Help needed Aldi parking fine

yellowlally

Hi all, wonder if anyone can give me some advice? I stumbled across this thread by accident a couple of weeks ago when I was looking up Aldi. About 10 days ago I visited an Aldi with my son, who is disabled and suffers from epilepsy. Unfortunately whilst in store he had a seizure and I guess I overstayed on the parking time. Today I got a fine from Parking Eye, I stayed in the store (according to the letter I got from Parking Eye) for 1 hour 9 minutes. Im not even sure if that is true because he had his seizure soon after we went in the shop, but admittedly I did sit in the car with him for a bit after until I felt it was safe to drive off again. Do I contact Aldi, not quite sure how, I checked their website for a email address but cant find one? Or do I go to Parking Eye to appeal or do I do this popla thing? The process on the back of the letter is a bit confusing. Anyone help? Because of the seizure I never actually ended up buying anything in Aldi so I havent got a receipt or anything. Thanks, Gemma.

McKneff

You need to do absolutely nothing. These are non enforceable invoices.
Only the courts and police have the power to fine you. More people will be along for reassurance so just hang about.

Stroma

Whilst the above advice can be done, its on the conditions below which are your options

1) pay them - but why come here if that is you inclination ?
2) ignore them - parking eye are issuing claims to some people who ignore them, they have 6 years to make a claim
3) challenge them - if they reject that then you can go to popla with our help, we are running at a 100% success rate

Stroma

And by the way make a complaint on the Aldi Facebook page as well
https://www.facebook.com/AldiUK?fref=ts&filter=2

Guys_Dad

I would go into ALDI and ask them to cancel the charge. If your son's seizure was seen by any of the staff, get them to confirm it to the manager.

In addition, there is a ALDI FACEBOOK PAGE KICKING OFF thread with a contact email for you to get in touch with Aldi where shoppers feel a charge has been issued harshly.

I think, in your case, with the minimal time over, the circumstances of your son, that approaching Aldi first of all would be the easier route. Parking Eye are likely to be less sympathetic.

But do it soon as you have a limited time to make an appeal to Parking Eye in order to get a POPLA code or your charge overturned.

yellowlally

Thanks all. I cant afford to pay £40 at the moment and it will go up to £70 if I dont pay quick enough so not paying isnt an option. Im just worried that if I ignore them they will take me to court? What happens then? Might sound a bit dumb but can they send you to prison if you dont pay? I dont do facebook so cant post there. Do I appeal first to parking eye and what are my chances if i do? Or can i just appeal to popla. Really sorry if I sound stupid but Im just a bit upset and worried because I really cant afford to pay and what will happen to my son if I got to prison?

yellowlally

Guys dad, just seen your post. Yes i could do that, they helped me with my son so they will remember. Dont know why I didnt think of that, I will go there tomorrow. And then if i dont get any joy or they dont remember I will appeal parking eye. Thanks very much.

Guys_Dad

yellowlally wrote: »

Guys dad, just seen your post. Yes i could do that, they helped me with my son so they will remember. Dont know why I didnt think of that, I will go there tomorrow. And then if i dont get any joy or they dont remember I will appeal parking eye. Thanks very much.

Good. But don't appeal to Parking Eye without our help - particularly coupon-mad. As you were only a little time over, the concept of a grace period arises, as well as your son's condition.

But as to your questions - none of these things will happen.

First things first, though, eh? :beer:

Stroma

Ensure you highlight the fact that its an Equality Act 2010 breach if they don't cancel this invoice once they know your son is disabled and protected under the act. It could be you making a county court claim against Aldi and Parking Eye if they persist.

First step is Aldi though, post on Facebook as well as going to the store.

Umkomaas

yellowlally wrote: »

Guys dad, just seen your post. Yes i could do that, they helped me with my son so they will remember. Dont know why I didnt think of that, I will go there tomorrow. And then if i dont get any joy or they dont remember I will appeal parking eye. Thanks very much.

OP - sorry to hear of the problems Aldi's parking pit-bull is giving you. You certainly don't need this cr*p in your lives.

I agree with GD that a visit to the store to (assertively) speak to the manager about the problems your son experienced on the day and get him to call PE and get this ridiculous charge removed immediately.

If they don't, they will be falling foul of the Equality Act 2010. (i.e. breaking the law - nothing new here ). So get back to us if this hapoens and the forum's Equality Act expert, Coupon-mad (I won't call her the forum's very own pit-bull ) will no doubt be salivating at the opportunity to rip into Aldi and PE on this.

Not only will you not be paying this charge, but you're going to love seeing and reading just how you're not going to pay it. You're in safe hands here.

Coupon-mad

yellowlally wrote: »

Guys dad, just seen your post. Yes i could do that, they helped me with my son so they will remember. Dont know why I didnt think of that, I will go there tomorrow. And then if i dont get any joy or they dont remember I will appeal parking eye. Thanks very much.

Don't ignore it, that was the wrong advice (old advice).

Do try a very assertive complaint (not appeal, no apologies) first. We have seen many fake PCNs cancelled is the motorist is quick to complain and goes to the top Manager. In your case cite the Equality Act 2010 and say they have broken the law if they do not make 'reasonable adjustments' for disabled customers and your son's situation is clearly something which required you to take longer before leaving. Tell the Manager they are responsible for the actions of their agent and if he thinks he can't help can he please ring the central customer services as you have seen that Aldi have offered to deal with genuine cases and cancel them (due to the shtt hitting the fan on their facebook page in the past month, re Parking Eye complaints).

But if the Manager is useless, you'll have to get it cancelled by winning at POPLA instead (which we can help you to do).

That involves a first appeal to the PPC, which can be a short challenge or a longer one showing them you mean business. Someone saw off UKCPS with a strong first appeal and we know Parking Eye are struggling to cope with appeals:

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?...pic=79697&st=0

but here's a thread talking about soft/short appeals, with links to examples:

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?...st=20&start=20

and here's a very recent post from Guys Dad suggesting grounds that should certainly be in even the shortest first challenge, in order to extract a POPLA code:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/...3#post62538833

Either way you will be wanting a POPLA code if they do not cancel the fake PCN, and either way you must write in the third person as the 'keeper' NOT implying who was driving (as you will see from the linked examples, write about 'the driver' in the third person).

HTH