Charge Certificate from Athena for overstaying in Lidl car park - should we pay up?

trisontana

chookmom wrote: »

I have one too from Lidl car park and following advice on here am (nervously) ignoring it.
Have just got the letter saying they are handing it on to a debt collector but holding my nerve. Do the same, you are not alone.

Don't be frightened by the words "debt collector". They are just private citizens with no special powers. They cannot enter your premises, they cannot seize goods and they cannot blacken your credit record.

mrsnobody

Thanks so much for the very helpful replies. We will definitely ignore Athena and take it up with the local Lidl store manager. I'm going to dig out my receipt for the day in question plus all the others for the last month (I go there a lot!) and take them and the ticket into the shop and ask them to sort it! If no joy there, then I will write to the head office.

We were on the verge of just paying up, so I'm really grateful for all your help

esmerobbo

They should really pass it to "A unsubstantiated, uninvited, speculative invoice, requester" should they not?

However that may not scare people.

mrsnobody

Well, a result (I think!). Went into Lidl this morning and complained about their exorbitant and unenforceable invoice for slightly overstaying in their car park. Told them I was a regular shopper and if they didn't do something about it, I would not shop there again. They said they would cancel the 'charge'. I'm not entirely convinced I won't hear further from Athena but if I do, I will as advised ignore, ignore, ignore So glad I read these threads and thanks so much to all who took the trouble to post.

Kite2010

mrsnobody wrote: »

Well, a result (I think!). Went into Lidl this morning and complained about their exorbitant and unenforceable invoice for slightly overstaying in their car park. Told them I was a regular shopper and if they didn't do something about it, I would not shop there again. They said they would cancel the 'charge'. I'm not entirely convinced I won't hear further from Athena but if I do, I will as advised ignore, ignore, ignore So glad I read these threads and thanks so much to all who took the trouble to post.

Follow it up with a letter, the more complaints Lidl gets about the contractor might mean they terminate the contract.

mrsnobody

Good idea Kite2010, I'll do that.

bellyfester

I have also had the same one for the Lidl in Liverpool which arrived yesterday. I was over by 13minutes. Their timings are also based on photos when the vehicle has just entered the car park and is exiting, not actually based on the duration for when it is parked! Ludicrous.

mrsnobody

Just remembered .... I saw on the Athena parking notices in the car park that it said profits from the parking charges would be donated to an appointed charity. Wonder which one ... the managing director's Spanish villa fund perhaps?

Sirdan

mrsnobody wrote: »

Just remembered .... I saw on the Athena parking notices in the car park that it said profits from the parking charges would be donated to an appointed charity. Wonder which one ... the managing director's Spanish villa fund perhaps?

Interesting ..what profit ??? They are only allowed to claim actual losses / damages or a reasonable pre estimate thereof...so legally there can not be any profit..

Hold on that would mean that what they invoiced is an unlawful unenforceable penalty ..they wouldn't ....would they ?

RENEGADE_2

mrsnobody wrote: »

Well, a result (I think!). Went into Lidl this morning and complained about their exorbitant and unenforceable invoice for slightly overstaying in their car park. Told them I was a regular shopper and if they didn't do something about it, I would not shop there again. They said they would cancel the 'charge'. I'm not entirely convinced I won't hear further from Athena but if I do, I will as advised ignore, ignore, ignore So glad I read these threads and thanks so much to all who took the trouble to post.

I am shocked that Lidl do this. I shop there and Aldi and am satisfied with them as companies and their level of customer care. For them to cancel your charge was very commendable and I have no doubt the persons working at the store to serve you are indeed approachable, agreeable and helpful individuals. At Lidl they usually are. The problem is that the company - renouned for not exploiting its customers like the giant supermarkets - has its fingers stuck in this one pie that it would do itself far better to abandon. They probably do not know about the legal issues.

On another note, got my first "Roxburghe" threatogram for my non-acknowledging of an APCOA charge, £128 they want and they even state something to the effect that they may legally go after registered keepers. To save paper, I scribbled in black marker ink "VOID" across the document and wrote a few words here and there denying the charge, before posting it back 2nd Class. The next rubbish to arrive from Surrey will have the rejection written on the envelope itself "Return to sender - matter for driver NOT keeper, Goodbye". Arrogant yes! But this way THEY pay for the postage and they know I haven't opened it.