advertisement


Car Park Scam

D

dweezil

pfm Member
Just found a whole new phenomenon.

We got a parking charge notice from some people called Athena who operate in Lidl car parks.

Turns out the employee concerned went in twice, once for us to get loads of cleaning stuff then again after work for food. All well documented with an invoice for the first visit and about 20 witnesses to her and the truck's presence in the yard all day.

Athena appears to have a habit of binning the intermediate out and in pictures to create an appearance of a 12 hour visit which generates a £90 penalty charge.

If it hadn't been for their clogged up payment system I would have paid without a second thought.

Watch out folks! It's only £90 but that's a good week's food at Lidl.
 
Are you sure it was that?
Many of these car park operators say they will invoice if a car returns within a certain time span.
 
yikes , thanks for tip . I already avoid one Homebase branch due to their heavy parking penalties after 1 hour only . had to pay a 60 quid fine as stayed over by 15 mins
 
They aren’t fines.
Only plod and local authorities have the power to fine.

It’s an invoice.
 
This is curiously good news, although it must be very annoying for the OP. If retailers keep doing this, hopefully people will start to be more selective about where they decide to spend their money.
 
We had an invoice like that after staying just over the 3 hours allowed in a car park last year. Never did pay it and they haven't sent any more letters since the start of this year!
 
I've read that, if you overstay a paid for parking period, at the very most all you need do is pay a fair price for the overstay. As above, it's an invoice, and there's no way the thieving, scamming scum can show that you've cost them or the land owner £60 for fifteen minutes.

But yes, council parking wardens and rozzers are a different matter.
 
Be advised though that one company were after my son, stopped for 9 months but recently started again.

It’s a game of brinksmanship but be advised that since the court clarification in Nov 2016 if they proceed to court they will win.
 
Tony Lockhart said:
I've read that, if you overstay a paid for parking period, at the very most all you need do is pay a fair price for the overstay. As above, it's an invoice, and there's no way the thieving, scamming scum can show that you've cost them or the land owner £60 for fifteen minutes.

But yes, council parking wardens and rozzers are a different matter.
Click to expand...

The high court disagrees.
They ruled £80-odd was a reasonable charge.
See
https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/law/supreme-court-dismisses-85-parking-ticket-challenge/5051987.article
 
I have experienced this too however upon challenging the fact (another private company) that numerous trips were made within the specified time scales they outlined, they soon left me alone. Their system is flawed, "conveniently".
 
..... FWIW, a fully occupied space at your typical Tesco or Sainsbury can cost them £1m per year. I am involved with planning and have been made aware of this numerous times. Hence planning companies assisting developers will often resort to time restriction enforcement to factor out certain usage. Thus allowing for a nearby development to be given the nod. Money talks and IME, always wins. Tesco are by far the worst offenders. They will build a bigger store than granted, without consent and take the LA to court knowing they will win, because they always do.
 
Mrs CHE just got a similar invoice up here in Scotland. I followed a thread on MoneySavingExpert and it was cancelled within a day. In simple terms, the parking company goes after the keeper and 'demands' that the keeper tells them who the driver was, however, it seems that there is no legal obligation to do so and the keeper doesn't have liability if they don't.

Details here :-

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=5612169

and Scottish specific information I followed here :-

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=5672182

CHE
 
eternumviti said:
Only £90?

Why does 90 quid sound like a lot of money to me, and not you?
Click to expand...

I guess in the context of a forum where high-end equipment costing £10k plus is discussed, £90 is small change. In the context of earnings, in my case it's a couple of days' income.
 
Bob McC said:
Are you sure it was that?
Many of these car park operators say they will invoice if a car returns within a certain time span.
Click to expand...

it's an old scam (happened so a colleague) - he went in of a morning and returned in the early evening and it recorded him as only having one visit... :(
 
CHE said:
Mrs CHE just got a similar invoice up here in Scotland. I followed a thread on MoneySavingExpert and it was cancelled within a day. In simple terms, the parking company goes after the keeper and 'demands' that the keeper tells them who the driver was, however, it seems that there is no legal obligation to do so and the keeper doesn't have liability if they don't.

Details here :-

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=5612169

and Scottish specific information I followed here :-

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=5672182

CHE
Click to expand...

This. These thieving scum who issue these invoices need to be taken to task, and have their time wasted as much as possible. If they try taking you to Small Claims, you need to defend it, otherwise they will win by default. Absolute scum of the highest order.
 
CHE said:
Mrs CHE just got a similar invoice up here in Scotland. I followed a thread on MoneySavingExpert and it was cancelled within a day. In simple terms, the parking company goes after the keeper and 'demands' that the keeper tells them who the driver was, however, it seems that there is no legal obligation to do so and the keeper doesn't have liability if they don't.

Details here :-

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=5612169

and Scottish specific information I followed here :-

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=5672182

CHE
Click to expand...

There is in England.
The law was changed a couple of years ago.

From MSE guidance

“It might be the driver wot dunnit – but that doesn't mean it's the driver who'll have to pay. Parking operators in England and Wales are allowed to hold the vehicle's owner liable for unpaid charges if they don't know who the driver was and the owner refuses, or is unable, to name the driver.”
 
Correct. A few years ago, I ran a parking company through the hoops as they tried to force me to reveal the driver (which was me, but I didn't have to say) - it was quite entertaining, but they eventually gave up.
However, the rules have now changed, and you have to 'fess up
 
You must log in or register to reply here.


advertisement


Back
Top