For the past two years, I have been attending a church playgroup one day a week. The group runs from 9am to midday once a week. I don't go every week as I work but the past six weeks I have been doing since I am no longer working. My friends also use the car park and have done for two years, every week or so.
On 3rd November I apparently over stayed my welcome (01:54) and incurred a charge. I understand this is not legally binding but a 'breech of contract' but I don't feel I should pay. AIBU?
The car park apparently is for 01:30 and I overstayed by 24 minutes but I was using a facility inside the building that actually operates for longer than the car park allows. Also as it is in effect a 'free' car park, I feel a £50 charge is too much, absolutely certain the car park was not 'losing anything' as it was nowhere near full, it never is as it is a small market town.
My friends have NEVER incurred a charge and they say if using the church group you can use the car park without incurring cost but I can't see how.
I have emailed the church group who have not replied and my DH phoned the supermarket (they don't own the car park) who took my car reg and phone number and hopefully will get back to me. DH says it sounds like they can arrange to get it waivered. I am going back today because everyone says it has always been two hours hence why I always attend from 10am to midday to ensure I don't receive a charge but at some point they obviously changed the time limit but didn't make it obvious. I can't prove that they did but my MIL is certain there is sign that says 'two hours'.
So should I pay? Ignore it? Appeal it? Obviously if I can find evidence of just one sign that says two hours, I have good grounds for the fine to be waivered. I am panicking slightly as I have NEVER got so much as a speeding ticket in my driving life and because I was there on 10th November too, fear another ticket (although never got one throughout October!)