ON Friday, February 11, my wife and I received a demand for £90 (reduced to £45 if paid within 28 days) from a company called Parkingeye.

This was for allegedly parking our car for over six hours 37 minutes in Lidl car park.

Luckily we were able to prove that this was not the case but only after contacting a local venue near Braintree to gain a copy of their CCTV.

We also had confirmation from our grandchild’s school that we were collecting him during the time Parkingeye stated we were in Lidl car park.

We had parked for 15 minutes in the early morning to collect groceries.

Then took our granddaughter to The Blue Egg near Great Bardfield.

Later in the afternoon, after collecting our grandson from school, I returned to Lidl car park to take food to the Community Fridge.

READ MORE >> Police advice on how to better protect your business after string of break-ins

Parkingeye’s camera captured my car in similar locations each time. The time between our first arrival and second was six hours 37 minutes!

Parkingeye had photographed us arriving for the second time but stated that was the time we actually left.

Lidl’s managing staff were most helpful when the situation was explained to them.

Together with their report plus the work my wife and I carried out, we were able to prove that Parkingeye was totally incorrect in sending out the demand.

I have received an unsigned letter saying that the charge has been cancelled but no apology as yet.

I appreciate the problems that Lidl may have with unauthorised parking, but wonder how many other shoppers have paid up without querying the charge?

Steve Card

Chapel Hill, Halstead