Been parking at the local Lidl for ages with a free 90 minute park - it seems they have now changed it to 10 mins resulting in the dreaded parking fine.
Can this be enforced? Seem to think they (Athena) are unable to force payment and it is best to ignore it - or will I end up racking up hundreds and possibly a debt collector knocking on the door?
Seems to be a confused area.
My advice having had something similar through the company
Don't ignore it
write immediately to both the lidl and the parking company explaining as a lidl customer you have been parking there for that amount of time for ages while shopping in lldl (any receipts are helpful) and that they have just changed it and that the signage was not clear enough that it had been changed etc etc
also that the fine is completely disproportionate to any loss by the company and would equate to £1 per minute which is ridiculous
There is also a parking obudsman that you should copy in all your letters and let them know you are copying them in
it might not get you anywhere fast but it stops them just passing it on to their outsourced company that just issues a county court action after three ignored letters and once the county court summons comes through you are on the back foot as a judge will ask why there letters were ignored plus you will incur county court fees and probably loose or have to settle in mediation
If it doesn't get you you clear they usually try and settle for a lower amount
but do not ignore
