Overstay at Lidl, please help

cande

Yesterday I received a PCN through the post as I had overstayed at Lidl last Wednesday.


I have spent ages reading through the threads, but I am starting to panic as I'm not sure what to do and I want to take action ASAP before I run out of time to appeal.


I have read that its worth complaining to the CEO to see if they can get it cancelled, but should I email the CEO of Lidl before or at the same time as Athena, and also I can't find a template letter for contacting the stores to make a complaint, could someone please point me in the direction of a template letter.
Also I have read that I am not supposed to confirm that I was the driver to the PPC, but does this also apply when emailing Lidl?


Basically I was having a very leisurely stroll around Lidl as for once I didn't have the kids with me and I was enjoying taking my time and trying to compare prices with Tesco's with a view to doing more of my shopping at Lidl to try and save some money. The PCN said the limit was 1 hour and I was there 1hr and 26 minutes. I fully accept that I overstayed, but I don't think 1 hr is a long enough time to do your shopping, I don't want to be clock watching the whole time.
I know they have done this as some people use the car park to go to other shops, but I have never once done this and I spent the entire time in Lidl and have my receipt to prove this, and also I'm fairly sure the limit used to be 2 hours, so are we supposed to scrutinise the signs every time we visit incase the time limit has changed again???


I would really appreciate any help, as I said I have scoured the posts trying to find a template letter to send to Lidl, but still haven't managed to find one and I'm getting worried about the deadline for appealing.



Would also like to add that it is a free car park.


Many thanks

ColliesCarer

Hi cande,
Firstly no need to panic - you should have been given 28 days to appeal,
But couple of questions first - was this in England or wales and do you also live in either of those countries.

Did you read the Newbies thread
If not take a look now
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/....php?t=4816822

and also take a look at the flow chart post #9 http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/....php?t=4922055

cande

ColliesCarer wrote: »

Hi cande,
Firstly no need to panic - you should have been given 28 days to appeal,
But couple of questions first - was this in England or wales and do you also live in either of those countries.

Hi ColliesCarer


It was in England and I live in England.
I thought I had to appeal within 14 days, or was that just to get the reduced parking fee?


Many thanks

ColliesCarer

Ok then you will definitely need to submit an appeal but without seeing the PCN you've received I can't really answer how long you have.
Check the information on the letter about the appeal process.
It may well be 14 days is just for their generous reduced price offer :-) but don't worry about that - if you follow the advice you stand a better than 99% chance of getting this cancelled and then £0.00

If you want to blank out personal details on your Ntk and using something like photobucket post a link to it - I'll take a look at it for you.

Also rather than worry about sending letters to the CEO of Lidl yet have you tried speaking to the store manager - don't say you were the driver - just raise it as a an aggrieved and regular customer

cande

So how do I go about speaking to the manager without admitting I was the driver eg 'I was shopping in your store and about a week later I received a PCN, I'm not happy about it etc...' Doesn't that imply that I was the driver?? And should I ring, email or go into the store. From what I've read people have said that when they've spoken to the store manager they've been told that it's not down to the manager which is why I thought it might be better to go straight to the CEO.

I read the back of the PCN about the appeals process and I've got 28 days to appeal, I'm just worried that if I go over the 14 days and I lose the appeal I will then have to pay £90, I can barely afford the £45 let alone £90.

ColliesCarer

You use the same language you would use in your appeal, I'm the registered keeper and I'm very unhappy to have received this charge.
We were shopping in your store and have a receipt to prove it - or the people using the car that day.......

If asked by the store whether you were driving which is very unlikely - but just say - I don't recall - or I'm not obliged to tell you that.

By the way - it's never advisable to speak to the parking company.

What works varies from store to store and retailer to retailer but many store managers do have the ability to get charges cancelled - they need to be able to so when for example staff inadvertently get a charge.
Some retailers like Aldi are believed to have a hidden clause in their contract with P E so that they can request cancellations for genuine customers. This may apply to Lidl too.

Also I didn't say you shouldn't write to the CEO just said don't worry about doing that yet - as you seemed to be fretting about not having their contact details and not knowing what to write.

You have time do that later - you need to focus on getting your 1st appeal to the parking company done first.

When you have time try the direct approach to the store first (be that in person or phone whichever you prefer - personally I prefer to speak to someone in person - less easy for them to fob you off)

Try not to worry about payment or fall for their scare tactics.
If you follow the advice here you have a better than 99% chance of getting this cancelled. Also most parking companies re-offer the reduction when they reject your 1st appeal anyway.

cande

Many thanks for your reply, I'm going to try and go to the store before I pick the kids up. I'm really worried about tripping myself up when trying not to admit I was the driver, I was on my own shopping that day so am unable to use 'we' when I speak to the manager.


If the manager is unable to get it cancelled should I then write to the CEO or appeal straight to the PPC?

ColliesCarer

They don't know that - but if you are uncomfortable using the term we - then use the person using the car that day

If the store can't/won't cancel it then you need to submit your appeal
AND try writing to the CEO

but make the appeal your 1st priority

then write to the CEO as a second string.

cande

Righto, thank you.


I think I'm going to say 'I came into the store last week and then this week I received the PCN' That way I can talk about how I shopped leisurely in the store without actually saying I drove the car there, although I'm sure the assumption will be that it was me driving!


Keep your fingers crossed for me.


Many thanks for the help, it is very much appreciated.

cande

Just wanted to post a quick update on this.


I tried the Manager at Lidl, he said they have had loads of complaints but can't do anything about it and he said he is referring everyone to the HO. Tried them, they took all the details to add to their lists of complaints but again said they couldn't do anything.


So I emailed Athena and attached a copy of my receipt and in about 2 days got an email back saying it had been cancelled!!!


Well relieved.


Just want to say thanks to everyone who contributes to the thread and offer advice, particularly ColliesCarer, as after reading the threads I felt much more equipped to fight to get it cancelled. Thanks again!!

ColliesCarer

That's great news Cande - really pleased for you that you got such a quick resolution to this.
Best wishes