £135 plus admin costs. I then received a letter from Roxburghe DCA dated 21/01/10 stating that £167 is now due. Lastly, a letter from Graham White, Solicitors, threatening County Court action with total additional costs of £207.25. Should I carry on ignoring this stuff or should I now seek legal advice? Thanks Taffchap.

I went shopping to Tesco in Ludlow on 07/11 and paid 50p to park in their car park. It was 11.49 and I did my shopping in Tesco and some other shops. I returned at 13.53 to find the dreaded yellow attachment to my car. My ticket had been placed on the dash but the high winds that day must have flipped it over via the air vent for the windscreen. The 'ticket' stated the reason as 'No Ticket' and was timed at 13.51. While examining this 'parking fine' the 'warden' approached and when I showed him the ticket which he had stated I didn't have, he informed me that it had expired by 2 minutes and I was 'fined' £70 but if I paid within two weeks it would be reduced to £40! As the amount seemed punitive and his attitude very tentative, I smelled a rat and luckily have found this website and all your comments - thank you. I am extremely disappointed with Tesco for employing these b.......ds and am seriously considering never using them again. As for their 'fine' they can stick this 'ticket' where the sun doesn't shine. By the way, my copy of the 'Adminstration of Justice Act 1970' doesn't seem to make any references to anything they can do to me, but is quite heavy on what they cannot do to harrass me into paying-up!!