Lost car park ticket, paid lost ticket rate with a value of approx one day, but was there for more than one day

[fryday]

Hi,

I'm in Europe currently. I parked in a car park for a few days (more than 72 hours as per below). When I came to collect my car, I realised I couldn't find my ticket. I paid the lost ticket rate, which generated a new ticket and let me exit. However, though this lost ticket rate was slightly more than a full day's rate, it was less than what I should pay the car park given the number of days I was there.

There is a sign saying there are cameras, but it also says that due to the data protection guidelines, all film would be deleted after 72 hours. There is a large flat white camera at the entrance/exit with a number of small black lenses in it, and I imagine the ticket barriers contain small cameras, though not sure about this.

There is no parking attendant. The car park doesn't seem to have a website, but there is a phone number for the car park on a third party website on the internet. Should I phone them and explain? I don't speak the language, and most people here don't speak English, so I am a bit worried about trying to explain (I realise this is entirely my own issue). I can't find an email address.

Not sure what to do - all suggestions welcome.

Personally I would just wait and see if you are contacted by them at all 🤷‍♀️ wouldn't give it too much head space!

I wouldn't think on it much at all. Chances of them chasing you for some extra parking costs are slim.

You didn't set out to defraud them. You lost your ticket and this is the system they have in place. You couldn't have paid more even if you had wanted to, so what more could be expected of you?

Don't do anything. You lost your ticket. You paid the lost ticket rate. Case closed. Also not sure of the relevance of being in Europe. I guess you mean not in the UK?

Many thanks for all the replies! Yes, I just meant not in UK - my car is UK-registered so I am additionally worried about them not being able to track me down to notify me of anything through my registration plates, and then imagined some nightmare scenario down the line about accumulating fines and court actions and serious trouble! In particular if I leave the country and later return and find I have the equivalent of a CCJ against me! I am quite a catastrophiser as a thinker though...

@fryday

Many thanks for all the replies! Yes, I just meant not in UK - my car is UK-registered so I am additionally worried about them not being able to track me down to notify me of anything through my registration plates, and then imagined some nightmare scenario down the line about accumulating fines and court actions and serious trouble! In particular if I leave the country and later return and find I have the equivalent of a CCJ against me! I am quite a catastrophiser as a thinker though...

I mean, if you were concerned to such a degree that it was going to cause you anxiety, you could always search online and see if there is a way to contact the operator of the car park and explain the circumstances to them. Either call or send recorded letter so they know you have tried to make amends should it ever be raised down the line.

Highly doubtful that any of the above would be required but as a fellow catastrophiser, it may help you feel you have put something into action to resolve.

You could always go back and pay for a second lost ticket and that way you will have paid twice and not feel so bad

I'd wait to see if you get contacted personally. They probably calculate the lost ticket rate so that the majority of the time they make a small profit, but are aware that for long-stay parkers they may make a small loss.