Thank you for your responses. This is the email i initially sent to the CEO.
Dear Christian,
I hope this finds you well.
I am writing to you to express my shock and dismay at the absolutely poor customer service I am receiving from your team.
I wrote to formally complain about the a ‘Parking charge notice’ and the use of threatening letters issued by the company (ParkingEye Ltd) that you use to manage your car park at your Ashford Branch.
On Thursday the 17th of June 2021 my vehicle was parked outside your store for 1 hour & 43 minutes, according to the letter that I received from them on the 25th of June, the stay exceeded the maximum time allowed by 13 minutes!
The letter I received from them is in the form of an extortionate demand to pay them £90.00. I have attached card transaction records to prove that my mother (Blue badge holders get 3 hours parking) and I shopped with you on that day.
I must inform you that in the event I am sued by ParkingEye, I will be adding Lidl as a third party to the claim. As for further legal action, a search on the Ashford Borough council shows that no planning permission was ever sought or approved for regarding the ANPR cameras or the parking signs displayed at your site and that is illegal, making Lidl liable for a breach under the UK GDPR.
It is also important to note that the parking verification terminals in store on that day were turned off and your staff told me that I do not need to authorise my parking.
I am a regular customer, and so are my family and friends and they all follow you on social media. I do not want to have to highlight the appalling way you are treating elderly & vulnerable customers through your association with Parking Eye.
I am not asking you to represent me at an appeal but asking you to tell your contractors to do what they are supposed to do as it is Lidl who have set the terms for their presence and can overrule a computer controlled camera.
All this can be avoided if you simply call off ParkingEye and treat your vulnerable customers with care and respect. This situation has caused unnecessary stress and grievance for me and my family. My family and I would like to remain as your customers and not be driven away.
As valued & loyal customers this is unfair and we kindly ask that you tell ParkingEye to cancel this charge. I am disgusted Lidl feels it is appropriate to employ a parking management company that sends out this type of letter, not to mention that the company is operating without the required legal permissions in place.
I have attached the letter from ParkingEye, my mother’s Blue badge and record of the card transaction showing my purchase with you on that day.
We trust that this will be addressed, so that your vulnerable customers can park without worry, at least, knowing Lidl will take care of them.
Thank you for your time in addressing this matter.