Athena - Lidl

peachyprice

Hi everyone, more of a rant that request for advice!

I received a PCN in the post today from these crooks.

Last week my car went to my local Lidl, drove around the car park, saw there were no spaces and left without even stopping, my car then returned later the same day when spaces were available, thought nothing of it, did some shopping, scanned the barcode, toddled off home.

Well is seems they have used my car's first entry photo and my car's last exit photo and have my car as an overstay of 26 mins.

Having spoken to Lidl Customer Services on the phone the driver was told it was their own fault (I kid you not) and or the sake of 4 mins they have fallen foul of their 'No return within 2 hours' rule, though how they were supposed to read the signs when they didn't even park the first time, I'll never know.

The driver is absolutely fuming with Lidl, if they didn't have an inadequate car park they would have been able to park the first time and I know 100% that they did not stay in the store for almost 2 hours and have ANPR proof that they were in Sainsbury's car park in the interim! So it seems they are determined to penalise their customers who want return to the store for any reason in under 2 hours, what kind of a business model is that.

We've tried to do an online appeal but rather conveniently the 'Charge Notice No.' isn't recognised by the system, so we've sent an email to Mr Haertnagel, explaining the situation, and asking for the ticket to be cancelled.

I shall let you know how we get on.

Carrot007

Surely no return only comes into play if you park in the first place.

Quentin

Edit your post to remove details of who was driving.

The ppcs monitor this forum and can use your posts against you

peachyprice

Carrot007 wrote: »

Surely no return only comes into play if you park in the first place.

You'd think so, but not according to Lidl CS, just entering the car park is enough. Although they did offer to put the appeal through for us, how kind.

Thinking about it, I wonder if that's why they've used 'Exceeding Free Parking Duration for the 'incident' rather that 'No return in 2 hours' The photo of the car leaving the first time would have been about 30 seconds after the entry photo and would have made it very obvious that the car didn't park.

peachyprice

Quentin wrote: »

Edit your post to remove details of who was driving.

The ppcs monitor this forum and can use your posts against you

Thanks ..............

beamerguy

@peachyprice

This is what happens when a supermarket employ parking cowboys
and scammers.
Lidl will never learn, I fought them over a Athena ticket a few years ago, and Lidl cancelled it.
I wanted them to join me in court to explain why they hold their customers in contempt.
No wonder they cancelled the ticket
Lidl CAN AND DO CANCEL TICKETS

They spend £millions on TV advertising, you know ...

A rump steak
Vegetables
A deluxe sweet
A bottle of wine
etc etc all for the price of £11.99

They forget to say that if you take too long shopping or
you come back if you forget something .... you could be charged
an extra £100

Lidl is truly a daft company who could actually make more money
if they were customer friendly

For customer service to say YOU were in the wrong shows the
low grade staff Lidl employ

Keep us updated with what the CEO says

Marktheshark

Ask your local council planning department if they have planning permission for the advertising sign making the parking offer in the car park and for the cctv.

Coupon-mad

peachyprice wrote: »

You'd think so, but not according to Lidl CS, just entering the car park is enough. Although they did offer to put the appeal through for us, how kind.

And that means they will ask for it to be cancelled...so allow them to do that.

adonis

I know someone who parked in a lidl car park at 8am shopped in store and went back 7 hours later and got a ticket, they managed to get it cancelled by the store because they are "loyal customers" not because athena messed up:rotfl:

Total scumbags I always park in a different car park in case Mrs a has visited the store in the car to save the hassle of a double dipping ticket.

beamerguy

adonis wrote: »

I know someone who parked in a lidl car park at 8am shopped in store and went back 7 hours later and got a ticket, they managed to get it cancelled by the store because they are "loyal customers" not because athena messed up:rotfl:

Total scumbags I always park in a different car park in case Mrs a has visited the store in the car to save the hassle of a double dipping ticket.

But, why do you still shop with a company who are happy to scam you ..... makes no sense ?

Umkomaas

If customer services won't sort it, email the CEO - Christian Haertnagel - and give him a broadside. Do a forum search on his name and you'll get the email addy. Get the spelling of his name right!