Lidl parking fine - help!

[buddug]

Hi. I've just received a civil parking fine from Athena, who patrol Lidl car parks. I overstayed my welcome. Can I just ignore it, or will they eventually send 'bay leaves' round?

[LadyDeliah]

They have to take you to county court first because it's a private civil matter but they try to make out it'a more serious.

[giggirl]

I wouldn't pay it. I don't think there is much they can do. This might help:

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/private-parking-tickets

[buddug]

Should I just ignore it then?

[pebbles]

A friend of mine got one at Sainsbury's. She ignored it. Had a few threatening letters but then they left her alone. I think they assume people will back down after threatening letter. Good luck :)

[buddug]

Thanks for that Pebbles (and everyone else). It's in the bin!

[wongo]

Honest John (Daily Telegraph Motor Writer)'s advice:

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=90328

[srisky]

Ignore. As far as I know, the only fines (parking wise) that you are legally obliged to pay are those issued by the council & TFL. They should have Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) on the letter. Often private companies use the phrase 'Parking Charge Notice' and others that also abbreviate to PCN to confuse you. You may receive letters threatening the bailiffs and court but these are not usually followed through, as it costs more them more than the cost of the fine.

[buddug]

Thanks everyone. I was just worried that if I ignored, the bay leaves would come. Seems like it never gets to that. Urgh, what scumbags these companies are, eh?

[bebe]

I've appeled once and never heard back from them...I personally don't like receiving threatening letters,so worth trying to sort it out...

[woodrot]

ive had a few. dont worry.

[Bluerevolution]

There are NO legal embellishments on private property ie not on her majesties highway. They can put a "fine" ticket on your car but there is zero legal recourse apart from civil court for trespass-not going to happen !

[LadyDeliah]

I think there is also a contract element because you are deemed to have accepted their terms if you pass the sign displaying them and continue.

Still have no authority to fine you though.

[woodrot]

no punitive sanction in a case like this innit- what is their loss ( fuck all ). anyway , they are hassling the resgistered keeper - this is not always the driver- and human rights law innit, you are under no obliation to spill the beans as to who was driving.

wait til they send a County Court summons- its bogus and not acutally stamped, but spooks many people.

these people are vermin- string it out as long as you can- they rely on peoples ignorance of teh law and general obedience to all things official like.

[ianr]

I've read of Lidl agreeing to or arranging cancellation of the charge on submission of evidence that you were shopping there. Here's one instance that appears to have been successful:

"I've just spoken to Lidl customer services by phone, who told me to email Athena with a redacted scan of my bank statement showing Lidl transactions and claimed that they would drop the charge immediately, as Lidl are not in the habit of penalising loyal customers, even if they don't have a receipt for the date of the "offence"." http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showtopic=83429

One posting I read even mentioned giving your car number to the Lidl check-out person at the time of shopping, for them to enter in their system there and then to prevent any action. I walk or cycle there, so haven't checked how accurate that advice is.

I had a look at the sign this afternoon, by the way. One and a half hours free, and any profits go to an appointed charity, which I take to mean that Lidl don't make any money out of it, and are doing it just to protect their business -- all day free parking for anyone on their land would presumably result in less business for them.

[buddug]

Thanks for all your replies! I feel quite relieved!

[PeckhamRose]

You must get the wording right. My husband borrowed my bike and parked it in B&Q or somewhere, and it was just over the line (so that another car could have parked in the space) he was being considerate. Anyway I had the letter asking me if I was riding the bike and if not me who was it, and I just said it wasn't me. Then sought advice from Consumer Direct or someone on exactly how to word my written reply to further bullying and then a bailiff, and the bailiff then wrote and said case closed, sort of thing.

[Chick]

Be careful, the law changed last October and these are now enforceable.

[LadyDeliah]

I must have missed that. Do you know which specific bit of legislation it was that changed this?

[Chick]

It went quietly through last October. It's now illegal to clamp a car on private property but as a concession they made the tickets enforceable.

[woodrot]

chick is indeed correct on this, it was slipped though last year - out go the naughty clampers, in come the semi legal parking charge- this was a nasty little proviso that was the result of lobbying and backhanders from the parasitic private parking industry. There are ways around it but you need to keep your wits about you and do it properly to have a decent chance of success. It all hinges on contract law( this isnt a fine however it is presented)

http://www.parkingcowboys.co.uk/popla/

have a read and see how it feels.

[edcam]

Or you could abide by parking rules on private land as well as public and avoid any fines.

[PeckhamRose]

edcam that is futile little nasty little comment. Life is about living and doing one's best, despite the rules telling us what to do, how to do it, where to do it, telling us how to carry on a profession we've already spent years training and are now qualified to do, and despite the rules designed to raise funds by forcing us in to little spaces and little mind spaces. Meh!

[edcam]

PeckhamRose Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> edcam that is futile little nasty little comment.

> Life is about living and doing one's best, despite

> the rules telling us what to do, how to do it,

> where to do it, telling us how to carry on a

> profession we've already spent years training and

> are now qualified to do, and despite the rules

> designed to raise funds by forcing us in to little

> spaces and little mind spaces. Meh!

It is neither futile nor nasty, don't be ridiculous. Of course I think these companies take the p*ss but the best way to avoid unreasonable fines is to avoid incurring them. Simple.

[Ruskin]

We got a puncture in Lidl a few years ago. The wheel wouldn't come loose so I had to call out our breakdown service. When I eventually got the car off their property their camera picked us up exiting 90-minutes after their time limit. It took days of copying receipts for our shopping plus proof of the call-out to get the charge dropped and I have to say they were very thorough and persistent so good luck if you want to take them on.