Athena - LIDL Charge

mattey13

Hi,

I recently parked in a Lidl in Edinburgh and have got a parking charge through the door weeks later.

The only reason that I parked there was because of the crazy snow fall we have had and had no other choice but to park there. I was in the car park over 17 minutes of welcome stay.

The letter was addressed to the car owner which wasnt myself however I appealed and told them that it was myself who was driving.

But I should state that I received the letter 3 weeks after I parked there and therefor did not have time to pay the discount charge.

Anyway my appeal has been unsuccessful I am wondering if I have the choice just to ignore these letters I am getting?

Or should I pay now that they know who the driver was?

Thanks in advance.

robredz

mattey13 wrote: »

Hi,

I recently parked in a Lidl in Edinburgh and have got a parking charge through the door weeks later.

The only reason that I parked there was because of the crazy snow fall we have had and had no other choice but to park there. I was in the car park over 17 minutes of welcome stay.

The letter was addressed to the car owner which wasnt myself however I appealed and told them that it was myself who was driving.

But I should state that I received the letter 3 weeks after I parked there and therefor did not have time to pay the discount charge.

Anyway my appeal has been unsuccessful I am wondering if I have the choice just to ignore these letters I am getting?

Or should I pay now that they know who the driver was?

Thanks in advance.

You should have read this forum first, before contacting them. as the appeal process is a sham, as fair as a kangaroo court. Presumably it is a free car park, if so their consequential loss is zero, so they have nothing to sue for, I would ignore them but others will be along with further advice soon.

mattey13

I know but I had no idea that about any private parking charges not being legal and so on, I'm only 19 and been driving 2 years.

So my first thought was oh god! lol.

But hopefully someone else can give me some advice.

trisontana

mattey13 wrote: »

I know but I had no idea that about any private parking charges not being legal and so on, I'm only 19 and been driving 2 years.

So my first thought was oh god! lol.

But hopefully someone else can give me some advice.

The good advice is to ignore .

mattey13

Even though they know who the driver was?

trisontana

mattey13 wrote: »

Even though they know who the driver was?

yes, just ignore. This was a free car-park and so the loss to the landowner is a big fat zero. Anything above that would be considered an unfair penalty in law.

esmerobbo

mattey13 wrote: »

Even though they know who the driver was?

Yes although they know the driver, they still have no loss. Contract law only allows the recovery of loss not penalties.

Depending which company it is, you will receive a few letters then in 99.99% of cases they go and haunt someone else.

mattey13

Sorry i'm not familiar with the term "no loss" could this be explained?

This is my first dealing with this kind of thing.

trisontana

mattey13 wrote: »

Sorry i'm not familiar with the term "no loss" could this be explained?

This is my first dealing with this kind of thing.

The law of the land states that one private citizen (I.E the parking company) cannot punish another private citizen (the motorist). Private parking issues come under civil law (either contact or trespass) . In either case the landowner can only claim for the actual material loss that has been suffered. Anything above that would be considered an unfair penalty (a punishment) . This was a free car park so no loss was suffered by the land owner so they cannot claim any money off you.

mattey13

What should I expect from them?

trisontana

mattey13 wrote: »

What should I expect from them?

A few more threatening letters before they give up. That's the game they play.