Parking fine @ a supermarket carpark - enforceable?
Discussion
Hi all,
Looking for some advice and knowledge.
About a week ago my parents went to a local Lidl to buy a specific item, it wasn't in stock so they bought some general items paid and left, move forward a few days and my father receives a letter saying he has to pay £90 (reduced to £45 for quick payment)through the post, on this letter is a photo his car going into the car park and another driving out, both time stamped showing a lapsed time of approx 30 mins.
The letter (charge notice I think they titled it) is from a private firm called Athena ANPR who operate for Lidl at various Lidl car parks around the country, apparently what you had to do it scan your receipt at a "machine" in the car park to qualify your visit, my parents didn't know anything about this, they weren't informed at the till so didn't know to scan the receipt, at this point in time I don't know what the signage is like and they no longer have the receipt from the visit plus they paid cash so no debit\credit card proof.
The notice says if they do not pay it will be passed onto debt collection agencies and the small claims court, I think this firm are complete pirates and they shouldn't pay but it's not me who has the notice.
Where do my folks stand legally?
Thanks in Advance
Looking for some advice and knowledge.
About a week ago my parents went to a local Lidl to buy a specific item, it wasn't in stock so they bought some general items paid and left, move forward a few days and my father receives a letter saying he has to pay £90 (reduced to £45 for quick payment)through the post, on this letter is a photo his car going into the car park and another driving out, both time stamped showing a lapsed time of approx 30 mins.
The letter (charge notice I think they titled it) is from a private firm called Athena ANPR who operate for Lidl at various Lidl car parks around the country, apparently what you had to do it scan your receipt at a "machine" in the car park to qualify your visit, my parents didn't know anything about this, they weren't informed at the till so didn't know to scan the receipt, at this point in time I don't know what the signage is like and they no longer have the receipt from the visit plus they paid cash so no debit\credit card proof.
The notice says if they do not pay it will be passed onto debt collection agencies and the small claims court, I think this firm are complete pirates and they shouldn't pay but it's not me who has the notice.
Where do my folks stand legally?
Thanks in Advance
ChrisnChris said:
If they still have their store receipt, copy it & send it, with a covering letter, to ANPR, the ticket will be cancelled.
If they don't have the receipt, get a copy of the bank statement with the payment details on, assuming they didn't pay with cash. Copy this, blocking out any sensitive details, of course, and send this to ANPR, the ticket will be cancelled.
This is from my experience a year or so ago, it might have changed.
This was my thinking but they either chucked it in the bin or lost it, they paid cash (spent approx £10) so no actual proof they spent anything in the store.If they don't have the receipt, get a copy of the bank statement with the payment details on, assuming they didn't pay with cash. Copy this, blocking out any sensitive details, of course, and send this to ANPR, the ticket will be cancelled.
This is from my experience a year or so ago, it might have changed.
Sheepshanks said:
If they're quite old they've probably just paid it. Old people can't be done with hassle.
They're both in their late 70's and I think the thought has crossed by dads mind, just for a peaceful life, they can afford the (reduced) fine but that's not the point.I have passed on the Pepipoo (?) website and this thread to my dad.
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