I have some questions about a private parking fine

Hochiminh

Hello everyone, first post here, although I have often visited the site for its amazing free advice and for standing up to shady business! :T

I got a parking fine through the door today, for parking in a Lidl carpark in Edinburgh. The allowed duration of stay is 1:30:00 and the actual duration of stay was 2:15:41. The fine is for £90 (reduced parking charge is £45 if I pay within 14 days), I'm not disputing that however, my question is in regards to the company itself, Athena Parking. They claim to be a member of the BPA.

The web address they give is athena-parking (as a new user I can't post links but its the usual www and com address) However the BPA site in its list of approved operators (thank you MSE!) gives the name Athena ANPR, and its web address as athena-anpr (again www com). Now its feasible that the one company has two different web addresses, as many companies do. And its even feasible that they have two different websites, rather than one url simply redirecting to the other. However there are other subtle differences. The telephone number given on the letter is 0844 225 9081, wheras the number on the Athena ANPR (BPA approved) site is 0844 225 9080. Again, not damning evidence, many companies have more than one number for different types of enquiries, and they are likely to have numbers within a sequence, ie 9080, 9081, 9082 etc. Sadly this is where my business savvy ends, which Is why I came to MSE for advice.

Again i'm not disputing that I did park there longer than the maximum stay, its a fair cop (well maybe slightly unfair imo as the car park is usually completely empty and I did actually use the store). I will pay the reduced fine if I have to to avoid the full £90 fine (although frankly I can't afford to) I'm just wondering whether this is a genuine company or a rogue trader setting themselves up to look like a legitimate company. In which case I have no intention of paying the fine of course.

ianders

Do not pay any amount. It is an unenforceable invoice and not a fine.

Simply ignore all correspondence.

Hochiminh

ianders wrote: »

Do not pay any amount. It is an unenforceable invoice and not a fine.

Simply ignore all correspondence.

Ok I will do, thanks, you've really made me feel a lot better!

spacey2012

Yes only an invoice, that will be backed up by threats, if you ignore them, they will try to pull the wool by pretending to be debt collectors and solicitors, use words such as may, preparing for court, offer you free legal bull$hit advice .
Dont waste your time appealing if this is your car in your name, there is no appeal with scam merchants, only your money.
Dont be fooled by the logos they use, it is just a club run by all the parking firms.
Save your money !
Enjoy the scarey threatening letters, they make great hamster bedding.

ianders

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

That pretty much sums it up.
The only people that can issue parking fines are statutory bodies, councils, police etc.

Hochiminh

spacey2012 wrote: »

Yes only an invoice, that will be backed up by threats, if you ignore them, they will try to pull the wool by pretending to be debt collectors and solicitors, use words such as may, preparing for court, offer you free legal bull$hit advice .
Dont waste your time appealing if this is your car in your name, there is no appeal with scam merchants, only your money.
Dont be fooled by the logos they use, it is just a club run by all the parking firms.
Save your money !
Enjoy the scarey threatening letters, they make great hamster bedding.

Ok, thanks. Going back into Edinburgh today, if they're gonna keep sending me letters anyway I might as well make use of the carpark again!

ianders wrote: »

That pretty much sums it up.
The only people that can issue parking fines are statutory bodies, councils, police etc.

Love it, thank you! Sorry I should have read more posts before posting this thread.

bondy_lad

private parking FINE, sorry that does not exist,well, not sorry really, all you have is a FAKE fine/invoice, ignore, full stop, jobs a belter and all that, so relax, chill out etc etc.ignore all threat o grams, as all part of said scam.

crystalclaire

Hiya,
Just got one of these for over staying my parking by 28 mins. Can I really just ignore this without getting into anymore trouble??
Thanks for any help I have 4 days to pay!

BASFORDLAD

Yes u can ignore , just all the silly letters to

edward123

crystalclaire wrote: »

Hiya,
Just got one of these for over staying my parking by 28 mins. Can I really just ignore this without getting into anymore trouble??
Thanks for any help I have 4 days to pay!

Have a read of the sticky's. Yes you can simply ignore anything and everything they might send you. Keep us up dated with what is sent you by creating your very own thread when this happens and name the private parking company. This will mean you will get more advice, if necessary, more encouragement to ignore, if you need it and will be evidence that to ignore is the way to go.

Coupon-mad

crystalclaire wrote: »

Hiya,
Just got one of these for over staying my parking by 28 mins. Can I really just ignore this without getting into anymore trouble??
Thanks for any help I have 4 days to pay!

No you do NOT have 4 days to PAY, and you are not 'in trouble'! LOL! :rotfl:

You have a few letters to ignore, that's all. Athena are very tame, NEVER try a small claim in Court, wouldn't know how. It's just a junk mail scam.

Usual advice here:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4447173

Forum with lots of info read any private parking company thread here, pick ANY one about ANY PPC:

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

Read the stickies at the top but not 'Park Right'. Make sure you read my links on that advice previously given too. You can predict each letter and laugh at the scam.

If you pay you'd be a complete mug.