Lidl app glitching and taking holding charges with no charge

Wirbs

I used to always charge my ev at my local Lidl store using the pod point charger and app. It was costing me about £15 a week. I’d park up and go shopping and it was stress free and cheap. 

Then Lidl took over the charger. Since then it’s offline most of the time. I’ve tried it 5 times. The first time it worked but the other 4 it didn’t. Every time it takes £40 charge and when it’s glitching it just takes the holding charge over and over. I’ve been stuck in it for 45 minutes one day when it wouldn’t release my car. They had to turn it off twice on the helpline. It took almost a week to get all of the holding charges back (£280 worth). 

The nearest rapid charge pod point to me is now miles away. Reading the app reviews and peoples experiences on other sites, it’s happening all over. I don’t have a drive so can’t charge at home. I’m now having to use a much more expensive InstaVolt charger (that usually has non-Ev cars parked in it but that’s another story). 

I’ve obviously complained to Lidl (they weren’t really interested) but I feel that it’s such an important resource it needs to have someone intervene. They’ve replaced perfectly adequate pod point chargers with their own that are awful. If they’re not offline (which they are most of the time) they’re taking multiple holding charges from people and it’s just not right. We’ve got very few chargers locally. I have applied for a lamppost one but god knows how long that will be. 

Anyone got a clue where to go with this? 

Thanks 

born_again

lots of reports of these Lidl issues since they took over.

Dave Takes it On, had a good video on how bad they are...

I guess you have no way of charging at home?

Have a look at the likes of
https://co-charger.com/
Others are available & see if anyone is sharing near you.

Other than that any Tesla chargers near, given they tend to be the cheapest going.

Wirbs

I live in a terrace with no off street parking so can’t park at home. It just seems wrong that they’ve been able to do this. Especially when the government are trying to get people to move to ev. There are low voltage chargers that are cheaper but nowhere that I could leave it long enough to sufficiently charge. It’s all residents parking by me so unless the council approve my request for one in the street I’m stuck. 

Wirbs

I’ve tried to complain to Lidl again. They’ve redirected me to another site that wants to charge me £2 to complain and after I’ve uploaded my evidence they won’t let me go any further. 

powerful_Rogue

Seems like an EV wasn't the best option as you have no option to charge at home. You've complained to Lidl and that is all you can do. They could in fact just remove the EV charge point if they so wished.

visidigi

Lidl are not obligated to provide you with EV charging. Anything they offer you is far beyond anything they are obligated to. I am not sure I would be complaining...

Wirbs

I’m fully aware of this. There were more charging options when I bought it with the promise of more to come. They’re disappearing instead. I think the fact that the app is taking multiple payments and is holding peoples money is an issue. 

I’m not sure I’d be responding if I had nothing constructive to contribute…..

Aylesbury_Duck

I don't think you have any option here but to complain and swap your car for one more suited to your circumstances.  I can't see Lidl changing what sounds like a national policy unless they see a big drop in custom from what presumably is a very small minority of their customer base.

I applaud you for 'doing your bit' and moving to an EV, but it sounds like it was a risky choice, dependent as you are on a third party's decision to host a charger of the appropriate type at a suitable location.  A hybrid or ICE would have been a more pragmatic option.

powerful_Rogue

Wirbs said:

I’m fully aware of this. There were more charging options when I bought it with the promise of more to come. They’re disappearing instead. I think the fact that the app is taking multiple payments and is holding peoples money is an issue. 

I’m not sure I’d be responding if I had nothing constructive to contribute…..

There are 41% more ev chargers in 2024 compared to 2023.

Wirbs

That may be but not in my area. Asda and Sainsburys got rid of theirs and now Lidl has basically saw off the pod point chargers. 

Wirbs

Aylesbury_Duck said:

I don't think you have any option here but to complain and swap your car for one more suited to your circumstances.  I can't see Lidl changing what sounds like a national policy unless they see a big drop in custom from what presumably is a very small minority of their customer base.

I applaud you for 'doing your bit' and moving to an EV, but it sounds like it was a risky choice, dependent as you are on a third party's decision to host a charger of the appropriate type at a suitable location.  A hybrid or ICE would have been a more pragmatic option.

You’re probably right. It’s actually a fair amount affected across the country but they seem to have more alternative options in other areas. 

The issue with the holding charge is scandalous. The app is data harvesting and not doing what people need it to do. 

I’ve contacted my mp anyway. It’s highlighted how few options there are in my area.  I’m also sick  of private companies taking vital services and holding us to ransom.