Shopper pops to Lidl, gets clamped.....again

A MONASTEREVIN man has spoken of his frustration after his car was clamped within minutes of parking at Lidl in Newbridge, despite using onsite facilities at the time of clamping.

The Kildare Nationalist reported on a similar incident which occurred recently, and since publication another frustrated customer came forward with details on what they believe to be a case of wrongful clamping.

Customer, Adam Binions, said the incident occurred on January 2 at the car park of Lidl in Newbridge. He had stopped on his way home to use the store’s bottle return machine before doing a small shop.

“I literally went in to use the recycling machine and when I came back to the car to grab a shopping bag, the clamp was already on,” he said. “I hadn’t even gone into the shop yet.” Adam said his phone’s parking notification showed he had been on site for just nine minutes when the clamp was applied. He also had a receipt from the recycling machine as proof he had used the facility.

He claimed several other motorists were clamped in the same car park at the time, including an elderly woman.

“It looked like four people were clamped that day. I think because we parked at the back, they assumed we weren’t shopping there,” he said.

The clamp was applied by a private parking enforcement firm, which Adam later identified as CPMS. He said the operative told him he would have to pay €120 immediately or risk having his car towed.

“He just kept saying, ‘I’m only doing my job’. There was no option to pay later or appeal first, it was pay on the spot or lose your car,” Adam said.

He paid the fee under protest and later lodged an appeal, submitting timestamps, receipts and photographs. His initial appeal was rejected.

After contacting the Lidl store, a manager reviewed the situation and emailed the clamping company stating that CCTV indicated Adam had been a legitimate customer. The refusal was upheld.

Adam then escalated the case to an independent appeals process linked to the National Transport Authority. Weeks later, he was informed that his evidence was “more substantial” than that provided by the clamping company and that a refund should be issued within 14 days.

At the time of speaking, he was still waiting for the money to be returned.

“I’m still raging,” he said. “It’s been over six weeks. Most people wouldn’t go through this many appeals, that’s probably how they get away with it.” Lidl later issued him a voucher equivalent to the clamping fee as a goodwill gesture, though Adam stressed this did not come from the parking company itself.

“That's Lidl doing a good gesture out of their own pocket. As far as I'm concerned, that's for the hassle of the day, that didn't come from the parking company, so that's not a direct refund.

Adam said he chose to speak out after seeing similar complaints online and hopes sharing his experience will raise awareness.

“The more people who talk about it, the better,” he added. “It feels like people are being made jump through hoops for something that shouldn’t have happened in the first place.” CPMS stated that they cannot comment on individual cases, but confirmed:

“CPMS operates in accordance with the site regulations set by the property managers and owners and is governed by the NTA. Clamping is carried out in compliance with these regulations.”