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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Lidl parking charge

157 replies

RahRahRa · 17/09/2021 10:21

I do most of my weekly shopping at Lidl and have just received a parking fine for overstaying in the car park by 29 minutes, the time limit is 1 1/2 hours.

Yes I should have paid attention, it is a new branch that we’d never been to before and tbh I just didn’t think about the time limit.

This is such a shame, I love Lidl but have three kids all with varying levels of ASD who slow me down (I don’t take them all with me but often have one or two). I am also a bit of a ditherer and like to take my time choosing.

I will appeal the fine but I don’t fancy my chances of it being revoked. As I can’t risk this happening again, I have no choice but to not shop there anymore. Their prices have gone up anyway and we have closer supermarkets so no real loss to me - Apart from the parking fine!

Lidl say there’s nothing they can do as a third party looks after their car parks but they must be involved in setting the policies so why on Earth do they allow this to happen to loyal customers? 🤷🏻‍♀️

OP posts:
fluffedup · 17/09/2021 11:14

This is happening increasingly where we live (Midlands) with supermarkets, pubs, leisure centres. They outsource the management of the car parks to a third party who does not treat the customer well.

Years ago when our children were all quite small DH and I could easily spend 2 hours in ASDA because we would do the shopping then have a meal in the cafe, and what with all the nappy changes and general baby time wasting, it would be a couple of hours. But we spent a lot of money. We couldn't do that now as ASDA has a two hour limit.

I've voted YANBU because no they should not treat their customers like that.

JayAlfredPrufrock · 17/09/2021 11:21

That is one hell of a long time in Lidl. They aren’t very big are they?

Definitely appeal it though. Say you had to queue at the till for a looooong time.

Auroreforet · 17/09/2021 11:22

My niece throws private parking fines straight in the bin.
She's never been made to pay yet!

vivainsomnia · 17/09/2021 11:22

That's incredible! It takes me 1h20 to do my weekly shopping for 4 in three different stores, which includes a large Asda and Tesco.

I genuinely can't see how it's possible to spend 2 hours in a Lidl. What do you do? Read every label in its entirety?

Fluffypastelslippers · 17/09/2021 11:25

Up in Scotland we just ignore them and they stop sending letters.

This poster obviously doesn't speak for everyone in Scotland!

If I was given a parking fine for staying over time I would pay it. I have had them for not displaying a Blue Badge before and paid up because the fault was mine.

Mamamia7962 · 17/09/2021 11:26

This happened to me in Aldi one Christmas, I overstayed by about 15 minutes. Same as a PP I wrote to the parking company to appeal the fine stating that it was extra busy and that unloading at the check out, having to load again and then go to separate packing place adds extra time. I enclosed a copy of my receipt as had spent a lot of money and said I was a regular customer. Also wrote to the store manager explaining the same thing. I didn't have to pay the fine.

girlmom21 · 17/09/2021 11:26

Who did you speak to in store? Sometimes a manager will get the fine redacted for you if you can prove your use of the car park was genuine.

HarrietsChariot · 17/09/2021 11:27

Another person who can't fathom how anyone could spend 1.5 hours in Lidl, let alone 2.

It would be hard to take longer than half an hour in there, and that's allowing for doing a full shop and queuing up!

NavigatingAdolescence · 17/09/2021 11:29

@Auroreforet

My niece throws private parking fines straight in the bin. She's never been made to pay yet!
Till she applies for a mortgage and discovers a load of CCJs.
Gilead · 17/09/2021 11:30

The OP has clearly stated she has Autistic Children that slow her down. I too have been in this position and doing a big shop is not easy. Stop having a go until you’re sure of the circumstances, not that you should need more information. OP one of mine used to have a meltdown if I didn’t let him choose the cheese’s day would then take half an hour to do so!

SoloISland · 17/09/2021 11:30

op are your children registered as disabled? If so, the Blue Badge will cover all parking.

Even here in Ireland , LIDL are ferocious. I have a Blue Badge but it was not fully showing...The man got really stroppy. I am clearly disabled. Admitting here that I was new in that town and as I had just moved my car was registered three counties away. So I never heard any more..

Oh so glad my driving years are over... in some ways, where shopping is involved

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 17/09/2021 11:31

In the first lockdown, when you could spend half an hour -45mins queuing outside, I did wonder if they would cancel car park fines...

How big is the Lidl? I can easily spend over an hour in a big supermarket with clothing and homeward sections... but lidl is always quick as there's nothing to see.

Fluffypastelslippers · 17/09/2021 11:31

op are your children registered as disabled? If so, the Blue Badge will cover all parking.

What is meant by 'registered disabled'?

There is no 'disabled register'

flowerlass · 17/09/2021 11:32

If Lidl want to get the charge cancelled that can. Try and find out the email for the area manager and write to him mentioning your repeat custom with receipts attached. Also mention your childrens ASD.

They are telling you they cannot because they do not want to do the same thing for everybody. Push a bit harder and be a polite but a little bit of a pain.

EdgeOfTheSky · 17/09/2021 11:32

Most other supermarkets have similar time limits so going elsewhere might not help.

Most kids would be going potty if they didn’t 2 hours in a supermarket.

Make a list, don’t dither. It isn’t as if Lidl have loads of choices of the same thing like Sainsbury’s etc.

I hope your appeal is successful

Ozanj · 17/09/2021 11:34

Complain to Lidl. This happened to a friend. Took them 3 hours because their autistic DN had a meltdown. Lidl not only paid for the ticket they got, they also bought their carpark from the company so it didn’t happen again.

Mamamia7962 · 17/09/2021 11:34

Also where I live Lidl and Aldi are close to the town so I think it is more to stop people from using their car park and shopping else where which is fair enough.

OP if this is the same where you are then enclose a copy of your receipt to prove you were in Lidl spending a lot of money.

BelleOfTheProvince · 17/09/2021 11:40

@PanicBuyerOfGin

This happened to me. Local Lidl, but duh, I'd just never noticed the sign. I wrote a template letter from the internet, with a few adaptations for my situation. I admitted that I just hadn't noticed the sign but pointed out that I was a long standing customer. I attached a receipt to prove that on the day in question I'd spent over £100 in Lidl. Also sent my most recent bank statement to show that I used Lidl regularly. Thankfully my appeal was successful.
I did this too and they overode it.
ThePluckOfTheCoward · 17/09/2021 11:45

1 and a half hours restriction seems very mean. In my local Sainsburys you can park for a max of 3 hours which is brilliant as you can do your shop, have a drink or snack in their cafe and collect your prescription from the in-store pharmacy. It means if you have to queue for any or all of these things you are not panicking about parking fines.

MintyGreenDream · 17/09/2021 11:46

Lidl has around 4 aisles.half hour in each?!

stinkycheeseman · 17/09/2021 11:46

I'm fairly sure the manager can override it. We used to do it all the time in our store. I think if you email them and provide evidence of a big shop, they may be swayed. It's not really good customer service otherwise.

Ohsugarhoneyicetea · 17/09/2021 11:47

This happened to me at Aldi, I emailed their customer services with a copy of my receipt and explained that I had an autistic child with me and they cancelled the charge.

Cabbagepie · 17/09/2021 11:47

Had a similar issue in Aldi when I took my disabled mum shopping for the first time after several months in lockdown. She hadn't shopped in person for ages and although it was fairly quiet she was a bit overwhelmed and we were very slow. Got a fine for overstaying by 20 minutes but the manager at Aldi arranged for this to be cancelled.

Djifunrsn · 17/09/2021 11:50

There was a carpark near me where people would get fined all the time for idiotic things. People who were sensible and law abiding but hadn't quite appreciated the letter of the rules. I got fined there. I was angry and never went back. Happened to so many people that it was then avoided by them - the large shops there had to shut down. I'd ask Lidl, not the parking company. Those people are bastards waiting to prey on anyone for the most insignificant shite.

Gilead · 17/09/2021 11:51

Make a list, don’t dither. It isn’t as if Lidl have loads of choices of the same thing like Sainsbury’s etc.

READ THE THREAD!

Lidl has around 4 aisles.half hour in each

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