Lidl and Parking Eye

silverwhistle

No question related to this post but thought I'd update people on Lidl's current relationship with Parking Eye following my receipt of an invoice yesterday stating that the driver had not entered the registration on their machine.For us regulars there, it's a part of the routine, annoying though it is.

Plan A swung into action this morning and I cycled to the shop to get the charge cancelled. It is still the case that local management will do nothing for you. Requesting the manager to make a complaint the member of staff immediately asked if it was regarding parking, so there is obviously a wider issue there. The manager helpfully pointed out the customer services number and even gave me the CEO's name - Ryan McDonnell. He also noted that they'd been having power issues, although not clear if that was more general or with the terminals.

The terminals are branded Parking Eye and they do not issue receipts so there is an inherent problem there.

I'll update with my experience of central customer services for the benefit of others in a similar situation.

PS: Apologies for intruding on somebody else's thread but @fisherjim, your rude and shouty contribution on that thread served no useful purpose.

Umkomaas

I'll update with my experience of central customer services for the benefit of others in a similar situation.

If that doesn't work, an appeal to PE with a note of the power issues and a copy of your receipt (especially if >£30), should see them cancel the PCN. 

Umkomaas

I'll update with my experience of central customer services for the benefit of others in a similar situation.

If that doesn't work, an appeal to PE with a note of the power issues and a copy of your receipt (especially if >£30), should see them cancel the PCN. 

KeithP

silverwhistle said:

...but @fisherjim, your rude and shouty contribution on that thread served no useful purpose.

Yes it did. You started a new thread.  

silverwhistle

KeithP said:

silverwhistle said:

...but @fisherjim, your rude and shouty contribution on that thread served no useful purpose.

Yes it did. You started a new thread.  

Except somebody else had already pointed it out, thank you @TheSlithyTove, and I had acknowledged their post. So, as I said...

Anyway, if you contact Customer Services you will hear a recorded message saying that they cannot deal with Parking Eye and to contact them direct. So this seems to be a very common issue and I find it unacceptable that they accept no responsibility for dealing with their contractors.

Now to await my credit card bill, redact it and contact PE.  In the meantime a polite letter to the CEO complaining about my own situation and their general policy does seem in order.

B789

Just send an angry complaint to the CEO (thanks to 'angry' ChatGPT):

Dear Mr McDonnell,

The customer service I recently encountered at one of your Lidl stores was an absolute disgrace. I am utterly disgusted by the sheer lack of willingness from your staff to address the issue of speculative invoices related to alleged breaches of terms and conditions from an unregulated private parking company that Lidl have contracted to infest the car park.

Let me make this crystal clear. After shopping in [Lidl store] recently, I received a ludicrous £100 surcharge from Parking Eye, a shady, unregulated private parking company that Lidl seem to be in bed with. And what did your customer service team do when I complained to them about this? Absolutely nothing. They couldn't be bothered to lift a finger or show an ounce of concern. What was obvious was the fact that this is not an isolated incident.

Well, here's a wake-up call for you. If you can't get your customer service department to deal with this blatant money-grabbing scheme and get this PCN cancelled, I'll take my hard-earned money elsewhere. And not only that, I'll make sure my family and friends do the same. Let's see how much profit Parking Eye's extortionate tactics bring you then.

You need to understand that I have been a loyal customer, but this incident has shattered any trust or loyalty I had for the Lidl brand. It's time for you to step up and take immediate action against Parking Eye's predatory practices. Show us that you actually give a damn about your customers and their concerns. Prove to me that you're not just another soulless corporation, blinded by profit margins.

I demand that you address this unacceptable situation and rectify it without delay. Any lack of responsiveness or negligence has consequences and goes far beyond my own dissatisfaction. The reputation and success of Lidl are at stake.

I expect a prompt and satisfactory resolution to restore my faith in Lidl. Anything less will solidify my decision to sever all ties with the brand.

Disappointed and infuriated,

[Your Name]

Coupon-mad

If they have gone to the extreme lengths of churning out a recorded message dedicated to fobbing off ParkingEye complaints, doesn't that demonstrate the extent of the problem and encourage you to complain?!  It would me.

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men* to do nothing.” 

 I find it unacceptable that they accept no responsibility for dealing with their contractors.

We agree.  Complain.

*and women.  That's why I'm helping the Govt to change the law on private parking.  New law coming within months.  Almost done:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80103031/#Comment_80103031

silverwhistle

Coupon-mad said:

If they have gone to the extreme lengths of churning out a recorded message dedicated to fobbing off ParkingEye complaints, doesn't that demonstrate the extent of the problem and encourage you to complain?!  It would me.

That's what I thought, as well as the immediate knowing response of the local staff, so as soon as I've sorted out aged parent's house insurance (oh frabjous joy) I'll get on to it.

Thanks B789, but I think it's not so much the willingness of staff to help, they're very good at reminding you to use the terminals, but the fact that they haven't been enabled to do so. In other words it is policy, and that makes it worse.

So if anyone from Lidl looks at social media please be aware, before you receive my letter of complaint, that the local Aldi will be receiving a boost to turnover.

EDIT: considering the amount of wine I buy there, so will the Wine Society..

B789

silverwhistle said:
Thanks B789, but I think it's not so much the willingness of staff to help, they're very good at reminding you to use the terminals, but the fact that they haven't been enabled to do so. In other words it is policy, and that makes it worse.

It was more tongue-in-cheek but there for you to adapt as necessary.

silverwhistle

Yes, I do like a good rant and even better if it's written for you! :-)

 Any useful phrases to refer to PE? "An unregulated company operating with dubious legal and ethical practices, on the margins of legality, etc. etc."?

Fruitcake

silverwhistle said:

Yes, I do like a good rant and even better if it's written for you! :-)

 Any useful phrases to refer to PE? "An unregulated company operating with dubious legal and ethical practices, on the margins of legality, etc. etc."?

The parking industry being referred to as rogues, scammers and bloodsuckers by UK MPs across all parties in open parliamentary debate.
The BPA being referred to by one MP as being as much use as a multi-storey car park in the Gobi Desert.