Shopper wrongly fined $85 after visiting supermarket twice in one day

Foodstuffs has apologised after a loyal Pak’nSave customer of 30 years was wrongly fined and put through “untold stress” for parking at her local supermarket twice in one day. 

The 61-year-old Auckland woman, who did not want to be named, told the Herald she and her husband visited Pak’nSave Papakura in Takanini on August 21 on two separate occasions. 

However, she later received a parking breach notice with an $85 fine that claimed she had parked at the supermarket for seven hours. 

She said the breach notice showed images of her car entering the carpark at 9.12am and leaving at 4.46pm, which was “ridiculous” because she had visited the supermarket twice that day. 

“They’re secretly filming our cars and then billing us $85 for something that we didn’t actually do. 

“It’s unbelievable that Pak’nSave would do this to loyal customers, especially shopping for over 30 years. 

“Our daughter is 33 and she was a toddler when I put her inside the Pak’nSave supermarket trolley when I used to push her around. That’s how long we’ve been loyal to that supermarket.” 

After refusing to pay the fine, she called the Pak’nSave Papakura branch several times to explain her case, but claims “they kept avoiding it” and coming up with excuses. 

She said it was only after she revealed she had spoken to the Herald about her issue that the supermarket helped remove her fine. 

“After that they started being really nice.” 

Foodstuffs, which owns Pak’nSave, said the matter was resolved “once the circumstances were reviewed” and apologised “for any stress it has caused”. 

“Each Foodstuffs store is independently owned and operated, and decisions about how parking is managed are made at a local level,” a Foodstuffs spokesperson told the Herald. 

“Some stores, such as Pak’nSave Papakura, choose to use third-party providers to help monitor time limits. It’s important to us that the system is fair and that genuine customers are not disadvantaged.” 

Foodstuffs advised customers who believe they have received an “incorrect or unfair” parking notice to follow the online appeals process on the ticket or “speak directly with the in-store team who can work with the parking provider to review the case”. 

“In this case, after speaking with the customer over the phone and reviewing the details, a Pak’nSave Papakura team member confirmed they had visited the store twice on the same day and arranged for the parking notice to be cancelled. The customer was then contacted and advised that the notice had been withdrawn. 

“We understand this situation has been frustrating for the customer, and we’re sorry for any stress it has caused. We’re pleased the matter was able to be resolved once the circumstances were reviewed.” 

The woman said the manager that she spoke to didn’t admit to any wrongdoing and even warned her to “not park there again for that length of time” in the future. 

“It sounded like they’re still thinking I parked there for seven hours, which is ridiculous. But anyway, I was just pleased that they cancelled the notice.” 

She said she has been “put off” shopping at Pak’nSave and has started going to the Woolworths down the road. 

“How many other customers have had this happen and they ended up paying this money for something they didn’t actually do and didn’t take it any further? 

“It’s just beyond belief with the high cost of living. We don’t need this added stress.”