Disputing a Lidl Parking Ticket - SURPRISE OUTCOME

juliebunny

On Sunday we drove into Lidl car park at 10am. It was closed so we went off and came back again later.

They have now issued a parking ticket saying we stayed in their car park for 6 hours and (creepily) have photos of me and my boyfriend entering the store!

I read some of the other posts and people are saying don't do anything but doesn't this mean they will refer to the debt collectors?

My OH wants to contact the company to explain what actually happened - is this futile? It was his car and he's really anxious about it. We are both anxious about them sending this to debt collectors - even if it's unenforceable I've had them at my house before looking for ex boyfriends and it's an awful experience.

Any advice please from anyone that has contacted the LIDL parking company to dispute their ticket (or invitation to pay as I see some of you call it!)

My BF is in a line of work where he is not allowed to get into ANY sort of issues or risks his job, hence the anxiety.

peter_the_piper

Normally the advice is, don't bother however if you are at all concerned about the BF's job then its up to you if you consider paying.

juliebunny

Thanks. There is no way we are going to pay though. They would not be able to prove we were in the car park for 6 hours, simply because we weren't. He would probably pay for a quiet life but I won't let him.

I have always hated stupid Lidl, the staff in there are like robots (if you can find anyone.)

trisontana

Don't worry, you don't owe them a penny. Debt collectors are just private citizens with no special powers. Don't confuse them with proper bailiffs. If (in the very unlikely event) they do turn up them tell them to go away or you will call the police.

If you want to write to someone then send a strongly worded letter to the supermarket telling them of this harassment.

Could you tell us the name of the parking company? we like to name and shame on here.

juliebunny

Thanks, I'll happily name and shame but as far as I'm concerned it's down to Lidl to be shamed.

It's common knowledge that these private parking companies are thieving crooks and they still use them.

Waiting for bf to call me with name of horrid company.

EDIT - company is Athena.

SodG24

You should ignore the PPC - it doesn't matter what you say to them they will turn down any appeal.

Contact a Lidl Director ( strangely they keep very tight lipped about naming their current board ) - I think the current UK Managing Director is Ronny Gottschlich. Try all the email addresses below - one should get through. Remember to tell him you don't appreciate being harassed by his agents and that from now on you'll be using another supermarket.

ronny.gottschlich@lidl.co.uk
ron.gottschlich@lidl.co.uk
ronald.gottschlich@lidl.co.uk
r.gottschlich@lidl.co.uk
rgottschlich@lidl.co.uk

juliebunny

oh dear, bf is on his way to Lidl to speak with the manager. Have tried to tell him it's futile. He is so upset and angry.
I hate LIDL so much.

What shall we do??

ManxRed

He needs to keep it civil.

Most store managers haven't got a clue about the legal position, and the fact that these PPCs tend to ignore the illegalities of what they do. The Store Manager will be convinced (incorrectly) that Athena and their actions are above board.

You are far better off writing to a LIDL director as suggested above, and completely ignoring Athena.

SodG24

juliebunny wrote: »

oh dear, bf is on his way to Lidl to speak with the manager. Have tried to tell him it's futile. He is so upset and angry.
I hate LIDL so much.

What shall we do??

As mentioned above - ignore the PPC.

If your BF wants to take it further then go direct to the Lidl board not the store manager.

juliebunny

Thanks guys.

BF just called. Apparently (and this really surprised me) the Manager of our local LIDL is really fed up with the parking company and they are getting loads of complaints and losing loads of customers because of the parking company.

How this store even manages to survive I don't know. They have a 200 space car park which generally has about 5 cars in it at most on a sunday. Well, it will now have 4 because we ain't going there again. He parked on the road next to it to go in today.

He advised BF to write to parking company and cc Lidl head office - although of course he wasn't allowed to give out anyone's name or phone number at Lidl - how convenient.

I HATE LIDL. Might add that to my signature....

SodG24

juliebunny wrote: »

Thanks guys.

He advised BF to write to parking company and cc Lidl head office - although of course he wasn't allowed to give out anyone's name or phone number at Lidl - how convenient.

DO NOT DO THIS !!!!!

Ignore the PPC and contact the Lidl board. You have the email addresses - just cut and paste them. Should take you a couple of minutes to deal with and then get on with your life.