ParkingEye making me wait 28 days

usernamenotfound

Let me know what you guys think of this email... I will be sending to all three emails below separately

Dear {CEO of ALDI} (gmdsec@aldi.co.uk, mdpa.swi@aldi.co.uk,  gmd.cs@aldi.co.uk)

OFFICIAL COMPLAINT ABOUT PARKING EYE, AS AGENTS FOR ALDI
I am forced to make an official complaint to you because the actions of your agent, Parking Eye, are upsetting, intimidatory and will drive away genuine Aldi customers in the long run. You can no doubt guess that we have received a letter purporting to mimic a 'parking ticket' from PE - and yet we knew nothing about any issues at the time when we stopped off at ALDI.

We had just been on a work visit, and we decided to stop for a lunch break. We arrived at ALDI, parked up in the car park, bought some food to eat before we going to our meeting. It was midday and the car park was pretty much empty so we really didn't cause any losses to you nor PE and, importantly, we saw no signs. I would suggest that they are unclear and/or not lit nor prominent enough to communicate any time limit.

But out of the blue we have now been sent a fake parking ticket by your agents for apparently 'overstaying' a hitherto unknown time limit. We are now expected to have to explain our actions to a third party private company who we had no dealings with, no contract with, and who are demanding a lot of money from us - in my book that is totally unacceptable.

We are very upset and increasingly angry about this entire episode. After an enjoyable lunch for our business trip, our stop-off at ALDI has now left a nasty taste in the mouth. We are horrified that ALDI can allow such a notorious firm to harass customers on your behalf. Because PE sent their letter out unexpectedly, after the event, we do not have a receipt now because we paid cash and discarded the receipt as normal when buying food and drink on such a journey. We had no idea about any time limit - or indeed any possibility of getting a 'parking ticket' - until as the registered keeper of the car, I was suddenly sent a demand by your agents.

I have researched the matter and intend to escalate my challenge against Parking Eye to the independent stage (Parking on Private Land Appeals). However, I am giving ALDI the chance to quash the fake PCN once and for all because I feel you need to know that you and your agents are alienating genuine customers due to PE's zero-tolerance policy.

Well before renewing your contracts with Parking Eye when the time comes, might I just suggest you take time to read and digest the implications to other Retailers, Supermarkets & customers, and the picture painted of Parking Eye's aggressive business practices, as set out in the full court judgement for 'Parking Eye v Somerfield - Case No: A3/2011/0909'.

Notwithstanding what Parking Eye may well have to say on the matter, no doubt involving spin about their firm 'being members of the BPA Approved Operator Scheme' (in reality, merely trade body 'club membership' which enables them to buy registered keeper data and certainly does not 'regulate' their industry) I would also respectfully suggest that ALDI should research the company you are associating with - in truth, Parking Eye have a terrible online reputation and are now suing customers over minor 'infringements' without referral to their clients, like yourselves, who may still naively believe that their agenda is 'parking management'.

( NOTE TO SELF: POTENTIALLY REMOVE THIS PART*) I would also suggest researching the current debacle unfolding over your ALDI facebook page, which is currently littered with customer complaints about Parking Eye who are actually suing Supermarket customers for 'transgressions' just like my own situation. It seems that so many clients, blinded by the idea of 'parking management for free' have fallen for the spiel of a dominant company whose agenda is profit alone. It is not 'parking management' to have ANPR cameras on site and yet no management of spaces, no attendants and no checks made of disabled bays, for example. It's pure profiteering by your agent, routinely 'farming' car parks with no consideration for individual customer needs and circumstances.

My view is that ostensibly free ANPR-led enforcement of parking spaces by a notorious and litigious third party firm using remote cameras at the entrance and exit, and a few unnoticeable signs, is completely incompatible with the customer service ethic of ALDI.

I would welcome your own view on this harassment and hope you see fit to ensure that PE cancel the 'ticket' forthwith. My research about this matter has revealed that you have cancelled some of these tickets for genuine customers recently which has helped to restore my faith a little, albeit tempered with frustration that ALDI are allowing such an aggressive agent to have free reign to intimidate customers for their own profit, at your (and your customers') own expense.

yours,
NAME

(PARKING EYE TICKET REFERENCE NUMBER HERE)

D_P_Dance

Good stuff, what more is there to say.

Fruitcake

I would just say, terrible reputation, or terrible reputation countrywide rather than "online".


You could mention the comments in red from the first post of the NEWBIES quoted by our MPs in open parliament, as well as the introduction of the new parking bill.

You could also mention that the UK Government has banned the use of ANPR scameras in council and local authority car parks because it is not fit for purpose, but unregulated parking scammers (emphasise the word unregulated at regular intervals) use them because their flaws generate money for them.

Redx

Make copies of the PCN and attach one , plus take a copy into the store , Keep your original paperwork safe
Do the same with any receipts and redacted bank statements

usernamenotfound

Hi all, Ive received an email from the managing director of ALDI which read the following:

"I am writing regarding your correspondence addressed to our CEO, Giles Hurley, who has reviewed your email and asked me to respond on his behalf.

 

Thank you for contacting us regarding the parking charge notice you received whilst visiting our Long Eaton store.

 

As you may be aware, ParkingEye manages this car park using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras that monitor cars entering and leaving the car park. This system ensures that we are able to offer free parking to all our customers and helps to prevent any abuse of our car parks. 

 

As a gesture of goodwill on this occasion, I am happy to contact ParkingEye and get this charge cancelled.

 

I hope that this satisfactorily resolves this matter for you. We value your custom and hope that you will continue to shop with us.

Kind regards

 

 

Michael Robinson

Customer Experience Team"

Should I write an email in response and if so, how should I word it? Or should assume it will now be cancelled and happily get on with my life (as much as I can with the covid lockdown happening)?

Umkomaas

You could just email a quick reply, thank him for his intervention and that you look forward to receive PE's written confirmation of their cancellation. 

PE are efficient at writing to confirm cancellation - usually 7-10 days, but maybe longer in the present circumstances. But you could open their website, go as if to pay the parking charge and check on its current status. If it says cancelled or similar, take a screenshot and retain for posterity!  Give it a couple of days before checking. 

Le_Kirk

usernamenotfound said:

Hi all, Ive received an email from the managing director of ALDI which read the following:
"I am writing regarding your correspondence addressed to our CEO, Giles Hurley, who has reviewed your email and asked me to respond on his behalf.

 Thank you for contacting us regarding the parking charge notice you received whilst visiting our Long Eaton store.

 As you may be aware, ParkingEye manages this car park using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras that monitor cars entering and leaving the car park. This system ensures that we are able to offer free parking to all our customers and helps to prevent any abuse of our car parks. 

 As a gesture of goodwill on this occasion, I am happy to contact ParkingEye and get this charge cancelled.

 I hope that this satisfactorily resolves this matter for you. We value your custom and hope that you will continue to shop with us.

Kind regards

Michael Robinson

Customer Experience Team"

Should I write an email in response and if so, how should I word it? Or should assume it will now be cancelled and happily get on with my life (as much as I can with the covid lockdown happening)?

Umkomaas said:

You could just email a quick reply, thank him for his intervention and that you look forward to receive PE's written confirmation of their cancellation. 

PE are efficient at writing to confirm cancellation - usually 7-10 days, but maybe longer in the present circumstances. But you could open their website, go as if to pay the parking charge and check on its current status. If it says cancelled or similar, take a screenshot and retain for posterity!  Give it a couple of days before checking. 

Make sure you tell Michael Robinson the PCN reference number and your VRM so there can be no excuse for it not being cancelled.

Redx

well done , which goes to show that the first stage of a landowner or CEO complaint is always the best route to take , this should be taken as read and not have to keep being pointed out ad nauseum

hence my comments in this thread  https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6126533/pcn-and-not-displayed-parking-ticket#latest

keep your eye on the ball now , checking if the charge online goes down to £0.00p and checking your post for the cancellation by PE

Coupon-mad

Yay - easy when you know how! 

I think more PCNs on this forum get cancelled by retailers & landowners than any other way.