lidl & Athena ANPR ltd ***** update ********

MrsE_2

I got a fine in the post (they have my name & address from lidl & Athena ANPR ltd (PO Box 306, Chertsey, KT16 6ED) for £90 for staying in their car park for 2 hours & 20 minutes. It says on the fine I was only allowed 1.5 hours. I didnt notice any signs, I didnt look.
I actually did shop in lidls:mad:
But I was going into a few shops, so rather than parking right on top of the other places (for which I have a prepaid annual pass:mad:), I thought I would park in lidls & walk to save the bother of moving the car.
Do I have to pay it?
Bit worried as they have my name & address.
Shan't risk shopping at lidls again.........
Theyve just lost themselves a customer.
I dont have the reciept, but I will have paid by debit card, so I could prove I was a shopper from that.

edward123

Its not a fine as this private parking company like all others have no statutory authority to fine anyone. What you have is what is called on here a 'speculative invoice.' Hence the first advice which all here would agree on is: DO NOT PAY IT!
The options are to ignore and wait for the threats designed to frighten you into paying, then ignore to the end of them or use their appeal procedure then POPLA, the independent appeals body.
Wait for someone here to advise which is best in your circumstances.
You can also complain to lidls. They might get it canceled.
Do not respond to any PM from anyone less 1000 posts. It may well be a PPC goon!

Coupon-mad

MrsE wrote: »

I got a fine in the post (they have my name & address from lidl & Athena ANPR ltd (PO Box 306, Chertsey, KT16 6ED) for £90 for staying in their car park for 2 hours & 20 minutes. It says on the fine I was only allowed 1.5 hours. I didnt notice any signs, I didnt look.
I actually did shop in lidls:mad:
But I was going into a few shops, so rather than parking right on top of the other places (for which I have a prepaid annual pass:mad:), I thought I would park in lidls & walk to save the bother of moving the car.
Do I have to pay it?
Bit worried as they have my name & address.
Shan't risk shopping at lidls again.........
Theyve just lost themselves a customer.
I dont have the reciept, but I will have paid by debit card, so I could prove I was a shopper from that.

Do as advised in any Parking Eye thread (similar ANPR scammers but we have more threads about them than Athena). We have loads of similar threads on here so read some - here's just one:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/61120221#Comment_61120221

You basically appeal (enclose proof of spending in Lidl and do not mention shopping elsewhere) and demand a POPLA code then if they reject, get help here to make that POPLA appeal challenge a winner! Don't word the POPLA stage without help.

Oh, and firstly, this week, COMPLAIN to the Lidl Store Manager as they can cancel these fake PCNs which is the easy way to get the scam stopped.

MrsE_2

Coupon-mad wrote: »

Do as advised in any Parking Eye thread (similar ANPR scammers but we have more threads about them than Athena). We have loads of similar threads on here so read some - here's just one:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/61120221#Comment_61120221

You basically appeal (enclose proof of spending in Lidl and do not mention shopping elsewhere) and demand a POPLA code then if they reject, get help here to make that POPLA appeal challenge a winner! Don't word the POPLA stage without help.

Oh, and firstly, this week, COMPLAIN to the Lidl Store Manager as they can cancel these fake PCNs which is the easy way to get the scam stopped.

I'm not sure I understand this response - but it sounds good.

I write a letter of appeal to Lidl as a first stage?

Or to the parking company?

Also - is it legal or not?

FatAndy

MrsE wrote: »

I'm not sure I understand this response - but it sounds good.

I write a letter of appeal to Lidl as a first stage?

Or to the parking company?

Also - is it legal or not?

Write a letter of appeal to the scammers including a demand for a POPLA code when they reject your appeal (which they will as they're only interested in your money).

Go into Lidl in person, ask to speak to the manager and then very loudly, and in as public a place as you can manage, explain to him why you, your family, your friends, etc won't be using his shop ever again.

It is legal in the same that it would be legal for me to send you a begging letter. Whether or not it's enforceable is a completely different question.

trisontana

Somebody over on CAG took that approach with Lidl and they received a letter from head office saying , in so many words, "we don't care. Go and shop elsewhere. Hard luck".

Stroma

trisontana wrote: »

Somebody over on CAG took that approach with Lidl and they received a letter from head office saying , in so many words, "we don't care. Go and shop elsewhere. Hard luck".

I wonder if they will respond when a small claim drops through the box ? I mean supermarket gets a claim for harassment will go down well ! Off to look for a Lidl with scammers in lol

MrsE_2

FatAndy wrote: »

It is legal in the same that it would be legal for me to send you a begging letter. Whether or not it's enforceable is a completely different question.

So if lidl & the scammers refuse to withdraw it, do I have to pay?

malak1

My case is very similar to MrsE, I will keep my eye on all the replies coming your way as no point in boring the readers with reading same thing over. Please help us both and thanks for your advice.

Stroma

MrsE wrote: »

So if lidl & the scammers refuse to withdraw it, do I have to pay?

No it doesn't mean you pay! How can there be any loss to them in a free car park ? And make a complaint to Lidl and scan your receipt in and pop the email to their head office

Coupon-mad

MrsE wrote: »

So if lidl & the scammers refuse to withdraw it, do I have to pay?

NOPE, of course not, this isn't a fine!! But because some of these firms try small claims every so often to extort their money we say appeal it and get it cancelled.

Hope you have started to read a few other threads on here. Read some on page 1 or 2 of the parking forum. Same advice repeated ad infinitum every hour of every day.

1. Complain to the Store Manager.

2. Write a challenge to the scammers, not saying who was driving, written in the third person. Just challenge the validity of the ticket, enclosing a copy of the receipt as 'the driver was a patron of the store' (DO NOT SAY 'I WAS') and ask for your POPLA code if they should reject your challenge.

3. Tell us when you get your POPLA code (hundreds of current threads on here about POPLA). Read some as you'll need to know how to word that stage properly to get the whole scam cancelled in the end.