Car locked in private car park

ceebeeby
ceebeeby Posts: 4,357 Forumite
Part of the Furniture
Parked car at 09:00 this morning in private car park. Signs on gate state car park shuts at 21:00 however on returning at 16.45 the car park was locked and bolted! Signs checked again, nothing indicating it would be locked early.

Police aren't interested and can't locate key holder. Any ideas on how to retrieve car??

What's car park liability for covering taxi firm home- 20 miles on a public holiday :(
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Comments

  • System
    System Posts: 178,313 Community Admin
    10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Since you mention PH then I assume that you are in Scotland?
    This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
  • PasturesNew
    PasturesNew Posts: 70,698 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I have no knowledge whatsoever....

    My guess is that as you parked in a private car park, to which you had no rights (as you didn't say you had), there's no liability for them to pay a penny.

    I'm guessing that whoever owns the car park "popped into town/work" today, let themselves into the car park ... did what they have to and went home. They might assume that anybody else parking there also has a key/rights.

    Maybe they'll be back in tomorrow during "normal office hours"
  • GwylimT
    GwylimT Posts: 6,530 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    You say public holiday so I'm guessing you're in Scotland, that would mean public holiday hours will apply to the car park opening and closing times.
  • goonarmy
    goonarmy Posts: 1,006 Forumite
    Did you pay to park?
  • Retrogamer
    Retrogamer Posts: 4,218 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Does the private car park serve a business or houses?
    Where there any signs that stated it was private parking? If not, what else did the sign say apart from opening times?
    All your base are belong to us.
  • Sooler
    Sooler Posts: 3,113 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    ceebeeby wrote: »
    Any ideas on how to retrieve car??

    Wait until the gates are opened, then drive it out.
  • Guest101
    Guest101 Posts: 15,764 Forumite
    It depends if a contract was formed by their offer and your use of the car park. Did u pay for it?
  • ceebeeby
    ceebeeby Posts: 4,357 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture
    It's a pay for car park. You pay at the garage. Garage was closed so intended to pay on return which is normal. Gates were open other cars parked in there. Nothing to indicate anything other than normal hours. Ferry it serves running a Saturday service, nothing that states anything other than 6.30 to 21.00 opening hours.
  • londonTiger
    londonTiger Posts: 4,903 Forumite
    my guess is it was new years and nobody was out and about. So slow day. Staff wanted to leave early, there was just one car there who didn't pay for parking so decided to just lock up and leave and teach driver a lesson.

    To be honest OP, if you can get away without a fine you should consider yourself lucky. Parking ticket machine broken is never an excuse to park anyway. The only pass you'll get is probably by the council but private landlords no chance.
  • Jamie_Carter
    Jamie_Carter Posts: 5,282 Forumite
    GwylimT wrote: »
    You say public holiday so I'm guessing you're in Scotland, that would mean public holiday hours will apply to the car park opening and closing times.



    They are also often referred to as public holidays in England.
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