Supermarket retailer Lidl has issued an apology to poppy sellers from North Hykeham who were incorrectly handed parking fines. Several volunteers from the Royal British Legion (RBL) received penalty charge notices at the local Lidl store between the 27th of October and the 9th of November, despite having registered their vehicles with the store.
Christine Emerson, one of the volunteers affected, voiced her shock upon receiving a £90 fine. Lidl has admitted that the volunteers’ details were not passed on to their parking managing provider, resulting in this oversight. Since then, the company has retracted all charges.
Christine Emerson, with family ties to veterans of both world wars, volunteers at the RBL branch in North Hykeham. Emerson stated, “We were under the impression that all the necessary arrangements had been made for us to park for longer than the usual 90 minutes. Needless to say, the fine was quite a surprise, especially for most of us who are retirees.” Emerson, who decided against paying the fine, added, “I’d rather stand my ground, it’s just not fair.”
Another volunteer, Michael Cann, expressed his displeasure, noting the apparent indifference of Lidl’s management in addressing the issue initially. “Considering that our efforts were part of a nationwide appeal for our veterans, the initial inaction was notably disheartening,” Cann mentioned. He also raised concerns about Parkingeye, the parking management company, for their lack of customer service responsiveness.
Following the BBC reaching out, Lidl confirmed that they promptly addressed the mistake, cancelling all penalties and reimbursing one charge that had already been settled. A representative from Parkingeye urged motorists to utilise their appeals process, which they emphasised is simple and direct, to share any extenuating circumstances.
This incident emphasises the criticality of acknowledging and supporting community volunteer work, particularly efforts honouring those who have served our country. It underscores the demand for supportive structures that effectively facilitate such endeavours.
This article has been derived from the initial reporting by www.bbc.com, carefully adapted for The Lincoln Post.
