ParkingEye ANPR Error at Aldi. Parking Charge Cancelled
Three defects found: partially obscured signage, missing POFA declaration, and ANPR evidence failures. Charge cancelled.
By Parking Mate UK
ParkingEye PCN Cancelled. Inadequate Signage and ANPR Failure
A driver parked at an Aldi store and received a parking charge notice from ParkingEye claiming they had not displayed a valid ticket. The charge was 100 pounds, reduced to 60 pounds if paid within 14 days. The motorist uploaded the ticket to Parking Mate UK instead of paying.
What Parking Mate UK Found
Parking Mate UK identified three defects in the ParkingEye notice.
- Inadequate Signage
The terms and conditions displayed at the car park entrance were partially obscured and not positioned at a height that would be clearly visible to drivers entering the site. Under the BPA Code of Practice, signage must be prominent, legible, and positioned so that a reasonable motorist would see and understand the terms before parking.
- No POFA Declaration
The Notice to Keeper did not include the required keeper liability statement as mandated by the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012. This means ParkingEye could not enforce the charge against the registered keeper.
- Incomplete ANPR Evidence
The ANPR system recorded an entry time but the exit photograph was unclear, making it impossible to verify the actual duration of the parking event. Without reliable entry and exit data, the alleged contravention cannot be proven.
The Result
Parking Mate UK generated a tailored appeal letter referencing the specific signage issues, the missing POFA declaration, and the unreliable ANPR evidence. The appeal was submitted via POPLA.
ParkingEye cancelled the charge before the POPLA hearing.
The motorist saved 100 pounds.
Key Takeaways
- ParkingEye is the largest private parking operator in the UK, issuing approximately 7,423 parking charges per day.
- ANPR camera errors are common, particularly where lighting conditions or camera positioning affect plate recognition.
- Signage defects are one of the most successful grounds for appeal against ParkingEye.
Check Your ParkingEye Ticket
If you have received a parking charge notice from ParkingEye, upload it for assessment with Parking Mate UK. ParkingEye is a BPA member and appeals are handled through POPLA.