Aldi - Parking Fines

sammyhammy

In London most stores now seem to have time limits. Morrisons (Grays) give three hours which is enough to shop, eat at their restaurant and go into the town centre (you pay £1 and reclaim the fee instore). If you are more than three hours the car parkl attendants leave you alone if there is someone sat in the car.:D
Sainsburys in Brentwood charges £3.00 up front (reclaim instore) and gives you two hours - when this is often the only time I see my mum (we shop together every weekend) this can be a push to eat and shop in the time limit that is keenly policed. Hence, we no longer go there.:(
Tescos seems keener on the CTTV option (you "agree" to pay if you overstay). Any store that does this loses my custom to one with no time limit. If I pay to eat and then sit and chat to my mum over coffee before shopping (great money saver - eat before you shop and you buy less food), I don't expect to be penalised for arriving by car. :mad:

These rules are either there because the store is near a shopping centre or near a station. In the latter case it should suspend the rules on weekends when commuters are less likely to use the free parking.

I agree - complaints from customers normally gets results, especially if publicity is threatened. In other circumstances (bad customer service) a threat to post information on MSE can be a deterrent to some organisations.

However, the government have some part in this - selling DVLA details to dubious parking companies for as little as £2.00 a time is yet another example of big brother gone wrong.

sarahg1969

I agree that you need to take a look at Pepipoo.com.

The matter is a contractual one between the driver and whoever patrols the stores. You have not been "fined". They have no authority to fine you.

Firstly, they don't know who the driver was, so they will probably not be able to enforce the contract.

Secondly, the ANPR they use films the vehicle on entry and exit, not on parking, so they cannot even say how long the vehicle was parked for.

Thirdly, was the driver aware of the terms of the contract on entering the car park? Probably not. The signs would have been inside the car park.

And don't forget - you have NO legal obligation to give them any information whatsoever about the driver of the vehicle.


Don't pay. Get some advice from Pepipoo and let them pursue you if they dare.

DO NOT GIVE THEM A PENNY!!!

Sarah

kitchpoo

The tesco scheme I noticed the other day didnt rely upon CCTV but a regular checker going around the car park, I wondered about the scenario of leaving site and returning later (I sometimes use the same store for Breakfast and lunch!!) - and noticed there is no statement on the signs for this scenario, unlike roadside parking that limits your return period (ie no return within 90 minutes etc)

I did notice that all profit from Tesco's scheme go to the Tesco nominated group of charities. If you do end up having to foot the bill (which I somehow doubt they wil do - dont forget to see if you paid by card if you have a large amount spent in Aldi to verify your claim) - then ask the question as to where the money is going.

bluejake

Why have I posted twice?

devild_2

Aldi need to keep their car park available for their shoppers not for people who use it and then go elsewhere. I seriuosly cannot think of any occasion I have ever been in Aldi for 1.5hrs and am sure other shoppers would have encountererd this on the same day and reported it to the manager. You mention number recognition system so I take it they did not leave a ticket, or was it thrown away.

RoisinD

If you were shopping in Aldi for 100 minutes then you should appeal. However if you just used their car park as a freebie then pay up.

It is so frustrating when I genuinely want to use a store and their car park is full. I sit, wait for a space and finally someone arrives carrying shopping bags for every other store except the one whose car park they are using.



Lo and behold I get in to the store and it is nearly empty - yet the car park is full.
So the more tickets that are issued to those who abuse car parking the better.

coolcan

I got a fine from an Aldi store 60 miles away from home my wife said we only have 2hr parking so we made sure we out there 1hr 44 mins to our supprise we got a fine they said only 1.5hrs 14 mins over.
But in smallest print poss it says if you are a blue badge holder the time is doubled. My mum was with us but she let her badge lapse and she doesnt want all the hassle of medicals etc of getting a new one so offered to pay fine. Why is everyone out to get cash where ever possible. I told her no I rather go court but reading on here it might not happen we will see.

One thing I think would be good is fill a trolly full go through check out they say opps sorry my 1.5hrs parking is up I got to go leave trolly and all shopping and walk out the shop. They will have to put it all back through the till. :rotfl:

Enterprise_1701C

I live in a small town containing a Lidl and an Aldi. Unfortunately it also contains a train station which means that they have now both started ticketing long-stayers (Lidl were the last to start!).

A friend of mine who is disabled took longer than the 1.5 hours allowed - and boy did she let them know about it, it was all over the local papers and everything. She got the money back, but I wish I could believe they won't do it again - probably assumed she was the disabled stereotype, but she is not!

muz

These are not tickets that are being issued, merely invoices, and are completely unenforceable.
You will receive several letters telling you that you have to pay, and they may even threaten to send bailliffs to your house....but rest assured, they are well aware that they cannot enforce the 'ticket' and if you ignore the letters, they will eventually give up!!!

More info here....

Harveycat_2

I think it is totally unnaceptable that DVLA sell your details to the companies that use camera recognition.

This information should be confidential.

Vive la revoloution!