Parking ticket

[zaraband]

I was parked in Lidl, Peckham whilst I went to a meeting.... this went on longer than I had anticipated and even tho I had paid and put my ticket in the car I was ten minutes late retrieving it. I have received a CIVIL parking charge notice of ?45/?90 with a threat that if I don't pay up I will be handed over to a debt collection agency. Is this legal? The company call themselves Athena ANPR Ltd. Does anyone know the rules about things like this???

[Mgdoble]

I would not pay it, its not a ticket from the council which has legal force. Its a private company claiming breach of contract and they would have to take you to court to prove it. I think the standard advice is to write to them with a cheque for a tenner to cover their admin costs and leave it at that, though I wouldnt even go that far. I have had similar fines in the past, due to minor breaches, eg. wheel over a line, and it is not pursued.

A handy link explaining more:

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

[stringvest]

Lidl have a managed car park on private ground - so technically I think they are entitled to give tickets if you have overstayed . Watchdog reported this week on people going for MacDonalds stayed 10 mins over the allowed parking of an hour and got tickets.

Martin Lewis "If you get an unfair ticket in a private car park, don't automatically pay it. These supposed 'fines' handed out are merely invoices, often unenforceable, and it's a Wild West out there - many private parking firms are frankly cowboys"

Don't know who decides what UNFAIR is !!!

[Alan Medic]

Since when do you need a ticket to park at Lidl?

[Blah Blah]

Yeah I've never needed a ticket to park in Lidl in Peckham. Maybe it's a two hour parking rule or something? Anyway, I wouldn't pay it. It's not enforceable in the same way that council parking tickets are.

[Alan Medic]

It's a 1.5 hours rule.I think the OP is confused about where s/he parked.

[bodsier]

I believe the moneysaving expert advise has now changed.someone recently took a similar case to court and lost orovided the charge is reasonable. ?90 is considered 'reasonable in the eyes of the law' . Is just a case of whether the company would be willing to pursue charges, and that's a question of discretion.

[cella]

The car park is for customers who are shopping in LIDL so it's not an NCP.

[Alan Medic]

I don't think anyone suggested it was an NCP car park. I have used it to go elsewhere in Peckam and/or shop in Lidl. I imagine I am not alone in doing this and if I don't stay more than 1.5 hours I won't get a ticket of any sort.

[cella]

The OP said s/he used the car park while at a meeting so wasn't shopping. Don't think LIDL want that as it may deprive actual customers of parking space at busy times. S/he returned late and received a fine. Not paying this or an appeal may work but people always seemed a bit outraged on here when they are at fault.

[Blah Blah]

I wouldn't say the OP is outraged Cella. Seems like a simple request for advice as to whether it should be paid or not, that's all.

[Alan Medic]

I'm still curious as to where the OP actually parked as it can't have been Lidl.

[DulwichFox]

Doing a quick Google it would seem the OP is not alone.

There are Dozens+ of examples on several Forums up and down the country of people being fined

for over stays in Lidl car parks. One was a disabled driver !

Also..

Lidl has come under fire for offering a ?ten-minute free stay? parking policy which fines visitors ?90 if they stay a second over the limit.

A branch of the budget supermarket in Kent has installed the system in its camera-controlled car park to sting those who do not buy anything at the store.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2711396/Would-risk-Lidl-introduces-free-parking-trial-10-MINUTE-limit-incurs-90-penalty.html

So it would seem their parking policy is 'Complex' especially if you do not buy anything

DulwichFox

[JohnL]

A work colleague of mine got a fine for overstaying our pool car at Peckham Lidl

They sent the boss a photo too - and it was most certainly him.

Banged to rights he paid :)

['bout now]

Alan Medic Wrote:

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

> I'm still curious as to where the OP actually

> parked as it can't have been Lidl.

Slow day?

[Alan Medic]

No. I'm just interested in things like this a lot.

[Blah Blah]

But that car park also serves cash converters and another store (superdiscount?). I've never seen wardens there though so not sure how they enforce the overstay and I've never seen it full either, except at Christmas.

[DulwichFox]

A branch of the budget supermarket in Kent has installed the system in its camera-controlled car park to sting those who do not buy anything at the store.

This may be how the OP got a ticket if they did not enter Lidl to make a purchase.

I think they MAY operate the same system in Catford.

Foxy

[Alan Medic]

You mean there is a system which covers all of the car park all of the time and manages to take reg numbers too? Wherever the OP was it wasn't in Lidl car park as you don't have the option of buying a ticket to park there. My guess is that overstays in Lidl are clocked by the camera showing when cars entered and when they leave.

[cyberplanes]

Mmmmm This might make any standard appeal to such fines less likely to succeed

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cars/article-3303189/Parking-ticket-disappointment-UK-motorists-Supreme-Court-rejects-chip-shop-owner-s-85-appeal.html

[intexasatthe moment]

I'm also wondering where OP parked .Peckham Lidl don't have ticketed parking . Maybe Ophir Rd ?