Charge Certificate from Athena for overstaying in Lidl car park - should we pay up?

mrsnobody

Hello - first post, but I'm a regular forum reader and have found loads of helpful info on here!
I've been reading the parking ticket threads with great interest. My OH has just had a 'Charge Certificate' from Athena (through the post) for parking at our local Lidl store in excess of the 1.5 hours allowed.
We do accept that we were over the allowed time, and that we have seen the notices in the car park about the 'charges'.

I was just wondering if we should 'take it on the chin' and pay up? or ignore and see what happens?

Any advice gratefully received

Browntoa

its not a "fine" or a "parking Ticket"

ignore the pretty sticker they stuck on your screen and the junk mail you recieved from them

only the council wardens or the police can issue a parking ticket

Alter_ego

The usual advice is to ignore. Were you shopping in LIDL?

taffy056

This charge certificate is normally terminology used by councils, and athena could be working for them, does it say parking charge notice on it? is the appeals to athena or a council?

mrsnobody

Thanks for the replies. It's called a 'Civil Parking Charge Notice' and the appeal address is [EMAIL="appeals@athena-parking.com"]appeals@athena-parking.com[/EMAIL] definitely not council or police issued.

Yes we did shop in Lidl, but went elsewhere first so weren't in Lidl for the full time we were in the car park. Less keen to shop there now though, even though they are cheap!

I'm tempted to tell my OH to ignore it, he isn't keen though - it is his car and he was driving. He gets quite worried by 'officialdom'

trisontana

But it's not 'officialdom' is it? it's just an unenforceable invoice from a private company. They can call it all the fancy names under the sun but it doesn't make any more "official".

esmerobbo

OH has nothing to worry about, as these charges are not "official". If its a free car park and you used the shop then you have neither trespassed or abused the car park. Lidl have suffered no loss, these charges are supposedly to stop car park abuse, as you never abused the car park then why should you pay?
I would be tempted to take the ticket and your Lidl receipt to the manager and tell him to deal with it!

trisontana

esmerobbo wrote: »

I would be tempted to take the ticket and your Lidl receipt to the manager and tell him to deal with it!

Or where to stick it.

Sir_Roger_deLodger

"Charge Certificate" my ar5e. Who do they think they are?
Ignore Athena, complain to Lidl.

pogofish

mrsnobody wrote: »

I'm tempted to tell my OH to ignore it, he isn't keen though - it is his car and he was driving. He gets quite worried by 'officialdom'

This is exactly what you and he need to do! For Athena's unenforcable demands and the inevitable threatening "debt collector" demands that follow.

And if you write to anyone, write to Lidl's senior management about letting these cowboys operate. The MD's contact details are repeated umpteen times in this forum already if you want to search.

chookmom

I have one too from Lidl car park and following advice on here am (nervously) ignoring it.
Have just got the letter saying they are handing it on to a debt collector but holding my nerve. Do the same, you are not alone.