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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think Lidl have a crap attitude?

62 replies

Jedijane · 14/02/2017 20:03

I moved to a new town and in my first week I made the huge mistake of parking in Lidl's car park for 20 minutes at 7 pm in order to pick up a takeaway. (Never shopped at Lidl before, although I was planning to until this happened) I genuinely didn't see their puny signs in the dark and was landed with a £90 charge.
I wrote to customer service to explain what happened. I've worked in customer service for years so was basically expecting either the friendly response "we'll let you off this time as we'd really love to see in store" (that's what I would have done!) or the jobsworth response "nothing we can do because [insert spurious reason here]"
Instead they sent me a generic letter telling me to send my receipt to the parking company (the can't be arsed to read your email properly response).

OP posts:
riceuten · 14/02/2017 20:04

It's not just Lidl, but Tesco, Aldi and Morrisons do this. Check out the legality of the notice and either dispute it, or pay up. They don't have to, sadly, be nice

Spam88 · 14/02/2017 20:11

Well YWBU to park in their car park when you weren't going into the shop...

helterskelter99 · 14/02/2017 20:12

I would guess it's because the3rd part co that operate the fines are paid based on income they collect

RedBugMug · 14/02/2017 20:14

sorry ywu

QueenMortificado · 14/02/2017 20:15

Oh come on. How could you think it ok to park there?

Annoying yes, but well within their rights

e1y1 · 14/02/2017 20:16

It managed by a parking company (the email won't even hit the store company).

Same thing has literally just happened to me with Matalan, however, I had shopped at Matalan so was able to send the receipt.

A long shot, but email Lidl directly (not the contact info on your parking charge).

llhj · 14/02/2017 20:16

These shops have no idea of customer service but you'll get no sympathy on here. Everyone eulogises about their salami and other delicacies whilst not realising that there's a price to pay for shit customer service somewhere down the lane.

WayfaringStranger · 14/02/2017 20:18

YABU, it wasn't like you overstayed because you were using their shop. You were sneakily parking there, probably knowing you shouldn't.

witsender · 14/02/2017 20:18

It doesn't belong to them, so obviously you need to contact the company who issued the ticket. No reason for them to waive it though as it was legitimately issued if you weren't even shopping there

Derlei · 14/02/2017 20:19

Yes you will be told be various people that YWBU to park there, even though we have all done it Confused

I understand them enforcing this during peak times, but at 7pm for 20 minutes, I doubt the car park was flooded with Lidl customers driving around trying to get some space. Contact them on twitter or Facebook

Meffy · 14/02/2017 20:20

I would have gone in and bought a pint of milk!!!

Original poster
Jedijane · 14/02/2017 20:23

It was 7pm QueenMortificado there was loads of space. On that particular occasion another smaller retailer which didn't have parking got my money . Where's the harm?

OP posts:
maggiethemagpie · 14/02/2017 20:23

Don't pay the fine until / unless you get a letter from a court (not the fake nasty letters they will initially send to scare you)

Then pay the fine.

I have used this technique without fail every time I've ever got a parking ticket in a private car park, not that I do this all the time but occasionally it happens, and I've never yet had to pay up.

I've probably missed the point of the thread here, but that's what I'd do in your shoes.

Trifleorbust · 14/02/2017 20:25

Pay or don't pay, that has nothing to do with this. Unless you are shopping there don't park there. Hmm

londonrach · 14/02/2017 20:26

Yabu and you know that. You cant park in the car park if.not using the shop.

londonrach · 14/02/2017 20:27

Maggie. Theres new rules re fines now so op cant not pay

witsender · 14/02/2017 20:28

If you do that Maggie they may well attach costs.

NarkyMcDinkyChops · 14/02/2017 20:30

Instead they sent me a generic letter telling me to send my receipt to the parking company (the can't be arsed to read your email properly response

They contract the car park to a company. They tell you to contact that company because they are the ones that issued the fine and are the only ones who can do anything about it.

If you really were only 20 mins, how did they know you weren't in Lidl? There is more to this story.....

Original poster
Jedijane · 14/02/2017 20:31

I should add all the other carparks in the town - Morrisons, Waitrose and Tesco are free so I just assumed they were. Honest mistake! I should have parked on the pavement like everyone else.

OP posts:
Trifleorbust · 14/02/2017 20:33

Don't be snarky, OP. It's your responsibility so you really can't complain.

ihatethecold · 14/02/2017 20:34

How do they know you didn't shop in Lidl though?

Chloe84 · 14/02/2017 20:35

Does the camera monitor whether you go into Lidl or not?

Gallavich · 14/02/2017 20:35

I've never seen a Lidl that charges, usually it's an hour free. Presumably this Lidl is in a location where parking is scarce so they charge. Would you feel hard done by if you parked in a residents bay for 20 minutes and the council gave you a fine?
Go to money saving expert and download a template letter to appeal it. I doubt you will have to pay it.

maggiethemagpie · 14/02/2017 20:36

witsender yes, the costs may go up IF they chase for it, if they don't (as has happened in my experience) the cost is £0.

londonrach the new rules only mean that they'd likely get the charge enforced in court. They still only take a small proportion of unpaid fines to court, and only a court can enforce the payment so it's still worth waiting until you get a court summons IMHO and then paying up (without going to court) if you do.

This is just what has worked for me the past few times I've got a ticket. I've not paid a penny yet.

Star21 · 14/02/2017 20:37

Yes how did they know you didn't shop in Lidl?