To not pay this fine?

[MsMcMurphy]

Received in the post a notice from Park Eye to pay a fine of 70 Pounds for parking from 05.45 - 20.00 at an ALDI supermarket 300 miles from where we live. A very blurry photo was included with what looks like our reg number - although the W looks very like an M ... it is disputable. Obviously I nor my car was there. I was at work that day but can't necessary prove I had the car there (although my staff pass card would have gone through the Q park barrier). I also bought petrol that day and can provide the receipt - but again does not prove I was in the car. Is this notice real or a scam? Or just a mistake? I certainly will not be paying it and intend to protest the fine but has anyone ever experienced a false/mistaken parking charge from this Company? Are these companies operating within the law? How difficult will they make my life if I refuse to pay?

Someone could have cloned your number plates.

Get your evidence together (reciepts, CCTV from garage if possible ) get back to them and get them told.

The "M" / "W" might be just blurring - they will have photographed the front/rear plates .

googling cloned number plates... thanks, great advice about the cctv - it was a BP garage so hopefully they might help with images - that would be brilliant - I am fuming at this intrusion into my life - with the onus on me to prove them wrong!

Usually the Aldi car parks are privately own & they can't make you pay the fine. You will be able to dispute it. Good luck OP

Thank you! Yes I found out on google that the privately owned parking companies are not actually backed up by law and basically just operating on breach of contract. Definitely going to enjoy winning this one. But re pp: am more concerned that my plate may have been cloned so will report to police and DVLR.

Yes I didn't actually know that could happen,that is really bad. Hope you can sort that out quickly.

I had a dispute with Parking Eye. They're absolutely infuriating and ridiculous. I'd not pay.

Martin Lewis Money saving expert site covers this well for the UK

Call the store and explain.
I had a parking eye charge from a local Aldi and was able to get it sorted out.

Another recommendation for Martin Lewis website. It's got lovely template letters for kicking arse out of private parking companies, particularly when you're absolutely 100% not guilty.

Might be a good idea to inform the DVLA too that you are concerned that your number plates have been cloned. This happens a lot more these days. I got a PCN for non-payment of the London congestion charge. Yet the car was parked up all day. The photos showed an entirely different manufacturer and make of car. PCNs are send out automatically when the computer flags up a number plate that hasn't paid the charge. A similar system is used by many parking firms reading the number plate entering and leaving the car park. I must confess I have had a few charges from stores. I am not advocating to follow my example but I ignore them all. However, anything to do with the council, I deal with immediately.

One of the reg numbers in their photo was blurred and typed that combination into the DVLA site to see if there was a car with that reg. but nothing. That leads me to suspect the plates have indeed been cloned. Bugger. So I will report to the police and DLVA and see what next steps are required. The garage where we got petrol on that day are happy to confirm our car is on their CCTV so that is a result. Plus hopefully my work will have a record of my signing in at the carpark.