Parking Eye Parking charges

Spam_Fighter

I have just received a parking charge notice from Parking Eye.
I did not run over the time for parking in Aldi car park, but must
have entered the wrong registration number in their computer terminal.
Can they do this? Do I have to pay up or is it a scam?

somethingcorporate

Just ignore it, as per the hundreds (possibly thousands) of identical threads.

fivetide

Welcome to the boards. As above, ignore it.

If you want more detailed notes to that effect (especially with a name like spam fighter) you might want to post on the main parking/tickets board. There is a link at the top of this one.

pogofish

Yup - post on the parking forum. Parking Eye are well known scammers.

Also be aware that there has been a Parking Eye troll active here recently, trying to get new posters to give info that might identify themselves, so be careful of low postcounts and odd questions.

Crabman

Welcome to MSE, Spam Fighter :hello:

I've moved this to the Parking sub-board so you don't have to repost your query

Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere (please see this rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com"]forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL].

Coupon-mad

Spam_Fighter wrote: »

I have just received a parking charge notice from Parking Eye.
I did not run over the time for parking in Aldi car park, but must
have entered the wrong registration number in their computer terminal.
Can they do this? Do I have to pay up or is it a scam?

This is indeed a scam and is NOT a fine. You only think it is because it impersonates a parking ticket. You WILL get the usual letters just as other posters do.

Your choices are to ignore it or (if this was in England or Wales only) to appeal, then insist on a POPLA appeal, where you can then ignore it if you don't win the appeal. Explained here by pepipoo forum:

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showtopic=46975

and here's a thread about POPLA:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4263959

and a thread discussing a successful appeal to POPLA which involved Parking Eye:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4447137

Your other choice is to COMPLAIN in writing (or in person, but NOT by phone) to Aldi about this harassment of their paying customers. I WOULD make it known that you are angry about all the harassment you are now going to get. Maybe wait a few weeks, for some debt collector letters to arrive (as long as you are the registered keeper) then photocopy them and march into the store on a busy day. Slap the copy threatograms down on the CS desk, insist on seeing the Store Manager and demand to know how they think this sort of hassle adds to their customer satisfaction and chances of keeping your business? Tell Aldi about Parking Eye's online reputation and how this association is damaging Aldi's reputation, to be in bed with a firm which has NO agenda of parking management whatsoever, purely a penalty mentality which is actually unlawful and victimises their most vulnerable customers who will not know that these are fake parking fines and should never be paid.

But basically, like all the other posters on this board, you have a fake PCN, a misleading invoice.

The whole scam of fake PCNs relies firstly on people's ignorance of the fact that a random private company can't fine anyone, and secondly on their natural fear of parking tickets and the escalating costs/bailiff scenario. So PPCs copy the look of a real parking ticket and - hey presto! - the cash rolls in from victims who know no better.

This is not a penalty at all. It's rubbish, there are no bailiffs letters, just debt collector standard template threatograms (all hot air, we can tell you this for certain).

Tick off the threatening letters as you get them, here.

Watchdog clip with expert Solicitor's opinion here.

Barrister's opinion on a legal Q&A website here.

Thread about the Protection of Freedoms Act - and parking tickets still being as unenforceable as ever - here.

The letters are actually quite funny when they arrive at the address of someone who knows it's all hogwash and not a real parking ticket at all.

My 18 year old niece has EIGHT fake PCNs so far - almost all from Parking Eye! - and laughs & texts me every time she gets one. She is just a new driver, a teenager, and she knows this is all a con like a series of phishing emails. Boy does she get a lot of junk mail!

I would happily collect more fake PCNs than the 2 that I already have for overstays (more than an hour overstays, both times when shopping at Supermarkets at busy times). Plus I have a nice collection of amusing/alarmist debt collector letters which I carry in my handbag to show friends & colleagues if the subject crops up!

jojomanship

Now you see, I have just received a parking fine. I did over run. Certainly says Parking Charge Notice on it. Look v official with BPA Approved Operator and HPC symbols on, £85 is the princely sum! Does show camera of my car leaving and entering, however, in with the fine is another piece of paper relating to the Protection Of Freedoms Act 2012 does this now make it enforceable or is it just further propaganda to scare you into paying?!

Coupon-mad

jojomanship wrote: »

Now you see, I have just received a parking fine. I did over run. Certainly says Parking Charge Notice on it. Look v official with BPA Approved Operator and HPC symbols on, £85 is the princely sum! Does show camera of my car leaving and entering, however, in with the fine is another piece of paper relating to the Protection Of Freedoms Act 2012 does this now make it enforceable or is it just further propaganda to scare you into paying?!

Now you see, in the reply above yours there are these snippets that already answer your question surely?

Coupon-mad wrote: »

This is indeed a scam and is NOT a fine. You only think it is because it impersonates a parking ticket. You WILL get the usual letters just as other posters do.

...

Thread about the Protection of Freedoms Act - and parking tickets still being as unenforceable as ever - here.

A PARKING charge notice is NOT a real PCN. That would be a PENALTY charge notice. It's obvious why private firms use that acronym though on their fake versions.

jojomanship

Ignore me so sorry, Bet I made you scream coupon mad!! X

Coupon-mad

jojomanship wrote: »

Ignore me so sorry, Bet I made you scream coupon mad!! X

Nope I am in a chilled out mood tonight, no screaming about the same old questions being asked tonight! Must be the bottle of wine I just shared with my husband!

:rotfl:

jojomanship

Ill shut up and file accordingly. Apologies!