Lidl's "Lidl Plus" App Faces Heated Consumer Backlash
- Critics express concern over Lidl's mobile application
The Federation of German Consumer Organisations (vzbv) has initiated a legal battle against Lidl’s popular app, "Lidl Plus," with the Higher Regional Court of Stuttgart as the battlefield. The crux of the issue? Consumer rights.
The Higher Regional Court has acknowledged the lawsuit receipt. However, Lidl has chosen to remain tight-lipped on the ongoing legal spat, refusing to comment.
Consumer advocates are up in arms about the digital bonus program, accusing Lidl of deceitful practices. Rosemarie Rodden, vzbv's legal expert, explains the gist: "Users enjoy exclusive app discounts, but at a steep price—their personal data." The consumer advocates claim that Lidl fails to inform consumers about exchanging their data for app discounts before they tap 'Agree' in the app or Lidl Plus usage conditions.
Data privacy in digital bonus programs remains a gray area, with unclear information obligations. As reported by "Lebensmittelzeitung," over 100 million customers use the Lidl Plus app for app discounts, coupons, and promotions.
Lidl, a discounter headquartered in Heilbronn, has previously stirred controversy, for instance, with advertisements for exclusive app discounts. The Baden-Württemberg consumer center accused Lidl of not disclosing the regular price for non-app users. The case is under review by the Regional Court of Heilbronn, with a trial date yet to be scheduled.
Consumer Center Cry Foul
While the specifics of the lawsuit against Lidl Plus remain uncertain, it's clear that consumer advocates are on the offensive. Stay tuned for more updates as the legal drama unfolds.
- The Federation of German Consumer Organisations (vzbv) and consumer centers, such as the one in Baden-Württemberg, are actively seeking legal action against Lidl's digital bonus program, "Lidl Plus," claiming that the company fails to inform customers adequately about exchanging their personal data for app discounts, thereby infringing upon consumer rights.
- The ongoing lawsuit against Lidl's "Lidl Plus" app highlights the murky waters of data privacy in digital bonus programs, with vzbv's legal expert, Rosemarie Rodden, emphasizing that users often pay for app discounts with their personal data, which may not be transparently communicated to them.
- The court battles involving Lidl's "Lidl Plus" app and potential non-disclosure of regular prices for non-app users not only indicate a contentious relationship between Lidl and consumer advocates but also underscore the importance of clear information obligations in digital bonus programs, especially considering the widespread usage of the Lidl Plus app by more than 100 million customers across EC countries.
