Got a Parking Fine at Aldi? Here's What to Do

Last updated: February 2026

Updated February 2026 - 7 min read

You popped into Aldi for a quick shop. A week later, a £70 parking charge lands on your doormat. Welcome to the wonderful world of supermarket parking enforcement.

Aldi parking charges are one of the most complained-about issues in UK private parking. Thousands of genuine customers get caught out every year. Here's what's actually going on and what you can do about it.

Who's Actually Fining You?

Aldi doesn't issue parking charges directly. They hire a private parking company — usually ParkingEye — to manage their car parks. If you've received a charge from ParkingEye, see our detailed ParkingEye appeal guide for specific tips. ParkingEye installs ANPR cameras that record when you enter and exit. If you stay longer than the posted time limit (usually 90 minutes), the system automatically generates a Parking Charge Notice linked to your number plate.

The charge is typically £70 (reduced to £40 if you pay within 14 days).

ParkingEye is a member of the British Parking Association (BPA), so rejected appeals go to POPLA.

Why Do So Many People Get Caught at Aldi?

The time limits at Aldi car parks are notoriously tight. Most stores have a 90-minute limit, which sounds generous until you factor in reality:

• The ANPR clock starts when you pull in, not when you start shopping
• If there's a queue at the tills, you're losing time
• If you forgot something and go back in, the clock doesn't reset
• If you visit another shop in the same retail park, you're still on the clock
• Loading heavy items, returning the trolley, and getting kids in the car all eat into your time

The system is designed to catch people, not to manage parking fairly. ANPR doesn't know you were a genuine customer. It just counts minutes.

Your Legal Rights

Under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (POFA):

• ParkingEye must send a Notice to Keeper within 14 days
• Signage must be clear and visible at all entrances
• The charge must be proportionate
• You have the right to appeal — first to ParkingEye, then to POPLA

How to Appeal: Step by Step

Step 1: Appeal to ParkingEye

You must appeal to ParkingEye first. You can do this online at parkingeyeappeals.co.uk or by post.

Explain what happened. Were you a genuine customer? Do you have a receipt? Did the store have long queues? Was the signage unclear? Include all evidence.

Step 2: Contact Aldi Directly

This is a step most guides don't mention, and it can work. Contact Aldi customer services and explain that you received a parking charge while shopping at their store. Some Aldi stores have the ability to request that ParkingEye cancel charges for genuine customers. It's not guaranteed, but it's worth trying.

You can contact Aldi through their website or by calling their customer service line.

Step 3: POPLA Appeal (If Rejected)

If ParkingEye rejects your appeal, they'll send you a POPLA code. Submit your case at popla.co.uk within 28 days. For a full walkthrough of the POPLA process, read our complete POPLA appeal guide.

POPLA is free and independent. Make sure to include:

• Your Aldi receipt
• Photos of signage (especially if it was unclear or hard to see)
• Your explanation of why you overstayed
• Any correspondence with Aldi customer services

Grounds That Actually Work for Aldi Charges

Genuine Customer with Receipt

If you have a receipt showing you were shopping during the period covered by the ANPR, this strongly supports your case. You were using the car park for its intended purpose. While this isn't automatically a winning argument (the terms don't say "customers can stay as long as they like"), it demonstrates good faith and is persuasive at POPLA.

Signage Issues

Visit the car park and photograph every sign. Are the time limits clearly displayed at the entrance? Can you see the signs from where you parked? Are they obscured or confusing? Under the BPA Code, signs must be prominent and clear. Many Aldi car parks have inadequate signage, especially at shared retail park entrances.

The Time Limit Was Unreasonable

If the store was unusually busy (Christmas, Bank Holiday weekend, promotional events), a 90-minute time limit may not have been enough for a normal shopping trip. If you can evidence the queue length or store conditions (photos, social media posts about the store being busy), this can help.

ANPR Errors

The cameras can get times wrong. If you know you were within the time limit — perhaps you checked the time when you arrived and left — challenge the ANPR data. Bank card transaction times, dashcam footage, or phone location data can help.

Grace Period

The BPA Code requires a grace period. If you were only a few minutes over the 90-minute limit, check whether a proper grace period was applied.

Shared Car Park

Many Aldi stores share car parks with other retailers. If the signage doesn't make it clear that the time limit applies to the entire car park (not just Aldi), or if you visited multiple shops, this creates ambiguity about the terms. Ambiguity favours the motorist.

Notice to Keeper Timing

If the NTK arrived more than 14 days after your visit, keeper liability fails under POFA 2012.

Template Appeal Letter

Can Aldi Help Cancel the Charge?

Sometimes, yes. Aldi has a contractual relationship with ParkingEye, and in some cases they can ask ParkingEye to cancel a charge for a genuine customer. This is more likely to work if:

• You have a receipt proving you shopped there
• You only overstayed by a small amount
• You contact Aldi promptly

It's not guaranteed — some store managers are more helpful than others. But it's always worth a try alongside your formal appeal.

What If You Ignore It?

ParkingEye does pursue unpaid charges. They're one of the most prolific litigants in the County Court among private parking companies. The 2015 Supreme Court case (Beavis v ParkingEye) confirmed that their charges are enforceable.

If you have a genuine ground for appeal, use it. Don't gamble on being ignored when you could win properly.

Timeline

Summary

• Aldi parking charges come from ParkingEye, not Aldi itself
• The charge is a private invoice, not a council fine
• Keep your Aldi receipt — it's your best evidence
• Appeal to ParkingEye first, then POPLA if rejected
• Contact Aldi customer services as well — they can sometimes help
• Check signage, grace periods, and NTK timing for additional grounds

Sources: BPA Approved Operator Scheme Code of Practice, POPLA, Citizens Advice, Protection of Freedoms Act 2012. Last updated February 2026.