Parking at Lidl

Post by John Silver
http://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/news/local/video-upset-over-new-restrictions-in-eastbourne-lidl-store-car-park-1-6195755

Bonkers. I bet they will lose a lot of custom. Our nearest Lidl has a huge
car park and I don't know if it down the times that we go, but it is more
than half empty. The only Tesco I know with similar rules is Northallerton
and they give you 2 hours. Very handy because it is next to the main
street.

--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/shop/

Jane Gillett

2014-07-24 09:47:15 UTC

Post by John Silver
http://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/news/local/video-upset-over-new-restrictions-in-eastbourne-lidl-store-car-park-1-6195755
John

Morrisons in Totnes charges £2 up front (ticket to be displayed from
machines in car park) to park for 2 hours and you get it deducted from a
single bill for £5 or more in the store which isn't difficult these days.

My only gripe is that they have let out the parking management to a private
firm. The firm's inspectors are very vigilant, which helps with
non-shoppers such as quoted in the website but are intolerant of situations
where ticket machines are out of action.

I have experience of that.

Finding two machines I tried were out of action one day I went into the
store and said I was not willing to tour the whole car park to find a
working machine - they don't do anything to mark the out-of-action machines
- and the store said not to worry, they'd fix it. I went back to the car to
get my shopping bags and explained to the inspector who was looking at the
car what the store had said. Response?
"It's nothing to do with them. If there isn't a ticket on your car in 10
minutes I shall book it and you'll be fined."

Next time two machines I try are out of action I shop elsewhere.

Cheers
Jane

--
Jane Gillett : ***@higherstert.co.uk : Totnes, Devon.

Jeßus

2014-07-26 03:38:27 UTC

Post by John Silver
http://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/news/local/video-upset-over-new-restrictions-in-eastbourne-lidl-store-car-park-1-6195755
John

Jane Gillett

2014-07-26 07:40:50 UTC

Post by John Silver
http://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/news/local/video-upset-over-new-restrictions-in-eastbourne-lidl-store-car-park-1-6195755
John

Now <that> is an interesting point.
What law has been broken?
What is the position if the car park management company decides to clamp
cars which they decide have no right to be there (not paid or whatever
reason)? In that case they will certainly cause a great deal of
inconvenience even if the owners get their car back in the end.

Jane

--
Jane Gillett : ***@higherstert.co.uk : Totnes, Devon.

Jeßus

2014-07-26 20:47:17 UTC

On Sat, 26 Jul 2014 08:40:50 +0100, Jane Gillett

Post by John Silver
http://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/news/local/video-upset-over-new-restrictions-in-eastbourne-lidl-store-car-park-1-6195755
John

Yes, it can't be good from a public relations perspective.
Very counter-productive if you ask me.

Jeßus

2014-07-26 20:51:13 UTC

On Sat, 26 Jul 2014 10:21:32 +0100, "Ophelia"

Post by John Silver
http://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/news/local/video-upset-over-new-restrictions-in-eastbourne-lidl-store-car-park-1-6195755
John

http://www.wheelclampers.com/wheel-clamping-in-scotland.html

A (very) quick read suggests that it is the same in Scotland as it is
here, or at least as best I understand it here - private companies
that issues fines cannot legally enforce them, whereas any wheel
clamping done by local or state government parking inspectors is quite
another matter.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19782680

Jimmy Dawkin

2014-08-09 08:24:50 UTC

X-No-Archive:Yes

Post by John Silver
http://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/news/local/video-upset-over-new-restrictions-in-eastbourne-lidl-store-car-park-1-6195755
John

*Law* is not what is broken..... a civil contract is (or might be) however.
Clamping is now illegal on private land so that won't happen.
Fines have to be proportionate to the parking costs and they are ONLY
*legally* enforceable by a Court Judgement against a civil debt.
Most (all...?) companies don't waste the Court costs (even the online small
claims court process) to recover the parking charge(s).

Interestingly, what the company could do is refuse entry not only entry to
the store but to actually buy goods there. It all gets very silly, of
course...parking attendants needed at cost then no doubt Police calls to
deal with unpleasant events when the parking attendant/store staff refuse
entry to store etc.,

In reality, the best system (it sems, at least) is to get upfront payment
for parking (barrier system) which is redeemed in store at time of shop (a
la M&S, perhaps?).
Driving customers away with fines - whether they are collected or not - is
counterproductive to the business. Unfortunately, with local press,
twitter, Facebook et al these days....the message gets broadcast widely very
quickly.

[BTW, I do have some sympathy with the company over the abuse of their
*free* parking for customers by others who shop elsewhere. Working out who
are genuine customers is the trick)

JD

Jeßus

2014-08-17 20:27:22 UTC

On Sat, 9 Aug 2014 09:24:50 +0100, "Jimmy Dawkin"

Post by Jimmy Dawkin
X-No-Archive:Yes

Post by John Silver
http://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/news/local/video-upset-over-new-restrictions-in-eastbourne-lidl-store-car-park-1-6195755
John

I suspect that is also the case here in Australia, these private
companies rarely (if ever) pursue 'debt' recovery.

Post by Jimmy Dawkin
Interestingly, what the company could do is refuse entry not only entry to
the store but to actually buy goods there. It all gets very silly, of
course...parking attendants needed at cost then no doubt Police calls to
deal with unpleasant events when the parking attendant/store staff refuse
entry to store etc.,
In reality, the best system (it sems, at least) is to get upfront payment
for parking (barrier system) which is redeemed in store at time of shop (a
la M&S, perhaps?).

A couple of stores here do that.

Post by Jimmy Dawkin
Driving customers away with fines - whether they are collected or not - is
counterproductive to the business. Unfortunately, with local press,
twitter, Facebook et al these days....the message gets broadcast widely very
quickly.
[BTW, I do have some sympathy with the company over the abuse of their
*free* parking for customers by others who shop elsewhere. Working out who
are genuine customers is the trick)

Ophelia

2014-07-26 09:15:44 UTC

Post by John Silver
http://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/news/local/video-upset-over-new-restrictions-in-eastbourne-lidl-store-car-park-1-6195755
John

Yes, I have read that here too.

--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/shop/

Jeßus

2014-07-26 20:55:54 UTC

On Sat, 26 Jul 2014 10:15:44 +0100, "Ophelia"

Post by John Silver
http://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/news/local/video-upset-over-new-restrictions-in-eastbourne-lidl-store-car-park-1-6195755
John

Yes, I have read that here too.

I bet an awful lot of people have no idea and just pay up, I'm amazed
at the fine of £90 in the original story posted... that's a lot of
money for such a fine IMO. Nice to see your posts again :)

graham

2014-07-26 21:24:30 UTC

Post by JeÃus
On Sat, 26 Jul 2014 10:15:44 +0100, "Ophelia"

Post by John Silver
http://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/news/local/video-upset-over-new-restrictions-in-eastbourne-lidl-store-car-park-1-6195755
John

Yes, I have read that here too.

I bet an awful lot of people have no idea and just pay up, I'm amazed
at the fine of £90 in the original story posted... that's a lot of
money for such a fine IMO. Nice to see your posts again :)

Another trick that might work, as it apparently does for a parking
company here, is to send them a cheque for the parking fee, not the fine.
Graham

Jeßus

2014-07-27 22:02:19 UTC

Post by graham

Post by JeÃus
On Sat, 26 Jul 2014 10:15:44 +0100, "Ophelia"

Post by John Silver
http://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/news/local/video-upset-over-new-restrictions-in-eastbourne-lidl-store-car-park-1-6195755
John

Yes, I have read that here too.

I bet an awful lot of people have no idea and just pay up, I'm amazed
at the fine of £90 in the original story posted... that's a lot of
money for such a fine IMO. Nice to see your posts again :)

Another trick that might work, as it apparently does for a parking
company here, is to send them a cheque for the parking fee, not the fine.
Graham

Yes, there's a good chance they won't bother cashing it in :)

graham

2014-07-28 01:11:40 UTC

Post by graham

Post by JeÃus
On Sat, 26 Jul 2014 10:15:44 +0100, "Ophelia"

Post by John Silver
http://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/news/local/video-upset-over-new-restrictions-in-eastbourne-lidl-store-car-park-1-6195755
John

Yes, I have read that here too.

I bet an awful lot of people have no idea and just pay up, I'm amazed
at the fine of £90 in the original story posted... that's a lot of
money for such a fine IMO. Nice to see your posts again :)

Another trick that might work, as it apparently does for a parking
company here, is to send them a cheque for the parking fee, not the fine.
Graham

Yes, there's a good chance they won't bother cashing it in :)

Alternatively, and this is bar-room lawspeak, if they cash it, they have
accepted the fee and the fine is therefore moot (or something).
Graham

Peter Parry

2014-07-28 15:03:08 UTC

Post by graham
Alternatively, and this is bar-room lawspeak, if they cash it, they have
accepted the fee and the fine is therefore moot (or something).

Bar room after many pints, they are perfectly free to accept it as
part payment and continue to demand the balance.

graham

2014-07-28 15:20:42 UTC

Post by Peter Parry

Post by graham
Alternatively, and this is bar-room lawspeak, if they cash it, they have
accepted the fee and the fine is therefore moot (or something).

Bar room after many pints, they are perfectly free to accept it as
part payment and continue to demand the balance.

I was told that this was a valid approach but it might be an urban
legend. Still worth trying though.
Graham

Jimmy Dawkin

2014-08-09 08:31:19 UTC

X-No-Archive:Yes

Post by Peter Parry

Post by graham
Alternatively, and this is bar-room lawspeak, if they cash it, they have
accepted the fee and the fine is therefore moot (or something).

Bar room after many pints, they are perfectly free to accept it as
part payment and continue to demand the balance.

This *sounds* like the 'Full and final' payment offer that *might* be made
in relation to civil debts.
The problem is it requires both parties to agree to it.

Thus sending money in part payment of a debt under the auspices of a "Full
and final payment" of the debt may be rejected by the person/company owed
the money.
There is no legality to return the money offered up as (part) payment of a
debt under conditions imposed by one of the parties.
Thus, the person/company receiving the money can retain the (part) payment
and still claim the outstanding balance.

This approach *might* work if agreement is made BEFORE any money is sent.

JD

Ophelia

2014-07-26 21:48:23 UTC

Post by JeÃus
On Sat, 26 Jul 2014 10:15:44 +0100, "Ophelia"

Post by John Silver
http://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/news/local/video-upset-over-new-restrictions-in-eastbourne-lidl-store-car-park-1-6195755
John

Yes, I have read that here too.

I bet an awful lot of people have no idea and just pay up, I'm amazed
at the fine of £90 in the original story posted... that's a lot of
money for such a fine IMO. Nice to see your posts again :)

And very nice to see yours too:)))

--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/shop/

Cherry

2014-08-17 21:59:47 UTC