IMPORTANT: Please make sure your posts do not contain any personally identifiable information (both your own and that of others). When uploading images, please take care that you have redacted all personal information including number plates, reference numbers and QR codes (which may reveal vehicle information when scanned).
We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Civil parking charge notice- lidl athena

Options
jambala1
jambala1 Posts: 2 Newbie
in Parking tickets, fines & parking
Hi, yesterday i received a Civil parking charge notice from Athena for Lidl in Mitcham. It states i exceeded the free parking duration of 1 hr and has calculated my duration of stay as 1hr 34mins & has photos of my car entering and exiting. Tbh i was shopping in Lidl, no idea i spent that long there but i was shopping slowly as i have a toddler, when i came back to car sat in there for a bit feeding todddler, getting car warmed up etc. Shocked to get a fine now.

I've seen loads of stuff on internet about these Lidl fines, but just thought i'd check if theres any new changes? Basically i was worried and going to pay up the £45 straight away. Am now thinking what are my options; shall i appeal? Shall i just pay? Shall i ignore? what if i'm unlucky and they take me to court? what if its on my credit history? what if i crumble after i get letters from debt collectors?? Please help!:(:mad:
«13

Comments

  • Stroma
    Stroma Posts: 7,971 Forumite
    Uniform Washer
    Just ignore the scammers, if its your car there is no problem. Why crumble with debt collectors letters though, they are just powerless cretins who have no legal power to collect such debts! And Athena are pathetic they don't do court so its impossible to effect your credit history.
    When posting a parking issue on MSE do not reveal any information that may enable PPCs to identify you. They DO monitor the forum.
    We don't need the following to help you.
    Name, Address, PCN Number, Exact Date Of Incident, Date On Invoice, Reg Number, Vehicle Picture, The Time You Entered & Left Car Park, Or The Amount of Time You Overstayed.
    :beer: Anti Enforcement Hobbyist Member :beer:
  • timbo58
    timbo58 Posts: 1,164 Forumite
    DO NOT PAY IT.
    Give me £45 instead and I'll write you a few threatening letters if that's what you want?

    Its a parking charge notice which is effectively an 'invitation to pay this company your money'.
    If you don't want to pay out: DON'T!

    It's not enforceable in law and not worth the paper its written on.
    Do not contact them, do not reply to letters, they'll soon give up.
    Unless specifically stated all posts by me are my own considered opinion.
    If you don't like my opinion feel free to respond with your own.
  • Sir_Roger_deLodger
    Sir_Roger_deLodger Posts: 992 Forumite
    jambala1 wrote: »

    I've seen loads of stuff on internet about these Lidl fines,
    It's not a fine, its a speculative invoice.
    but just thought i'd check if theres any new changes? Basically i was worried and going to pay up the £45 straight away. Don't even think about it.
    Am now thinking what are my options; shall i appeal? No. Shall i just pay? Never. Shall i ignore? Yes. what if i'm unlucky and they take me to court? You won't be. what if its on my credit history? Impossible. what if i crumble after i get letters from debt collectors?? Please help!:(:mad:

    Why should you "crumble"? Debt collectors are not bailiffs and have no power whatsoever. Ignore Athena and their stupid letters.
  • Coupon-mad
    Coupon-mad Posts: 151,785 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    jambala1 wrote: »
    Hi, yesterday i received a Civil parking charge notice from Athena for Lidl in Mitcham. It states i exceeded the free parking duration of 1 hr and has calculated my duration of stay as 1hr 34mins & has photos of my car entering and exiting. Tbh i was shopping in Lidl, no idea i spent that long there but i was shopping slowly as i have a toddler, when i came back to car sat in there for a bit feeding todddler, getting car warmed up etc. Shocked to get a fine now.

    I've seen loads of stuff on internet about these Lidl fines, but just thought i'd check if theres any new changes? Basically i was worried and going to pay up the £45 straight away. Am now thinking what are my options; shall i appeal? Shall i just pay? Shall i ignore? what if i'm unlucky and they take me to court? what if its on my credit history? what if i crumble after i get letters from debt collectors?? Please help!:(:mad:



    What if you crumbled and paid a Nigerian phishing emailer?!! Same scam only by snail mail! :rotfl:

    Come on, this is only poxy Athena and their letters are well known & easily ignored or shredded into hamster bedding. See a preview of the typical letters here:

    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2329119

    It's not hard to ignore PPCs and no, they DO NOT affect your credit rating any more than a phishing emailer can. See this summary by pepipoo forums (it's dated 2007 but is still a true summary of the position):

    http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showtopic=24362

    And what about searching this parking forum for the word 'Athena' which finds LOADS of threads. Here's a few from recently but we have had hundreds over the years, no-one ever gets taken to Court of course as it's just a mail SCAM and it's not a fine at all:

    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4342197

    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4317631

    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4244585

    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4170265

    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4130245

    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3348958

    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3970099

    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3963877

    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3662479

    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3694141

    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3669415

    Happy reading! Get the general picture? :rotfl:
    PRIVATE 'PCN'? DON'T PAY BUT DON'T IGNORE IT (except N.Ireland).
    CLICK at the top or bottom of any page where it says:
     Home»Motoring»Parking Tickets Fines & Parking - read the NEWBIES THREAD
  • Guys_Dad
    Guys_Dad Posts: 11,025 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Coupon-mad wrote: »
    What if you crumbled and paid a Nigerian phishing emailer?!! Same scam only by snail mail! ......................

    Come on, this is only poxy Athena and their letters are well known & easily ignored or shredded into hamster bedding. See a preview of the typical letters here:.................

    Happy reading! Get the general picture? :rotfl:

    I admire your patience on here. :beer:
  • Coupon-mad
    Coupon-mad Posts: 151,785 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I work in a school so patience and teaching stuff again and again is second nature! :)
    PRIVATE 'PCN'? DON'T PAY BUT DON'T IGNORE IT (except N.Ireland).
    CLICK at the top or bottom of any page where it says:
     Home»Motoring»Parking Tickets Fines & Parking - read the NEWBIES THREAD
  • jambala1
    jambala1 Posts: 2 Newbie
    Thanks for advice everyone, given me the confidence to make a stand, I'm going to ignore!
  • nilrem_2
    nilrem_2 Posts: 2,188 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    jambala1 wrote: »
    Thanks for advice everyone, given me the confidence to make a stand, I'm going to ignore!
    IMHO I think you should contact Lidl and ask them why they 'employ' people to police their car parks who do their very best to alienate their customers.

    Make them aware that you find it very strange that they persecute people who are spending money in their store and suggest you will shop elsewhere in future and will advise your friends to do likewise.
  • jules29_2
    jules29_2 Posts: 3 Newbie
    Hi, i'm in a similar position, i received a charge notice for parking at Dunelm for 2hr 50 mins today.it happened on the 1st December, similar story pay £45 now or £75 if not paid by 28th! There is a photo of car arriving and leaving the car park, can't see the driver. After reading the posts i'm not sure now if to pay it? I'm in scotland not sure if the law is different here?
    The name of the company is Total Parking Solutions Ltd
    Would be gratefull for any advice
  • Stroma
    Stroma Posts: 7,971 Forumite
    Uniform Washer
    Why are you not sure ? Your story is no different to this one or 10s of thousands others on here. If you own the car just ignore, total parking disasters don't do court ever! And being in Scotland makes no difference ignore is the advice.
    When posting a parking issue on MSE do not reveal any information that may enable PPCs to identify you. They DO monitor the forum.
    We don't need the following to help you.
    Name, Address, PCN Number, Exact Date Of Incident, Date On Invoice, Reg Number, Vehicle Picture, The Time You Entered & Left Car Park, Or The Amount of Time You Overstayed.
    :beer: Anti Enforcement Hobbyist Member :beer:
This discussion has been closed.
★ ★ ★ Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 351K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.6K Spending & Discounts
  • 244K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 598.9K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.9K Life & Family
  • 257.3K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.
Update Your Picture