Britannia Parking - Rose Street - Inverness

Rabby86

Hello everyone,

I've been reading the Noobie thread but I'm just looking for clarification on what to do.

My family were in Inverness and stopped at a Starbucks for lunch, at no point did we see a pay and display machine and never in my life have I had to pay and display for a Starbucks that's off a main road.

I see my first step should be to contact the Starbucks manager to complain about it but I'm unsure how to go about that other than calling the store but I'm not a very confrontational person so I feel like I'm just going to fail at the first hurdle.

(Image removed by Forum Team)

Fruitcake

First of all, the driver should sit on their hands in the corner and say and do nothing.

Assuming the vehicle is registered in Scotland, the keeper should complain in writing (by email) to the cafe manager and/or CEO. There is no keeper liability in Scotland (yet) so the keeper should state that since they can't be held liable, they want the charge cancelled.
A family member drove the car, the keeper got the NTK. In law, these are two entirely different people.

Post your draft complaint here for checking if you wish.

The keeper should also complain to their MSP about the actions of this unregulated industry.

Ignore everything except a cancellation from then on except a claim from the Scottish court, which is extremely unlikely where a single parking charge is concerned because it would cost the PPC money and they would get nothing in return even if they did win.

KoalaMSEF

Complain to Starbucks and/or the LANDOWNER of that Retail Park. 

If you feel angry, unjust, and a sense of being 'robbed'? You should channel that to the email you send to Starbucks and/or the landowner, demanding them to cancel the PCN or instruct their contractor to cancel the PCN. You have spend money at Starbucks in a retail park, why on earth you are invoiced with £100 parking fee. This does not make sense and it is bad business. 

If your car is registered in Scotland, you could ignore all the letters, including debt collector letters at the later stage FOR NOW, as parking company cannot sue you in Scotland under a different jurisdiction (devolution!). But I heard it may change next year or so. Be mindful, you will receive many threatening letters, which can be nerve-racking. But in reality, they can't do anything to Scottish people in Scotland, at least FOR NOW. 

fisherjim

That NTK is not PoFA compliant, in addition to the details stated above they cannot hold the keeper liable don't tell em Pike!

Coupon-mad

@Rabby86 you can safely ignore it. Thought all motorists in Scotland knew there's no keeper liability? Search the forum for:

Scotland new keeper law 2025

mveramani

Sent email to local MP/MSP

Dear Mr. MacDonald,

I am following up on my earlier communication regarding the troubling parking enforcement practices at Rose Street Retail Park, Inverness, operated by Britannia Parking.

On 04/01/2025, I received a £100 parking charge notice after stopping for just 21 minutes to collect coffee from Starbucks. I am a non-local visitor, unfamiliar with the area. There were no barriers, no overhead entry signs, and no prominent visual indicators that this was a paid parking zone.

Despite acting in good faith, I have now been threatened with court action and debt collection for a brief stop in a retail space that is designed to welcome shoppers.

1. Failure to Warn Drivers Effectively

There was no overhead arch or barrier at the car park entrance stating that charges applied. Instead, signage was placed to the side, requiring a driver to read complex information while actively entering the premises. This is unrealistic.

As someone focused on driving safely, I could not be expected to scan, process, and interpret parking terms printed on roadside signs while maneuvering into a retail parking space — particularly in an unfamiliar city.

The only fair and practical way to inform drivers in this setting is via overhead arches or controlled barriers that clearly warn: “Paid Parking – Terms Apply”. Without this, drivers are not adequately notified and cannot be deemed to have knowingly entered into a contract.

2. I Am Not Alone – This Is a Widespread Issue

After receiving the fine, I discovered numerous reports from other drivers who faced the same experience:

• MoneySavingExpert Forum – Rose Street Complaints

• Inverness Courier – Mounting Complaints

• Ross-shire Journal – Pensioner Demanded £170

• Inverness Courier – Councillor Questions Legality

These articles report cases of:

• Drivers fined after short visits (even less than 20 minutes),

• Malfunctioning or hard-to-find payment machines,

• Threatening debt recovery letters, and

• Signage not meeting fair notice standards.

3. Legal Concerns – Validity of Enforcement

A Highland councillor has already raised concerns about whether Britannia Parking is acting lawfully in Scotland. Since these fines are based on civil contract law, they rely entirely on the formation of a clear and consensual agreement—which is not the case when signage is hidden, side-mounted, or unclear.

4. My Request for Action

This is no longer just about one parking ticket. It is about fairness, transparency, and safety in how private operators enforce charges in spaces used by the public. I respectfully ask that you:

• Raise this issue with Highland Council and Trading Standards,

• Consider discussions with Transport Scotland or the BPA about minimum signage standards,

• Support a requirement for overhead entry signage or controlled barriers in all retail park environments with private enforcement,

• Encourage a formal review or investigation into Britannia Parking’s practices at this site.

I am happy to provide a full record of correspondence, photographs, or appeal documents. I am raising this matter not only for myself but for the many others silently caught in similar circumstances.

Thank you again for your time and for standing up for fairness and accountability in Scotland’s communities.

Kind regards,

LDast

It's irrelevant where the vehicle is registered. Britannia cannot issue a PoFA NtK for an alleged contravention in Scotland. So, the only requirement is for the Keeper to refer Britannia to the response given in Arkell v Pressdram (1971).