Parking Charge Notice for failing to display a valid ticket

George_G

On Sunday I visited Aldi in Hatfield. The private car park there has a scheme where the first hour of parking is free if you display a ticket. Like a complete doughnut I forgot to get a free parking ticket to display on my car. Consequently I received a Parking Charge notice at 13:01. I have a receipt from Aldi timed at 13:08, so I was back at my car by 13:15 at the latest. I was only in the car park about 30 minutes and have a receipt from John Lewis timed at 12:15. Would it be worth pointing out that I can show I was not in the car park over an hour (which is free) and attempting to get the charge waived? I know this is down to my own stupidity, but £50 is a lot to pay for free parking!

Umkomaas

Is this a ParkingEye Notice to Keeper?
How much did you spend at Aldi?
Is John Lewis also serviced by this car park?

Coupon-mad

George_G wrote: »

On Sunday I visited Aldi in Hatfield. The private car park there has a scheme where the first hour of parking is free if you display a ticket. Like a complete doughnut I forgot to get a free parking ticket to display on my car. Consequently I received a Parking Charge notice at 13:01. I have a receipt from Aldi timed at 13:08, so I was back at my car by 13:15 at the latest. I was only in the car park about 30 minutes and have a receipt from John Lewis timed at 12:15. Would it be worth pointing out that I can show I was not in the car park over an hour (which is free) and attempting to get the charge waived? I know this is down to my own stupidity, but £50 is a lot to pay for free parking!

'Waived'? It's not a real fine. You won't be PAYING it, you appeal it as per all the advice here.

Complain about it to the retail managers, and see the sticky threads at the top:

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

You need to read the one that starts 'newbies' and the one about 'successful complaints'.

George_G

Umkomaas wrote: »

Is this a ParkingEye Notice to Keeper?
How much did you spend at Aldi?
Is John Lewis also serviced by this car park?

Umkomaas, thanks for answering. In response to your questions ...
This was from UKPC and is headed Parking Charge.
We spent £8.79 in Aldi, hardly a fortune.
John Lewis is in Welwyn Garden City, a 10-15 minute drive away - hence me saying that I was only in the car park about 30 minutes.

Umkomaas

George_G wrote: »

Umkomaas, thanks for answering. In response to your questions ...
This was from UKPC and is headed Parking Charge.
We spent £8.79 in Aldi, hardly a fortune.
John Lewis is in Welwyn Garden City, a 10-15 minute drive away - hence me saying that I was only in the car park about 30 minutes.

They seem to have a 'magic' cut off point of £30 spend to automatically void a ticket, but no matter what you spend (even if nothing, just browsing), you are still a genuine Aldi customer.

PE, despite being the most avaricious, aggressive and litigious of all PPCs, do respond positively to an appeal with copies of receipts proving 'genuine' shopping on the day.

As part of your appeal do send a copy of that receipt saying it proves you were a genuine shopper and, as such, they should cancel the charge.

This is of course one of the appeal points in addition to poor signage and the charge does not reflect a genuine pre estimate of loss (GPEOL in forum shorthand).

Look on the sticky thread 'Newbies read this first .... ' at the top of the forum index page to help you further progress this initial appeal.

HTH