Ripped off in the supermarket parking lot: parking ticket causes trouble!

Ripped off in the supermarket parking lot: parking ticket causes trouble!

In Neubrandenburg, strict parking space management is causing dissatisfaction among local customers. Pensioners like Josef Augustin, who was recently annoyed by a contractual penalty of 29.90 euros that he was charged after shopping in a Netto supermarket, are particularly affected. During a visit to the parking lot, Augustin correctly set his parking meter and had a shopping list as proof. Nevertheless, he couldn't be helped when the store management referred to the parking space management team from Fair Parken GmbH. Many other customers seem to have had similar experiences. According to Nordkurier, two parking discs with different arrival times are said to have been the reason for the penalty. A controversial topic that will certainly provoke further discussion.

But how should this be viewed legally? Supermarket parking spaces are considered private property, which means that Fair Parken GmbH is entitled to monitor parking times. If you exceed the permitted parking time or forget a parking disc, a parking ticket can be issued. However, this type of ticket is not a fine, but a contractual penalty which, according to Bussgeldkatalog, may not be higher than 30 euros. Customers must be informed about the applicable parking rules, ideally through clearly visible signs at the parking lot.

Contractual penalties and cancellation options

Confusion often arises because the signage at the parking spaces is often inadequate. If notices are missing or are difficult to read, customers can appeal the fine and refuse to pay. This is also evident from a ruling by the Federal Court of Justice, which obliges business owners to point out the possibility of a contractual penalty. According to the same source, an objection can also be justified if the driver of the vehicle was not the owner of the vehicle or if the penalty is perceived to be disproportionately high.

Josef Augustin and other victims at least have the option of canceling their sentence under certain conditions. Anyone who can present a receipt proving that the maximum permitted parking time was adhered to has a good chance. Fair Parken offers to cancel the processes by telephone, email or post. In some cases, the company showed goodwill and canceled fines that had already been issued.

The right parking disc and its meaning

An interesting aspect is that the use of multiple parking discs in one vehicle can be seen as an attempt to disguise the arrival time. The operators therefore ask customers to ensure that they only ever display a correctly set parking disc. This does not only apply to Neubrandenburg, but is a general regulation that applies everywhere to vehicles parked in private parking spaces, as the information in the bussgeldkatalog makes clear.

It remains to be seen how the discussion about parking space management and contractual penalties will develop in Neubrandenburg. However, one thing is certain: parking in the city can be a real challenge, especially for older citizens who may not be familiar with the strict enforcement. In this context, an appeal to parking lot operators would be more transparency and better signage in order to avoid misunderstandings from the outset.