Aldi - Parking Fines

ANGELABRAC

I received a fine of £40 after staying an extra 20mins. in Aldi's carpark. I received a further letter showing a picture of my car and it's registration. Having read the messages here I posted off my store receipt with details as requested.I was also told by the store manager that if I had a receipt they would drop the fine.A few days later I had a letter to say they would take no further action.I presume they have to guard against people using the carpark and not the store.

giggity

I too have recently received a notice from Parking Eye for parking for 2hrs in our local Aldi car park betweem 7.30pm and 9.30pm on a Sunday night 2 weeks ago. Is the first and only time we have used the car park out of hours.

Have since been back to see where the sign was as we didn't see it. In daylight hours you can't miss it, but given the fact it was dark and the car park isn't well lit so I can't see how it was brought to our attention. The thing that annoyed me the most was the supermarket does have a car park barrier, but it's never down at night.

Surely there must be some onus on the land owner to attempt to secure the property before they can claim damages?! Sounds like entrapment to me. Either way I'm not paying mine.

jinni_drew

I have just received a parking fine for parking in the ALDI car park whilst shopping at Aldi - truthfully I never saw a board stating I had to pay and display (wasn't looking for it as the car park is not too close to the town centre). The fine from 'PARKING EYE' is for £70 reduced to £40.00 if paid by 01 feb - which would give me less than one week - even though on the notice it says you have 13 days from the issue date of the letter - very convenient!!.

I have called Aldi customer services today and told them how disappointed I am that they should treat their customers like this. I have shopped there many times and have recommended Aldi to a lot of people. I will never shop there now and will spread the word about this scam. Aldi advised me to spend more of my time and energy piecing together a defence to send to their customer complaints department.

It is amazing that in this current economic climate Aldi thinks it appropriate to treat their honest hard working shoppers in this heavy handed manner - or perhaps it is quite a money spinner??

Either way I shall not be paying this fine. I have read a few blogs today stating that if you just ignore it - it goes away. As it is not a council ran parking company they will have to take civil action which would be far more costly for them and can not be worth it for £70.00. I also have my receipt showing that I spent more than £40 in Aldi - in which case apparently they will cancel the fine. I will keep you posted as to how I get on!!!

AmyFlo

I too have just received a parking fine from Aldi in Selsdon. I am in the midst of a terse corrospondence with them. The parking limit recently changed to just 1 hr, not something I noticed had changed (Sleep deprived 2nd time new Mum).

I took 1 hr 43 mins to shop.....wait for it, with a 6 week old baby who is breast fed on demand and a potty training two year old. Between running accross the road to the church with two yr old for a wee (Little on will not wee on the street!! There are no toilet facilities even for two yr olds screaming that they are busting!), waiting 15 mins for a parking space (was xmas shopping time) and having to stop and give baby quick breast feed in the car, shopping is just not something that is quick and easy with a new baby in tow and a toddler. I spent over 20 minutes in the que alone!!:mad::mad:

Aldi & Parking Eye have asked me to produce receipts to prove I shopped there, not surprisingly I do not have the receipt from a grocery shop over a month ago and paid with my housekeeping cash. I shop there every week and know the staff by name!

They have told me I should park inthe basement car park as there is no time limit there (why? whats the difference?), there is also poor lighting, cars swinging round fast and no trolleys to secure children in down there, stairs rather than a ramp...does anyone at Aldi have kids and think of this stuff? I would have to leave the kids unattended to return the trolley, which I would NEVER do.

It may be cheaper but some things are worth the small differential and the larger choice, I am back to Sainsbury shopping!!!

spacey2012

Another supermarket asking its customers to shop elsewhere.

Krus

I worked for ParkingEye for over 3 years and was instrumental in the setting up of a number of the large retail accounts including Aldi.

You will receive 3 letters, the first within one week of overstaying, the second within 14 days to remind you to pay at the reduced rate, and the third after 21 days telling you that you have until day 28 to pay or they reserve the right to pursue you legally.

"DO NOT PAY".

After the third letter you will not hear from them again, they cannot legally enforce one of these threats, in reality the business is based on scare tactics. You can only be charged by the land owner for trespassing, and that has to come from the retailer which will never happen as their reputation is worth far to much for them to be involved in this rubbish.

ParkingEye's business is huge and all based on misleading and scaring people into believing that they have the authority to enforce these charges.

None of the revenue generated goes to Aldi or to improve the service provided. All the money is banked by the enforcers. £millions and millions.

Do not Pay.

nicechap

Amyflo

Look at this section of the forum

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

Its dedicated to turning the tables on these unscrupulous parking companies and has up to date advice on actually costing them money for their sharp practices.

Firstly, ignore Krus' advice as its out of date. Parking Eye have been issuing thoiusands of Small Claim's Court cases against shoppers so you MUST NOT IGNORE.

You need to appeal and get a POPLA code when they inevitably turn you down. Then appeal to POPLA where the forum will help you draft an iron clad defence which wins every single time against Parking Eye. It'll cost Parking Eye £27 + VAT, as well as another £100 to their trade association the BPA.

In the meantime check the council's planning conditions for the site as changing it from 2 hrs to 1 hrs may breach its conditions.

You can also complain dirrect to Aldi (local manger & head office) and they can overturn the ticket (actually is an invoice, not a fine or parking ticket) but then you won't get to cost them money at POPLA.

Coupon-mad

Krus wrote: »

I worked for ParkingEye for over 3 years and was instrumental in the setting up of a number of the large retail accounts including Aldi.

You will receive 3 letters, the first within one week of overstaying, the second within 14 days to remind you to pay at the reduced rate, and the third after 21 days telling you that you have until day 28 to pay or they reserve the right to pursue you legally.

"DO NOT PAY".

After the third letter you will not hear from them again, they cannot legally enforce one of these threats, in reality the business is based on scare tactics. You can only be charged by the land owner for trespassing, and that has to come from the retailer which will never happen as their reputation is worth far to much for them to be involved in this rubbish.

ParkingEye's business is huge and all based on misleading and scaring people into believing that they have the authority to enforce these charges.

None of the revenue generated goes to Aldi or to improve the service provided. All the money is banked by the enforcers. £millions and millions.

Do not Pay.

The only bit we agree with on the parking forum, is 'DO NOT PAY'. Do you not realise your esteemed ex-employer has issued court papers to around 8000 innocent shoppers in the last 12 month period, mostly to people who ignored them in 2013?

Can I also mention that we beat ParkingEye every single time at POPLA appeal stage now? The Parking forum board is the place for such discussion otherwise misinformed people with out of date advice pop up like you did.

THE CURENT ADVICE IS TO APPEAL AS REGISTERED KEEPER (NOT IMPLYING WHO WAS DRIVING) THEN WIN AT POPLA WITH VARIOUS POINTS WE SHOW POSTERS, SUCH AS 'THE CHARGE IS NOT A GENUINE PRE-ESTIMATE OF LOSS' WHICH CURRENTLY SCUPPERS PARKING EYE AT POPLA EVERY SINGLE TIME, OVER 100 SUCCESSES SO FAR AGAINST THAT BUNCH ALONE - AND NO LOSSES.

Hope you no longer work for a scum private parking firm? Got a real job now that does something useful for Society I hope?

Browntoa

closing as more correct to parking part of the forum

pop over there and read the "newbies read this" thread