A couple from North Wales were left feeling "mugged" after receiving a £100 fine for spending just over six minutes in a Weymouth car park.
Steve Cottrell, 63, an NHS nurse, and his partner Joy, 56, drove into the Old Town (West) Car Park on 15 July, hoping to find a space for their week-long holiday.
Upon discovering issues with the payment system and steep prices, they decided to leave and find alternative parking.
However, their brief stay exceeded the car park's five-minute grace period by 72 seconds, resulting in a hefty fine from Parkingeye, the company managing the facility.
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The driver said he shouldn't have been fined since they didn't actually park
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Steve said the contactless payment system was not working correctly and since he had no cash, he left the car park, adding that the prices were also very expensive.
"We didn't even stop there – well, we stopped the car but we didn't park there," Steve told PA Real Life.
Unbeknownst to the couple, their brief visit had lasted six minutes and 12 seconds, exceeding the car park's five-minute grace period. They eventually received a Parkingeye fine when they returned from their holiday.
The fine was £100, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days. Steve was taken aback, stating: "I was quite shocked because we hadn't actually parked there."
Believing it to be a mistake, Steve appealed to Popla (Parking on Private Land Appeals), but his appeal was rejected. Frustrated by the lack of communication channels, Steve took an unusual step.
"It's a little embarrassing but I sent an email to various MPs and copied in Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner," he admitted. "I know it's a bit silly, but I just thought nobody can actually help me with this."
Steve even wrote to the car park's landowners, determined to fight what he perceived as an unjust fine.
Parkingeye, the company managing the car park, defended their actions. A spokesperson stated that the car park is monitored by ANPR camera systems and has 17 visible signs providing clear guidance on usage.
A spokesperson for Parkingeye said: "The car park at Old Town West in Weymouth is monitored by ANPR camera systems and has 17 prominent and highly visible signs that give motorists clear guidance on how to use the car park responsibly.
"Motorists are advised that tariffs apply 24/7 and that they have the option to pay by the machine on site or by the evology payment app.
"The motorist parked in the car park for six minutes without paying, this exceeded the five-minute consideration period and therefore led to a parking charge being issued. We would add that our systems show that the machines and the app took normal levels of transactions throughout the day."
Parkingeye eventually cancelled the fine as a "gesture of goodwill", although added that motorists should pay the appropriate tariff if they exceed the grace period.
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The Old Town (West) Car Park in Weymouth
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Steve expressed his relief but maintained his stance on the unfairness of the situation. He said: "If there is a five-minute grace period, then I went over by a minute, so I'm being charged £100 for a minute.
"I think five minutes is unreasonable because by the time you've pulled up, got out of the car, made your way over to the ticket machine and read the signs, your time is up and you'll be fined."
