Didn't know if this was the right forum to post in so mods please move if it's wrong!

Friend of ours has recently had a "fine" letter from a firm called "Parking Eye" for leaving their car too long in Aldi's car park in Prenton. Apparantly you're only allowed to park for 90mins then you have to pay a charge of £40.

After a bit of research (http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=2049291 ) it seems that they are a barely diguised fraud company and it looks like you shouldn't pay them.

Way to go Aldi, how to make your customers like you!

which aldi is it? since this company's a fake just fooking ignore them and if they persist tell them to shove it up there arses. (PS: Shouldn't this go into the scam forum?)

i agree with Omega fully

Several people on the site I am working on in Laird street park their cars/vans all day in the Aldi car park next door. As far as I know, no one has had a ticket of any kind yet. There are also no notices at all around the car park stating parking restrictions. Sounds like a scam.

Has anyone asked Aldi if they know anything?

i am sure there are signs in that car park about parking for a certain duration and there is definatly a warden that patrols that car park because i have spoken to him in the past.

There is a topic here about stuff like like, there are certain rules they must obide by to enforce such a fine, look in to it bud and you'll find it.

Ouch, security firms can find out your address from your reg plate? That's scary.
Fortunately, they don't have a leg to stand on, and if you get trouble, make sure you take them to court.

The firm that works there operates fines if you stay too long. There is a sole male who patrols the place. I can't see how they can gather evidence, I mean, how long is 90 minutes, did you go back to the car, is sitting in the car the same as parking?

Just don't pay - parking "fines" from private companies are not legally enforcable, and you have no need to pay.

If you get caught by the authorities (council operated traffic warden, police etc) parking in an illegal area/overstaying your limit, then you must pay, but all other fines are bollox - see if they bother taking you to court - they won't.

Tbh, its about time the government outlawed this type of practice, and clampers etc... Reasonable fee's should less than £30 in any event, but whilst its the consumer being scammed and ripped off, the government don't give a flying fook. Now if Gordon Browns missus got clamped, all of a sudden, things would change!!

Not entirely true Matt. I was given a fine for parking on double yellows outside my kids school by that stupid smart car working for the council. An appeal later pointing out among other things that their car was taking up a parking space at school time and the fine was cancelled.

Always question ANY fine no matter who its from.

It's the Aldi at Prenton that this happenned in and they're a real company. They're just working in a very dodgy way to get people to pay up before they realise the "fines" are unenforceable.

your fine was dropped due to a techality though bud.

Never [pay private parking tickets, they have a perceived contract (if you saw and agreed with the signs) with the driver, and all they can get is the registered keeper. In court, they would have to prove who the driver is, along with a huge pile of other problems. So much so, that 99% of cases will not go to court, as they haven't a leg to stand on. You will get letters of Debt Collectors and Solicitors, all asking for your money, with threats of CCJ's etc. This is all bluff, ignore them and they will go away.

With council tickets, ALWAYS appeal. You will probably not always win, but processing the appeal will cost them some money at least, and if anyone appeald, the whole parking section would fall to pieces.

For advice on signage and legislation on council tickets, visit www.pepipoo.com , an excellent site which wioll help you get out of most council tickets.

With it being a Aldi car park, why the tickets? Aldi/Tescos/or Asda dont by us,tesco have 3 hour shop time limit never heard of any tickets tho.

my wife got a parking eye fine about 2 months ago, for staying 2 hours in aldi in Prenton, she was 9 months pregnant at the time and was feeling sick, so she sat in her car until she felt better. Shes had a 2 letters the last one with some photos of her driving in and out. Were not paying it as its just a scam ignore all the official looking letters.