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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Should my parents pay this supermarket car park fine?

211 replies

Afternooninthepark · 05/12/2019 19:44

My parents always shop in our local Lidl supermarket.
My dad has just received a car park fine stating they were 15 minutes over the allotted 90 minutes. TBH, they were totally unaware it was 90 minutes and assumed it was 3 hours like many of our local supermarkets.
My dad says he will pay the fine as he doesn’t want any hassle but I don’t think he should because of several things :-
A) They spend over £80 in that supermarket (and have the receipt) and regularly shop in that store.
B) They are both in their late 70’s and quite slow (mainly because of mum, see below)
C) Mum has Alzheimer’s, osteoporosis and a disability parking permit

Dad is panicking and says he wants to pay it but I think that would be wrong as they spent money in the store and didn’t wander off and leave their car in the car park to do other things, why should they have to pay a fine after genuinely spending money in the store?
AIBU thinking they should challenge this?

OP posts:
ellendegeneres · 05/12/2019 19:54

I would. I have a disability badge and the nature of my disability causes me to have a terrible time with mobility, I could easily see this happening to me. I would appeal on the grounds that as a blue badge user you are very likely to need longer than your average shopper and with your dad being preoccupied with your disabled mum, it’s understandable that this wasn’t noticed by him.

Worst that can happen is they’ll say no, and you’ll have to pay the original amount. Best that can happen is that they overturn the fine.

A parking warden for a county council recently told me always appeal, it can’t make it worse. This was while checking parking charges applied to those with a blue badge- they don’t in that car park, provided it’s displayed properly

LEELULUMPKIN · 05/12/2019 19:58

Nothing to lose by trying, I would. You might just catch someone in the festive spirit.

I have challenged a ticket in the past on similar grounds and had it waived.

Go for it OP.

WelcomeToShootingStars · 05/12/2019 19:58

Disability often is grounds to have a charge waived. It's quite understandable that a disabled person may take longer to do things than an able bodied person.

I got a charge from overstaying on a tesco car park recently and it was stated in the letter as reasonable grounds to contest.

Dontunderestimateme · 05/12/2019 19:59

The thing is that they clearly could challenge it, and if they want to that is fine, but if your Dad wants to pay it, and it is not going to cause him any financial difficulty, then that is really up to him.

HanginWithMyGnomies · 05/12/2019 20:09

They do change them in store for you, just pop along with the receipt and the fine. They are actually really helpful.

Namechanged1010 · 05/12/2019 20:10

Go visit the store and ask them to get it cancelled. They will probably say it isn't their car park which is bollocks as the parking company just manage it.

If they refuse, then before you appeal the parking charge, go to Facebook and join "Private Parking Tickets - Help and Advice". They will give you very informed and free advice and given the issues you describe, you can invoke the Equality Act but you need advice how to word it.

Don't expect the parking company to be sympathetic. They are utter scumbags and automatically reject appeals and whose only mission is to screw every motorist for the slightest mistake. The Church Of England are now employing them and enjoying getting their share of the income they get so shows how pernicious they are

stairway · 05/12/2019 20:14

Ask the store to cancel it and mention the equality act 2010.

AndAnotherNameChanger · 05/12/2019 20:14

Assuming it was the Lidl car park, the purpose of the time limits are to try and ensure spaces are available for genuine shoppers. Most people won't take that long to do a shop there, but obviously it's not in their interests to deter genuine shoppers - and especially ones who are spending a good amount.

You absolutely should appeal and if it's a different company who are managing the fines I'd also bring it to the attention of the store manager.

Original poster
Afternooninthepark · 05/12/2019 20:14

Thanks all, I will pop by tomorrow and take a look at this fine, see what it says about appealing, we can at least try? Dad did show it to the store manager but he wasn’t interested.
Btw, for those saying ‘over 90 mins to shop, really??’, as explained mum has disabilities AND Alzheimer’s, shopping with someone with those challenges IS NOT a 5 minute job, believe me!!

OP posts:
HanginWithMyGnomies · 05/12/2019 20:15

Honestly @Afternooninthepark it really isn’t a fight with them. I’ve overstayed and forgot to pop my reg in the machine, received the fines. I’ve popped in once with a receipt and once with just my bank statement to show I’d shopped there on that day. Both times, they cancelled the fine instore right there :)

HanginWithMyGnomies · 05/12/2019 20:16

Cross post sorry.. that’s really disappointing service from them. What a difference a manager makes!!!

missmouse101 · 05/12/2019 20:16

Everyone has to abide by parking restrictions. They've breached them. Why are they trying to wriggle out of it?

stairway · 05/12/2019 20:16

That’s why you are protected under the equalities act being under age and disability. Mention this is any appeal.

ItsGoingTibiaK · 05/12/2019 20:16

If the store manager isn't bothered, take it straight to the top. Their managing director is [email protected]

HideYourBabiesAndYourBeadwork · 05/12/2019 20:17

If they were shopping in that store then absolutely do appeal it, especially as they have a blue badge. Hope they get it waived.

MikeUniformMike · 05/12/2019 20:18

@Afternooninthepark. www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/private-parking-tickets/

lifeisgoodagain · 05/12/2019 20:18

You can try but how can anyone spend more than 45 mins in Lidl, there's no restaurant and they aren't very big

sweeneytoddsrazor · 05/12/2019 20:18

We have a 2 and 1/2 hour limit where I work but blue badge holders are exempt

Original poster
Afternooninthepark · 05/12/2019 20:21

Mike thanks, will look at that.
Life you have obviously never shopped with an Alzheimer’s suffer!

OP posts:
safariboot · 05/12/2019 20:21

YANBU. I would complain to the store manager in the first instance. They won't want their customers to be pissed off and may have influence over the parking enforcement.

The time limits are meant to deter people from parking there and going and doing other stuff. If I remember rightly the supermarket near me does 90-minute limit when it's matchday at the adjacent football ground.

(I'm surprised someone could spend 1 3/4 hours in Lidl, but I guess with slow shopping, maybe spending time to consider the special buys, and then having a long queue at the tills it could happen.)

Although a Blue Badge has no legal standing in private car parks, the Equality Act 2010 means shops have a legal obligation to make reasonable adjustments for people with disabilities. I would expect allowing longer-than-usual parking stays would absolutely qualify.

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 05/12/2019 20:23

missmouse

I am sure the OP wishes her DM could “wriggle out” of her Alzheimer’s and other health problems. However, given that she can’t then a bit of compassion wouldn’t go amiss.

Reallybadidea · 05/12/2019 20:24

Speak to the main lidl customer service. I would be astonished if they won't cancel it.

MarieG10 · 05/12/2019 20:25

@missmouse101

Everyone has to abide by parking restrictions. They've breached them. Why are they trying to wriggle out of it?

Became they are not able bodied like you and me so are unable to shop like you and me in the time allocated. These working companies make their money out of the more vulnerable...believe me that is why the government enforced a code of practice on them which they still routinely ignore..

Read the POPLA independent appeals service latest report. They reported that they allow 50% of all appeals and are very concerned that the parking operators routinely don't oppose the appeal. Ie they reply on preying in people and just hope they pay..

That is why people have to stand up and be counted and not allow these scumbags to prey in people such as the OP described

Jammysod · 05/12/2019 20:25

My sil got a fine for overstaying at lidl, she challenged as she was doing a big shop whilst 8 months pregnant & a 2yr old in tow. They asked her for a copy of her receipt & waived the fine.