AIBU to appeal a private car park fine for leaving site?

[Rosesandthorns66]

Has anyone got any advice regarding a parking fine I have received in a private car park.

I didn't over stay but instead of going to the shops first, I went to the bank to check my balance at their ATM.
The fine says they've got a 20 minute recording in which period I did not return.
Also, it says reason for issuing fine is: as its a patrons only carpark.
To be honest, I didn't realise that, I only looked at the time that was allowed for parking which is 3 hours.
When I returned, I did go to the farmfoods to do a small shop.
Has anyone got any advice if I have grounds on which to appeal this.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
I suppose I am in the wrong and unfortunately its an expensive mistake which I won't be repeating again.

How could they prove that you didn't have a passenger who spent the whole time in the shops?

This is the actual sign on the carpark.
Yes the signs would be much easier to understand if it said customer parking only.

However some signs are just written like this.

I would really appreciate some helpful replies, from people who have been caught out in this situation and successfully appealed.
How can I word my appeal?

Its better trying to appeal rather than just handing them over the money, which is £60.

I just went to the ATM to check my balance to see if I've enough money to use, then came to do my shopping.

Your help and replies will really be appreciated. Thankyou.

Good reply. Thankyou.
But its a argument I won't win if they asked for the receipts of the passengers purchases.

Depends which end you park your car.
Some are on posts others on walls.

Because you could reasonably assume that you didn't know which store you needed to be a patron of. The wording needs to be exact to issue a charge to someone. If there were only one store in the park that you were obliged to be a patron of, then going into any other store wouldn't form a contract.

"Parking for patrons of ASDA only" is completely different to "parking for patrons of the retail park only". Whay does the signage actually say?

Just saw your earlier post with the sign. Did you visit any store there?

Unfortunately, I have no proof of purchase.
Now I realise the importance of receipts but for a small shop I didn't bother because I was thinking, I won't be returning any of these items.
I just bought milk and and a few other items.

Definitely try to get it cancelled by the shop first though. Did you pay in cash or do you have any kind of record of it leaving your bank? Problem with appealing is that the appeals system is also run by the same lot who run the scalping parking companies in the first place.

So you did visit a store at the location covered by the car park?

Im not asking if you bought anything.

Was it explicitly written at the top of the sign? I'm just wondering why the photo appears to be cropped, as TBH, I'd possibly not have read the small print in detail either.

Yes I visited farmfoods.

@Rosesandthorns66 Fight unfair private parking tickets

Follow the advice on the link⬆️⬆️

If you go to Farmfoods, they may be able to get the fine cancelled for you if you say you made a purchase. Did you check your bank statement?

Yes, I've checked my bank statement, the purchase wasn't made by card.
I bought milk and spotted some Lux soap bars and I bought those. I might not have taken the receipt because they are not items I would return and its not a big shop.

I made a mistake and I will have to pay the fine.

I will have to admit defeat and pay the fine.
I did look up Tony, he says, unfortunately they have cctv evidence so there's not much I can do.
I guess its my badluck.

Don't give up hope so quickly.

I would go to Farmfoods and speak to the manager.

receipts and proof of purchase don’t matter, they don’t say you can only park there if buying something. Does the signage show the area covered by the retail park - which stores are included?

There needs to be proper regulation of all car parking and consistent policies across the country. So you know 100% where you stand.

Also an app covering all, and the ability to pay at a machine by debit/credit card.

Surely if they have CCTV evidence that would show you patronising Farm Foods.

Yes but thats not the part where I've been filmed.
I made the mistake of parking and leaving the carpark area, so the attendant filmed me leaving the park.

Don't know about the footage of me returning and going to Farmfoods.

. I hate parking and not knowing what the rules are in each different free car park. I understand fully why they are there and how previous misuse had led to the imposition of tough penalties but I really wish there was a country wide agreed wording about how long you can park for and what the penalty is for breaking the agreed rules.

I would also like the punishment to fit the crime with an agreed scale for staying over time for example. £60 charge for a parent going to buy milk is outrageous.

Yes it is in a smaller print, than the rest of the writing.

Update:

I have found my receipt. I was in farmfoods at 9.40am.
I went to the ATM and used it and then then returned back to Farmfoods.

Don't bother appealing. Unlike local authority fines, private car parks work by having a 'contract' with the driver. The easiest way to get out of one is to inform them John Smith of 123 Random Lane was the driver. That's it.

Thanks, I'll try that.
🙂