Overstayed at a Supermarket Car Park?
Supermarket car parks (such as Lidl, Aldi, Asda, Morrisons, and Tesco) are frequently managed by aggressive private parking operators like ParkingEye, Euro Car Parks, UKPC, Horizon Parking, and Smart Parking.
These car parks usually impose strict 90-minute or 2-hour limits enforced by ANPR cameras. However, if you were a genuine shopper who spent money in the store, you have an extremely high chance (85%+) of having the fine completely cancelled.
Landowner Cancellation Right & BPA Code Clause 13
Supermarkets retain ultimate authority over their car park operators. Store managers can issue direct cancellation instructions to ParkingEye, Horizon, or Euro Car Parks for genuine customers.
Step 1: The Direct Store Manager Method (Highest Success Rate)
Do not start by filling in the private parking company's formal appeal form. Instead, go directly to the store manager:
- Find your proof of purchase: Locate your paper receipt, digital receipt, or a bank/credit card statement showing the transaction date and time matching your visit.
- Visit Customer Services or Email Head Office: Bring your receipt and the Parking Charge Notice to the store's Customer Service desk.
- Explain the reason for delay: Delays caused by checkout queues, pharmacy consultations, browsing the middle aisle ("Aisle of Wonder"), or parent-and-child needs are routinely accepted by store managers.
- Request Landowner Cancellation: Ask the manager to enter the ticket number into their terminal or email their operator liaison for a complete cancellation.
Step 2: The 10-Minute Grace Period Defence
If the store manager refuses or you don't have a receipt, check your arrival and departure timestamps.
- Under BPA Code of Practice Clause 13.3 and IPC Code Section 13, private operators must allow a mandatory 10-minute grace period at the end of the parking session before issuing a charge.
- In addition, Clause 13.1 requires a consideration period (typically 5 minutes) upon entry to find a space or read parking terms.
- If your recorded stay was within 10–15 minutes of the allowed duration, quote BPA Code Clause 13.3 in your appeal to POPLA.
Step 3: Appeal Letter Template for Supermarket Fines
Use our pre-structured appeal template below to challenge the operator if the store cannot cancel it directly:
Supermarket Customer Goodwill Appeal Letter
Dear Operator Name,
Re: Parking Charge Notice PCN Number - Vehicle Registration VRM
I am writing as the registered keeper of the above vehicle to formally challenge the Parking Charge Notice issued at Supermarket Name, Location on Date.
The driver was a genuine patron of Supermarket Name at the time of the alleged contravention. Attached to this appeal is proof of purchase (Receipt / Bank Statement Reference) confirming expenditure within the store during this visit.
The minor delay in departure was caused by checkout congestion inside the premises, which constitutes a frustration of contract and falls within reasonable consideration and grace periods under Section 13 of the BPA Code of Practice.
As a valued customer, I request that you cancel this parking charge notice immediately or consult with the landowner to confirm cancellation.
Yours faithfully,
Your NameRegistered Keeper Address