PCN for parking in Lidl's Car Park after hours

oldmanfoxy

I parked in Lidl's Car Park in Romford whilst the store was open but after the ticket man had left. There were no barriers in or out and no pay and display machines. There was a sign in a dark corner which my wife read but even after reading this we left our car parked there. Two hours later, we returned to find a PCN from LDK Security on the windscreen stating that we had committed the offence of 'parking when the store was closed'. The store was certainly closed by the time we returned to our car.
The PCN requires me to pay a charge of £90 but this is reduced to £45 if paid within the first 14 days. Where do I stand? Having read the other forums it appears that I am in for a long haul of ignoring threatening letters before they eventually give up. My wife justs wants me to pay up and be done with it. Any advice?

Coupon-mad

Advice - yes, of course. Please ask your wife to read up on this generic scam, for that's what it is.

If you show her the Watchdog clip linked in Crabman's sticky 'Please read before posting' then surely she won't fall for this phishing junk mail? And if you've seen the letter-chain in pics as in Crabman's top sticky, then what's to worry about? Just play snap as each matching letter arrives.

I am just a Mum of four with a responsible job and a clean record - if I can ignore fake PCNs from PPCs then your wife can too. I was in your shoes 2 years ago and my OH was doubtful that it was a scam, he seemed to think because it looked a bit legit and the debt collectors are 'real' companies that there must be some legal basis for the 'charge'. Funnily enough he still thinks we didn't pay due to some 'loophole'...even though I have explained it's just like ignoring a phishing email.

Spread the word.

P.S. Also Watchdog starts again next week and we suspect they are going to cover this issue again. Good.

societys_child

oldmanfoxy wrote: »

My wife justs wants me to pay up and be done with it. Any advice?

That could put a different slant on things . .
begging letters AND the wife on your back:eek:

Might be best to just pay . . .:rotfl:

Oopsadaisy

Ignore everything.

Really...ignore everything.

Seriously...ignore everything.

Truly...ignore everything.

Details of your case....totally irrelevant...ignore everything.

Name of solicitor....totally irrelevant...ignore everything.

Location....totally irrelevant...ignore everything.

Name of PPC....totally irrelevant...ignore everything.

Date....totally irrelevant...ignore everything.

Time....totally irrelevant...ignore everything.

Day....totally irrelevant...ignore everything.

Debt Collector....totally irrelevant...ignore everything.

Contents of letter....totally irrelevant...ignore everything.

Really....totally irrelevant...ignore everything.

oldmanfoxy

Thank you all very much. I think I might just tell the wife I have paid - one down, and ignore the other. Best of both worlds?

:rotfl:

Coupon-mad

oldmanfoxy wrote: »

Thank you all very much. I think I might just tell the wife I have paid - one down, and ignore the other. Best of both worlds?

:rotfl:

No, because she might open the next threatogram and they are sometimes pretty scary. Before you know it she might panic and pay - just like falling for a phishing email, NOOOO!

Show her the pics of all the letter-chains, and also the Watchdog clip, also Watchdog starts again next week and they are going to mention this generic scam again I believe.