Aldi target elderly and vulnerable with £70 charge for shopping too slowly

This post on the Aldi facebook site says it all.

Aldi, through their partners, ParkingEye, have cynically ripped off two elderly and less mobile shoppers because they could not get round the store in 1.5 hours. The Prankster has helped large numbers of elderly, disabled and vulnerable motorists and can confirm this is not a one-off incident.

Elderly and vulnerable people are far more likely to pay up when targeted in this way. They are not likely to be internet savvy, so will be unaware that ParkingEye's charges have been ruled to be legally unenforceable 100% of the time when challenged at POPLA.



The Prankster has previously posted a list of POPLA verdicts here. This list is no longer up to date and new verdicts continue to come in, as reported in this thread.

To fight a ParkingEye charge The Prankster recommends the following.

1) Send an appeal to ParkingEye, along with the list of POPLA verdicts

Dear ParkingEye, 

I wish to appeal your charge because it is not a genuine pre-estimate of loss. Please see attached list of POPLA verdicts showing this.

If you use snail mail, don't forget to get a free proof of posting because The Prankster has evidence that ParkingEye 'lose' mail sent to them in this way. Similarly, if you use the web, get a screenshot because ParkingEye also seem to lose some of these, and there is no confirmation email. Because of this, the Prankster recommends you also email your appeal to enforcement@parkingeye.co.uk as a backup until ParkingEye start sending confirmation your appeal has been received.

2) Complain to the BPA and the DVLA that ParkingEye's charges are not a genuine pre-estimate of loss.
aos@britishparking.co.uk
foi@dvla.gsi.gov.uk

Dear BPA/DVLA,

ParkingEye have sent me a parking charge which is not a genuine pre-estimate of loss. This is against the BPA code of conduct. Please see attached parking charge and  list of POPLA verdicts showing this.

3) Complain to Belinda Barlow at Aldi who handles this.
B Barlow, Aldi Parking Appeals, Scimitar Way, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN3 4AL

Dear Ms. Barlow,

ParkingEye have sent me a parking charge which is not a genuine pre-estimate of loss. This is against the BPA code of conduct. Please see attached parking charge list of POPLA verdicts showing this.

If ParkingEye reject your appeal then appeal to POPLA. You could go with the above minimalist appeal, or if you prefer to cover all bases, got to moneysavingexpert, pepipoo or parkingcowboys for a fuller appeal guide.


Happy Parking

The Parking Prankster