Random Acts of Kindness

[Jcloughie]

I am not known for making random acts of kindness, (at least not to strangers). My family takes up all my finances. But yesterday I went to Dobbies. My wife had gone to town for lunch with friends, so I thought I would treat myself to breakfast. But I just missed it. So I went to the coffee shop as I had free coffee on my card. These needed using up as it was the last day of the month. The server reminded me that I still had one coffee to use, I asked her to give it to the two old ladies who had joined the queue behind me.

After being served one lady came to thank me. She said she had just managed to get her friend out who had been widowed before Christmas. She said it had really made her day.

It was just a cup of coffee which was surplus to requirements.

I hope she felt better, it made my day too.

John

 

[Mr Plodd]

Lovely gesture, good on ya!

 

[otherclive]

I am not known for making random acts of kindness, (at least not to strangers). My family takes up all my finances. But yesterday I went to Dobbies. My wife had gone to town for lunch with friends, so I thought I would treat myself to breakfast. But I just missed it. So I went to the coffee shop as I had free coffee on my card. These needed using up as it was the last day of the month. The server reminded me that I still had one coffee to use, I asked her to give it to the two old ladies who had joined the queue behind me.

After being served one lady came to thank me. She said she had just managed to get her friend out who had been widowed before Christmas. She said it had really made her day.

It was just a cup of coffee which was surplus to requirements.

I hope she felt better, it made my day too.

John

Our daughter regularly buys a hot drink for a homeless lady who sleeps on the town's streets, and then she stays and chats with her. But she has been singularly unsuccessful in trying to persuade her to seek help for hostel accommodation or a health check up. but the Costas are appreciated.

 

[Sam Vimes]

I've been in the other end of these acts and it's an amazing feeling.

Twice in car parks as it happens. Once we were trying to figure out how to pay and some paramedics came past and gave us their ticket as they were leaving - I suppose that shouldn't have really done that - and they said an Act of Random Kindness, which was the first time I'd heard that.

Second time a car park we'd used many times had introduced a fee and we had no cash with us. A guy walking past guessed our dilemma and paid for us.

I'm now waiting for a chance to do something for someone.

 

[Beardy]

Twice in car parks as it happens. Once we were trying to figure out how to pay and some paramedics came past and gave us their ticket as they were leaving - I suppose that shouldn't have really done that

I remember this being common practice with pay and display car parks. As far as I'm concerned if I've paid for the use of a parking space for 3 hours and only used it for 1.5 hours I'm doing nothing wrong by giving what I've paid for to someone else. Now a days most car parks are pay on exit or have number plate recognition so it doesn't or can't happen.

 

[JTQ]

Having to enter the car's registration, that happens around here puts a pay to that form of kindness, even though as said the time for "renting" the slot was paid for. Car park owner exploiting any early leaving for its sole benefit.

 

[Buckman]

A glitch with the ANPR system is that they cannot read that there is a BB in the vehicle and made even worse if you leave the car park then enter at a later time the same day.

OH and daughter went shopping at a local mall and the BB was displayed. However as OH was a bit slow walking around to the different shops plus having lunch and they over stayed the 2hrs and 30 minute grace by about 20 minutes and got a £60 invoice for overstaying which daughter paid promptly. Most car parks allow 3 hours for a blue badge.

There was no kindness or sympathy from the operator of the car park when informed of the BB after the invoice had been paid!

 

[Hutch]

When using the Blue Badge, you have to be very wary of where you park, Private car parks have their own rules and do not automatically give free parking.

 

[JTQ]

A glitch with the ANPR system is that they cannot read that there is a BB in the vehicle and made even worse if you leave the car park then enter at a later time the same day.

Its in the name " Automatic Number Plate Recognition".
Blue badges, are not referred to in the UK's vehicle registration plates. Maybe a case they should be, or the technology look that possibility up, but then there would be a whole raft of complications about if the holder was in the vehicle, or more importantly not.

 

[otherclive]

Its in the name " Automatic Number Plate Recognition".
Blue badges, are not referred to in the UK's vehicle registration plates. Maybe a case they should be, or the technology look that possibility up, but then there would be a whole raft of complications about if the holder was in the vehicle, or more importantly not.

Or the holder could be in a friends or relatives vehicle.

 

[JTQ]

Not having a Blue Badge so fully understanding the system, are they linked to the vehicle and holder, or is the holder able to use it in any vehicle they drive or are taken?
If the latter, there can be no chance an ANPR system can work out there is a holder onboard.

 

[RogerL]

A glitch with the ANPR system is that they cannot read that there is a BB in the vehicle and made even worse if you leave the car park then enter at a later time the same day.

OH and daughter went shopping at a local mall and the BB was displayed. However as OH was a bit slow walking around to the different shops plus having lunch and they over stayed the 2hrs and 30 minute grace by about 20 minutes and got a £60 invoice for overstaying which daughter paid promptly. Most car parks allow 3 hours for a blue badge.

There was no kindness or sympathy from the operator of the car park when informed of the BB after the invoice had been paid!

My experience is that those car parks which don't offer free parking for Blue Badge users either charge the full amount or just add 30 minutes onto the time limit - most motorway service areas apply the same 2-hour limit to Blue Badge holders as everyone else.

 

[Buckman]

My experience is that those car parks which don't offer free parking for Blue Badge users either charge the full amount or just add 30 minutes onto the time limit - most motorway service areas apply the same 2-hour limit to Blue Badge holders as everyone else.

Apologies I did not make it clear. The car park is free for 2 1/2 hours and after that you have to pay. I have been to the same car park on a regular basis, but cannot recall seeing any paypoint, but then I never looked as always left within an hours. It is an out of town mall on the other side of the River Severn from the main town.

 

[Jcloughie]

Not having a Blue Badge so fully understanding the system, are they linked to the vehicle and holder, or is the holder able to use it in any vehicle they drive or are taken?
If the latter, there can be no chance an ANPR system can work out there is a holder onboard.

The badge goes with the holder so can be transferred to any vehicle they are traveling in.

John

 

[RogerL]

The badge goes with the holder so can be transferred to any vehicle they are traveling in.

John

In general yes, but Blue Badges are also issued for specific vehicles, eg minibuses used by disability groups

 

[Hutch]

Apologies I did not make it clear. The car park is free for 2 1/2 hours and after that you have to pay. I have been to the same car park on a regular basis, but cannot recall seeing any paypoint, but then I never looked as always left within an hours. It is an out of town mall on the other side of the River Severn from the main town.

In that case, unfortunately the extra charge is down to yourself, for going over the parking time limit.
I got stung by Tesco in Huntingdon for not registering. Hands up, my fault . Read the signage.

 

[Hutch]

The badge goes with the holder so can be transferred to any vehicle they are traveling in.

John

My wife's BB is registered to my car and also my son's car for TfL, Transport for London, so either car gets the BB Benifits, as long as she is in it, Nothing to say it has to be displayed whilst driving.
Always works for us..
Free Parking when attending The House of Lords to collect my £345 per day rip off money. ( I wish)

 

[Beachball]

The badge goes with the holder so can be transferred to any vehicle they are traveling in.

John

When my new car went in for a repair i took my blue badge with me so i could use it with the courtesy car that was provided and park at a supermarket and a bank .

 

[Buckman]

In that case, unfortunately the extra charge is down to yourself, for going over the parking time limit.
I got stung by Tesco in Huntingdon for not registering. Hands up, my fault . Read the signage.

Yes it was their fault for going over the 2 1/2 hours but it was not a ticket it was an invoice asking for some money.

It was the daughter who received the invoice through the post and it was due to OH having difficulty with walking any distance. There are three large supermarket type shops in the mall i.e. Range, Aldi and Iceland plus the tea room.

 

[RogerL]

Yes it was their fault for going over the 2 1/2 hours but it was not a ticket it was an invoice asking for some money.

It was the daughter who received the invoice through the post and it was due to OH having difficulty with walking any distance. There are three large supermarket type shops in the mall i.e. Range, Aldi and Iceland plus the tea room.

It's always worth appealing the ticket/invoice in such circumstances - no guarantee you'd win though - more likely with a local authority than a parking company - over several decades I've twice forgotten to display my Blue Badge and got a ticket each time but had it withdrawn on appeal.

 

[Buckman]

It's always worth appealing the ticket/invoice in such circumstances - no guarantee you'd win though - more likely with a local authority than a parking company - over several decades I've twice forgotten to display my Blue Badge and got a ticket each time but had it withdrawn on appeal.

Coming from South Africa where parking in malls is not restricted, she never knew about time limits, the need to read signs etc and assumed that mall car parks were the same. When she received the invoice she thought it was an official ticket and paid promptly.

Daughter mentioned the incident to OH and was then made aware of signage etc. and private pirates parking rules and that it is not an official ticket. We gave her an education on the difference between the PPC invoice and an official ticket.