Lidl - Athena ticket. Photo?

Velveteen_2

Hi guys, I have done a search on this site but I couldn't find out exactly what I need advice on.

Basically I have had one of these parking notices from Athena with two photos. First photo is of a car entering and the second of it leaving. In neither photo does it show the driver (leaves partially blocking the view) and in the photo of the car entering the same leaves are blocking approximately 70% of the registration plate (you can see the first two digits), it shows the plate fully when its leaving, allbeit not very clearly.

Its my mums car and they are stating that there was an overstay by 20 minutes. She wasn't driving and it could have been anyone (she has various people caring for her who use the car to go shopping etc).

Do I need to worry because of the photos? Also, I have seen the letter Martin Lewis suggests you send them but some people are advising I should just ignore. I don't want to pay this fine as I think it is majorly taking the mickey but I don't want mum to get phonecalls of harassment either.

corbyboy

Ignore this invoice.

They have no power to do anything. They will get hold of your mum's details and send her 3 or 4 letters threatening terrible consequences if you don't pay up. But they won't actually do anything.

They won't be able to access phone numbers either.

trisontana

You just ignore, it's as simple as that. Even if that photo does show a clear image of a person, how are they going to identify them? Unless the parking company has a data-base of photographs of everyone in the country they have no way of actually naming that person.

If you want to write a letter, send one to the supermarket telling them that you won't darken their doorstep again until they get rid of the parking company

Velveteen_2

Thank you so much for the advice. I worry because she is elderly and I don't want her getting upset. Also, the so called parking offence took place on the 10th of January and the letter only arrived today (17th). They don't like giving people time do they?!

Coupon-mad

Velveteen wrote: »

Thank you so much for the advice. I worry because she is elderly and I don't want her getting upset. Also, the so called parking offence took place on the 10th of January and the letter only arrived today (17th). They don't like giving people time do they?!

No-one has committed any offence. This is not a real parking fine either.

You must tell your mother she must ignore the debt collector letters which she WILL be sent. It's easy, just ignore them, file them, do NOT read them and all the rubbish about 'possible legal action'. It won't happen, Athena do not actually 'do' Court, they just threaten it like most PPCs.

Will she get upset about these letters? Hope not, there's TONS about this generic scam on the internet. On our parking board alone we have stickies including pics of all the letters these companies send, so a preview to play 'snap' with if you like! And we have a link to Watchdog about this scam, well worth showing to your Mum:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=163

That's the whole board, stickies at the top, look at those by Crabman mainly.

And pleeeeeease write a very stiff letter of complaint to the Store manager by name, at Lidl. Do not appeal, do not try to explain yourselves, get ANGRY about this harassment! Tell them they are likely to lose yours and your mother's business for allowing a third party to issue unfounded legal threats to a paying Lidl customer.

BTW is your mother disabled in any way that affects daily life, hope you don't mind me asking? If so then she and her carers can stay longer anyway if she is there, under the Equality Act (previously the DDA) retailers have to allow longer for disabled customers. If they don't they risk a far bigger and REAL fine than this mickey mouse parking charge! Tell Lidl that and show the Store Manager this (print it out and attach it) and assume she was present in the car if she cannot remember:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8488737.stm

Finish by saying you WILL NOT be paying the bogus PCN which would never stand up in any Court - and await their reply before deciding whether to ever shop there again.

Velveteen_2

Thanks guys, after showing my mum this advice and also what Martin Lewis advises she is happy to ignore anything that comes her way. As for disabled, she is and has a blue badge so if they want to get funny about it, i'll throw that at them!

You have put an old ladies mind at ease, so thank you.

bromsgrovebarry

So can you please ensure that you and your mother tell everybody that these Mickey Mouse 'fines' are legally unenforceable. Get payback!

Velveteen_2

bromsgrovebarry wrote: »

So can you please ensure that you and your mother tell everybody that these Mickey Mouse 'fines' are legally unenforceable. Get payback!

I definately will

Kite2010

Are you saying a national supermarket is not giving disabled people extra time to do their shopping?

Clearly a breach of the DDA.

Anyhows, ignore ignore ignore & ignore some more.

caseheed

I need help!!!

I have had the same parking ticket for parking in a Lidl car park and have had all the letters and have just recieved a phonecall from the legal recoveries company saying i must pay the £115 or further action will be taken....Do i still carry on not paying it??!!! i dont understand how they got my phone number as i have just ignored every letter i have had from them.

trisontana

Just keep ignoring. "legal recoveries company" = next desk in the office.