Please help LIDL's Athena ANPR Ltd civil Parking Notice £180!!!

chrisotherwise

This is what I would have written to Lidl and copied to their CEO. Please don’t send this without it being vetted by one of the forum regulars. (I’m not an expert on these things - eg I don’t think that this letter identifies the drivers but they might disagree).

Also, don’t let this stop you submitting the appeal form to Athena. As far as I know they are two separate paths of attack. But please be guided by others in the forum - I just like writing letters

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Dear Ms Shankland,

cc: Lidl CEO [you’ll need to find his name/address but make sure you include this line as they won't want to have trouble with the ceo]

On 27th September my mother visited your Huntington store. As she is disabled and frail, I accompanied
her to assist with her shopping. Both of our cars were parked in your store car park for the duration of
her shop. We regularly use your store and are pleased with the quality and price of the goods that you sell.

Imagine therefore our distress when, two days later we each received a parking charge notice for the time
spent in your store car park. Is this the way that you treat all of your disabled customers?

Up until now we have appreciated the help that you have offered to us, but this action is both out of
character for your company and completely unacceptable. It is also a direct and clear breach of the
2010 equality act which requires you to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people. Please therefore request that your parking contractor cancel the charge notices with immediate effect and without further input from us.

We hope that it will not be necessary to escalate this case to our MP and to the media and that we can
continue shopping at your store without further harassment.

Yours sincerely,

DollyDee_2

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-37318792

As the former CEO's email address was Ronny.Gottschlich@lidl.co.uk the new CEO's email address should be Christian.Hartnagel@lidl.co.uk if it follows the same format.

lloydstsbstolemylife

chrisotherwise wrote: »

Also, don’t let this stop you submitting the appeal form to Athena. As far as I know they are two separate paths of attack. But please be guided by others in the forum - I just like writing letters


In a post further up it says don't appeal because I won't win. If i send them the info they will appeal to athena. But i like your letter, its much better than mine, i can attach the blue badge and bank statements to it. Is anyone able to say if its ok or not?
:undecided

Coupon-mad

I've no idea why you are confused, there has been no conflicting advice.

We simply said it is pointless appealing TO ATHENA and - in addition - not to call your complaint to Lidl 'an appeal'. That's all.

Chrisotherwise's example COMPLAINT letter is exactly what we've been suggesting. Also, obviously copy in the current CEO. I have no idea why you only emailed 'Lidl customer service' in the first place, waste of time and not the advice we give here. We say 'email the CEO' and it always works, Lidl always cancel when a person complains about Athena to the CEO:

DollyDee wrote: »

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-37318792

As the former CEO's email address was Ronny.Gottschlich@lidl.co.uk the new CEO's email address should be Christian.Hartnagel@lidl.co.uk if it follows the same format.

lloydstsbstolemylife

okay i will email the CEO. I get confused easily in times of stress and these letters combined with my personal issues can often get me in a muddle. :P

catfunt

I'd use the word "require" rather than "request in the letter above, but see what others think.

Yes, ou could appeal to Athena, but general* consensus here is that the follow up appeal to the IPC / the "Independent" Appeals "Service" is not recommended as it is a kangaroo court, as they are completely biased towards the operator and will almost certainly fail.

(*One or two on here say appeal to the IAS as they wouldn't want a real judge to see the perverse decisions)

lloydstsbstolemylife

k revised and improved thanks to help from Dolly. \o/

Dear Lidl CEO Christian Hartnagel

Civil Parking Charge Notices

On 27th September my mother and I visited your Huntington store. As she is disabled (Blue Badge holder), frail and i suffer from acute social phobia, I accompanied her to assist with her shopping. Both of our cars were parked in your store car park for the duration of her shop. We regularly use your store and are pleased with the quality and price of the goods that you sell.

Imagine therefore our distress when, a few days later we each received two parking charge notices for the time
spent in your store car park to a sum of £180. Is this the way that you treat all of your disabled customers?

Up until now we have appreciated the help that you have offered to us, but this action is both out of character for your company and completely unacceptable. It is also a direct and clear breach of the 2010 equality act which requires you to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people. Please therefore we request your parking contractor cancel the charge notices with immediate effect and without further input from us.

We hope that it will not be necessary to escalate this case to our MP and to the media and that we can
continue shopping at your store without further harassment.

Unfortunately because of this incident I have not felt confident enough to return to the store and have had to shop online with Tescos. I think my mother will have to do the same as her sister is not available to help her make the trip there and back.

Yours sincerely.

Coupon-mad

Right, and of course you know what to put in the subject line because we've explained that.

lloydstsbstolemylife

COMPLAINT - Lidls, Huntingdon, Athena ANPR Ltd Civil Parking Notices.

this ^^

Coupon-mad

Errrrrrrmmmm...are they going to have to guess your VRNs and PCN numbers to cancel?