After getting into my car after shopping in Sainsbury’s Beaconsfield some weeks ago, I could not start the car and had to call for my breakdown service for assistance which duly arrived and the problem sorted out, I went home.

A few days later, a parking charge notice arrived and a fine of £70 or £140 if paid within 28 days of the date issued. I wrote a letter explaining why I had overstayed and asked if they would cancel the fine to no avail, I did not hear from them again.

I phoned Sainsbury’s and spoke to an undermanager who told me that the car park was nothing to do with Sainsbury’s and they could not help.

When I said that it was the one nearest the shop entrance and we more or less had to use it, and surely Sainsbury’s ought to be interested in how we, the customers, are being treated, the young man just repeated that they were not responsible. He just was not interested in what I had to say.

I feel very let down by Sainsbury’s and hope that my old car doesn’t break down again in the euro car park just outside their entrance.

Just to make the fine more painful, there was £2.50 added to the fine, making it £42.50 which is quite a chunk out of my widow’s pension for that week.

Name and address withheld