Is this an unfair fine - or am I being unfair?

x-treme1

I was at Atlantic village, which is a large indoor shopping centre which also has an Asda. I was meeting a friend for coffee which took a while - we had coffee in a coffee shop within the premises of the shopping centre - on returning to the car had a fine for £60 for exceeding 2 hrs. This is true I was 2hrs 30 mins and only noticed the sign on the way out that they clearly advertised 2 hr parking because I was looking for it. However the point of my question is this, I was using the facilities, there is no pay and display otherwise I would have paid - I always do! There was no end of spaces for other people to park and I was creating no problem in being there.

Am I being obtuse and not wanting to accept being wrong and shoudl just pay a fine or am I correct in feeling this is a bit wrong and subject to an over zealous car park attendant?

I look forward to any advice you may have - thanks. I have 10 days to respond.

mcjordi

Who was the company that issued it??

if its not council or police ( very unlikely in a shopping centre/retail park) then ignore it...

DaveF327

x-treme1 wrote: »

only noticed the sign on the way out that they clearly advertised 2 hr parking because I was looking for it.

This is exactly why any "contract" is invalid. You weren't made aware of the exact contract terms on entering the car park and parking your car. You did not agree to these terms. You did not sign anything.

To reassure you that their future letters to you will be standard template letters, read this: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2214803

To further reassure you, here's what a county court judge ruled on a rare occasion the parking company pursued the matter to court: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=46993153&postcount=12

peter_the_piper

x-treme1 wrote: »

I was at Atlantic village, which is a large indoor shopping centre which also has an Asda. I was meeting a friend for coffee which took a while - we had coffee in a coffee shop within the premises of the shopping centre - on returning to the car had a fine for £60 for exceeding 2 hrs. This is true I was 2hrs 30 mins and only noticed the sign on the way out that they clearly advertised 2 hr parking because I was looking for it. However the point of my question is this, I was using the facilities, there is no pay and display otherwise I would have paid - I always do! There was no end of spaces for other people to park and I was creating no problem in being there.

Am I being obtuse and not wanting to accept being wrong and shoudl just pay a fine or am I correct in feeling this is a bit wrong and subject to an over zealous car park attendant?

I look forward to any advice you may have - thanks. I have 10 days to respond.

Its not a fine. Its just a speculative invoice pleading with you to pay them some cash.

robredz

Ignore them it is a phishing expedition, their consequential loss for your overstay is zilch nada nix, so they have no claim to take you to court for....They are a company they CANNOT FINE YOU

peter_the_piper

Just be grateful they are not like a local centre which clamps for overstaying.

esmerobbo

Ignore their silly request in increase their income!
I suppose they were brought in to stop probably none existent car park abuse, so they now abuse customers on the owners behalf?

x-treme1

thanks everyone for replying - the company is town and city parking. You have confirmed what I had thought anyway. I think I will ignore the ticket and see what teh company does - and question them all the way.

Thanks!

pogofish

These jokers are well known on here - Just keep ignoring them.

Kite2010

Ignore the invoice and ignore Asda.

Send a letter to the manager of that Asda saying that due to harassment from Town and Country Parking you shall be shopping at *name local rival* and telling your friends and family to do the same.