Athena ANPR Ltd - Lidl Leatherhead

Kiko4564

note wrote: »

does this mean that if i park in a lidl near town (which is usually almost empty and is free parking for customers) when i go shopping, i can use it as a free car park? i noticed they have a sign saying you'll be fined if you arent a customer?

The sign is poop. Parking at a supermarket car park and not being a customer is not a criminal offence.

Stephen_Leak

It's not even a civil offence.

However, I do have every sympathy for a shop owner, who spends good money providing car parking for their customers, only to see it being used by others. But allowing a private ticketing company to terrorise everyone, including your customers, isn't the solution.

mog3

Hi

I got some free legal advice today and the solicitor told me I should acknowledge the letter and appeal. But I have read all the posts above and loads more as well. So are you all totally sure I just ignore this letter and all the others I am going to receive. When do I acknowledge one? What annoys me most is all I have is my car entering the car park and leaving..........not ever parked in its spot. How long will this go on for?

Stephen_Leak

mog3 wrote: »

Hi

I got some free legal advice today and the solicitor told me I should acknowledge the letter and appeal. But I have read all the posts above and loads more as well. So are you all totally sure I just ignore this letter and all the others I am going to receive. When do I acknowledge one? What annoys me most is all I have is my car entering the car park and leaving..........not ever parked in its spot. How long will this go on for?

How can I put this kindly? At least it was free.

And I'm certain that he meant to acknowledge and appeal just the first one.

Actually, I am of the opinion that appealing makes no difference. Even if you tell them who the driver was, all it means is that the driver has to ignore the letters instead of the registered keeper. And, that may be the same person.

The time scale is difficult to forecast. Sometimes, it's all over quickly, sometimes without all the usual letters. Sometimes there are long gaps between letters. I reckon that they may have to wait for someone to pay up, so they can afford some more toner, paper, envelopes or stamps.

Coupon-mad

mog3 wrote: »

Hi

I got some free legal advice today and the solicitor told me I should acknowledge the letter and appeal. But I have read all the posts above and loads more as well. So are you all totally sure I just ignore this letter and all the others I am going to receive. When do I acknowledge one? What annoys me most is all I have is my car entering the car park and leaving..........not ever parked in its spot. How long will this go on for?

Here is some better free legal advice:

EXPERT SOLICITOR:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAIcdi9niHA

EXPERT BARRISTER:
http://www.justanswer.com/uk-law/5isk3-hi-overstayed-berkley-precinct-car-park-ecclesall-rd.html

EXPERT BARRISTER:
http://timkevan.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/challenge-to-private-parking-charge.html


I too have experienced 'free legal advice', when I first used my legal cover on my house contents policy to sue Monarch over the Ash Cloud flight delay thing. The first wet-behind-the-ears 'solicitor' I spoke to on the 'legal helpline' tried to tell me that Monarch didn't have to pay for our food and hotel bills whilst stranded as the ash cloud was 'extraordinary circumstances'. He'd obviously read that phrase in the papers!:p

Luckily I had already genned up on the EU law applicable and knew he was talking [STRIKE]bol locks[/STRIKE] rubbish to me and was clearly in fob-off mode, so I asked to speak to someone who knew what they were talking about.

Two years along the line and I made a £2000 profit out of Monarch, as I got compensation too for a second cancelled flight.

Point being, free legal advice can be pants and you need to research things yourself!

Hurricane_Tazz

Calling for help with Lidl's Car Park / Private Car Parking Enforcement Company ( Athena ) , Seeking Advice on Lidls Morden Surrey where a Car Park being shared with Iceland and having to Park in ordinary Parking Bay as Disabled Parking Bays were all taken as l am a Blue Badge Holder and suffer with Mobility Problems that means l can not be able to navigate around Shops as quickly as able bodied people , thus as l have found that there is only 1 Hour and 30 mins to be expected to shop within also one has to wait until a car Parking space becomes available when busy. Question :- if l were to shop firstly at Iceland who's shop shares the Car Park and that it is situated next door to Lidls and then proceed to shop in Lidls , would the time limit still apply to both or only just to Lidls as Lidls is the Shop that is being held responsible thru the Private Parking Company for demanding a Fixed Penalty and that no mention of Iceland has been submitted as a regard to being fined for 6 min's over 2hrs, taking into account that one is disabled and that moving quickly is not possible and being a Blue Badge Holder ! , To which my vehicle parked in Car Park with Blue Badge displayed on Dash Board. Does Lidls have monopoly over Iceland when charging fixed penalty for Consumers who are using the 2 shops buying thier goods , which seems quite unfair considering l am disabled . This is the first time l have ever been to Lidls shopping which was 13 July 2012 !, l am looking for recent posts as to seek advice ! also l went back to the Car Park with a Friend and Camera to witness Any Signs that indicate or give reference to Disabled Blue Badge Holders Parking . it is factual that there is no reference to Blue Badge Disabled Drivers on their Displayed Sign's.

With Respect to the above l am now being Harrassed by the Private Parking Enforcement Company ( Athena ) who have increased the penalty and the threat of Blaifs to my Door ! l have had no communication at all with Athena and have not responded to their demands or threats at this time ! l feel it is an infringement on a Persons Civil liberty whilst using Lidl's Shops as a Customer and is quite unfair as the Store lacvk of responsibility to open more Till's as to avoid such long Que's and to take into account the length of time it takes to Load my shopping into my Vehicle as l was unaware that such stringent policies are being enforced on behalf of Lidls and that even though my Blue Badge was displayed quite Clearly that no one had been bother'd to inspect by foot all Vehicles in Car Park and being fined by Camera Image as to length of time spent with a disregard for Diabled People . Please can anyone give me advive that is more Recent Update ! , So l can know what to do ! The Threats and increase in fines are causing me ill health ! Many Thanks !!!

ManxRed

OK, I know this car park well.

Firstly, are you sure Athena are threatening you with Bailiffs, and not Debt Collectors? There's a massive difference. Debt Collectors have no powers and are limited to politely asking for the money, and that's it.

For Bailiffs to become involved then someone would need to take you to court first (and it would need to be the landowner, not Athena nor their solicitors), win, and then you still refuse to pay up. Only THEN could bailiffs get involved. However there is no chance that the landowner would take you to court, as they'd lose, and they know it.

There is an Equality Act 2010 issue here, whereby service providers need to make addtional allowances for disabled people (which would resaonably include additional time for shopping). You might wish to send them a letter (normally we advise people to ignore, but it sounds like you are not enjoying the harassment). You should send a letter to Athena, and copy it to the CEO of Lidl (I'm sure he/she is Google'able), telling them that you deny any debt to them, to desist sending you letters, and that any further correspondence from them, other than an apology and confirmation that they have cancelled the ticket, will be treated as harassment under the Protection From Harassment Act 1997 and the Equality Act 2010, and that you will consider taking legal action against both Athena and Lidl, who you will hold jointly and severally liable for the actions of their agent, Athena.

Coupon-mad

Yep, send a letter to Athena and Lidl pointing out that you are diabled, which their agent knew as your Blue Badge was displayed.

Inform them - as advised by ManxRed - that you deny any debt to them, to desist sending you letters, and that any further correspondence from them, other than an apology and confirmation that they have cancelled the ticket, will be treated as harassment under the Protection From Harassment Act 1997 and the Equality Act 2010, and that you will consider taking legal action against both Athena and Lidl, who you will hold jointly and severally liable for the actions of their agent, Athena.

Enclose a printout of this BBC article:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8488737.stm

Read it and you will see that they have actually broken the law! You could actually sue them both (Lidl and their agent Athena) for compensation!

Hurricane_Tazz

Many thanks for you're support it looks like it is athena threatening with Balifs as to take court action if payment is not made, they don't seem to know about me being a Blue Badge you're info has been greatfully received and of course not sure where to find link to Lidls and what is a CEO ? l will not part with Money and would emailing Athena make things worse even thou l would tell them that l am a blue Badge holder would this inturn cancell the ticket once they were aware of the Blue badge ? Cheers Guy's

Stephen_Leak

Try Google?

CEO in this context is Chief Executive Officer. Their names and contact details are usually on their company website or somewhere in the public domain.

Writing to him, advising him that Lidl are "jointly and severally liable" for the actions of Athena and that ...

a) ... any further actions by Athena would be regarded as harassment under the terms of The Protection from Harassment Act 1997 and ...

b) ... the Blue Badge scheme doesn’t apply to private car parks. Blue Badge holders don't need to display it. Anyone, who’s disabled with a long-term condition under the terms of The Equality Act 2010 can use a disabled parking bay in a private car park. However, the terms & conditions for private car parks usually state that you shouldn't park in a disabled parking bay without displaying a Blue Badge. This, in itself, contravenes The Equality Act ...

... ought to make Lidl call off Athena and, maybe, also realise the potential cost of doing business with Athena.