Parking Eye (BPA) fine - help please?

LuLu72

Afternoon everyone,
I’ve today received a parking fine for being 11 minutes over on a max stay on an Aldi car park last Sunday.
I have contacted my council who have assured me that they have not got a membership with these cowboys, and that it is a private company.
Do I have to pay this? Or is it a scam?
People are advising me different things.
Can anyone help please?
Thank you in advance,
Lu.

Umkomaas

Were you an Aldi customer on the day?

Are you a regular Aldi customer?

Redx

LuLu72 wrote: »

,
I’ve today received a parking fine for being 11 minutes over on a max stay on an Aldi car park last Sunday.

I have contacted my council who have assured me that they have not got a membership with these cowboys, and that it is a private company.

Do I have to pay this? Or is it a scam?

HELLO

no you didnt get a "fine", you received a Parking Charge Notice (PCN), which is an INVOICE , not a "fine"

its nothing to do with the council , PE are a private parking company operating on private land like ALDI

you could pay it, if you think its valid

or you may wish not to, depending on where in the UK it was , the circumstances on the day, the signage , etc

it is not a "sc@m" as such , NO

DO NOT IGNORE IT

read the newbies faq sticky thread , third thread down from the top of this forum, the advice is in there

when replying , tell us how many days between incident date and the letter arriving , where was the incident ? , what do the signs on the parking site say ?

does this NTK adhere to the law called POFA or does it fail ?

see "golden ticket" in the NEWBIES thread to check it

then decide if you are complaining to the landowner, or appealing , or paying

which idiot told you that it was a "fine" ??


the more info we have the better the advice you get back

D_P_Dance

They can take you to court if you do not pay it, but they would need to prove that, inter alia, the signage was adequate. All the PE signs that I have come across fail imo to be able to form a contract. They are either too high, the font is too small, or they are too wordy, or all of the above, read this thread and complain to your MP.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5972164/parking-eye-signs-oxford-road-reading&highlight=

On 18th March 2019 a Bill was enacted to curb the excesses of these private parking companies. Codes of Practice are being drawn up, an independent appeals service will be set up, and access to the DVLA's date base more rigorously policed, and persistent offenders denied access. Hopefully life will become impossible for the worst of these scammers.

Until this is done you should still complain to your MP, citing the new legislation.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2019/8/contents/enacted

Just as the clampers were finally closed down, so hopefully will many of these Private Parking Companies.

LuLu72

Thanks guys,
Yes, I was shopping at Aldi in St Helens, the Linkway store.
I will go tomorrow and see exactly what the parking signs say, and let you alll know.
I received the letter today and I was there last Sunday afternoon.
I am fuming!
Many thanks for your help so far.
Lu 😊

Redx

email the CEO of ALDI, with copies of receipts , proofs of purchase or redacted bank statement attached , complaining bitterly about being a loyal customer and being treated this way

a landowner or store cancellation is always the best solution, so get complaining , in writing

write bad stuff on their social media site too

stir the pot , get it cancelled by ALDI

Umkomaas

Get this cancelled by Aldi, it works most times. Did you spend £30+ on the day?

Gather as many past receipts bank/cc statements showing regular Aldi patronage to back you up.

LuLu72

Thanks guys,
I go there most Sundays with my Mum, neither of us has got receipts. I’ve got a pdf of my bank transaction but my mum paid cash.
I spent £26 my mum spent a lot more but can’t find the receipt.
At least I’ve got proof I was there I suppose.
What type of wording do you advise to write to the CEO?
Many thanks,
Lu.

Le_Kirk

Just tell the CEO that, if your weekly shopping bill (yours and your Mum's) is to be increased £100 per week, then you can no longer afford to shop at Aldi; other food retailers are available and may actually be pleased to receive your custom!

LuLu72

Thanks for your help everyone, I had an email reply on behalf of Giles Hurley CEO of Aldi UK today and he is cancelling the Parking Charge Notice for me

Coupon-mad

Quite right too.

Wait a week and then log into ParkingEye's website to check the PCN shows as zero.