Page 5 | AIBU to appeal a private car park fine for leaving site?

Rosesandthorns66 · 2026-08-11T04:13:00+00:00

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.

Original poster

Rosesandthorns66 · 12/08/2026 10:42

ParsleySageToiletDuckAndBinBags · 12/08/2026 09:13

Ironically, if you hadn't bothered going to the cash point to check your balance or get cash, and instead had just grabbed what you wanted and run out of the store without paying for it, you would probably have had less/no punishment than you did being an honest customer.

Very true. Its very sad about how much shop lifting is happening. They pick the items and leave the store. I've noticed that shop lifters just get away with it as many aren't chased.

As its not worth being attacked by them.

Thankfully I haven't been brought up to steal.

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Original poster

Rosesandthorns66 · 12/08/2026 10:47

pouletvous · 12/08/2026 08:04

Send ypur receipt or screen shot of bank statement proving you shopped there

Thankyou for your message.
I have sent an email with the receipt attached to Farmfoods customer services and they have replied saying they will look into it.

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Original poster

Rosesandthorns66 · 12/08/2026 10:51

I want to say Thankyou so much to everyone that has replied, all your replies are greatly appreciated.

I found my receipt and sent it by email to their customer services department.
Farmfoods have replied and will look into it.
I really appreciate their reply because it shows they care about their customers.

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Original poster

Rosesandthorns66 · 12/08/2026 10:54

ParsleySageToiletDuckAndBinBags · 12/08/2026 09:09

not everyone shops on cards. i have two friends who still use cash (as big brother is watching and they don’t want anyone knowing who they are/their business -personally i dont think itll work).

I'm currently in a UK seaside town where there are lots of businesses along the prom - and all of them have signs up either saying 'cash preferred' or 'we only take cash'. I think it's a mixture of no signal for online payment machines to work and small businesses trying to avoid unnecessary merchant fees.

Ironically, they have now started charging 30p a time to use the toilets, and they and the council-run car parks are now card payment only. You can't get an ice cream, bacon butty, bucket and spade, hire a deckchair etc. without cash; but you can't go for a wee without a card!

Lots of people prefer/need to use cash for all kinds of reasons; and many older people don't do online banking at all. Yes, most of them use bank cards in shops, but without online banking, you can't be sure how much is in your account... and if you go slightly overdrawn, then the banks will be there to rinse you with hugely disproportionately high penalties, just like their pals the car park cowboys.

Edited

Totally agree.
Thankyou for your reply.

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Original poster

Rosesandthorns66 · 12/08/2026 11:22

Thankyou to everyone who replied.

UPDATE WITH GOOD NEWS.

After I emailed my purchase receipt to Farmfoods customer services.
Farmfoods customer services have emailed me to say they have had the fine cancelled.

I absolutely appreciate the support that I have received from Farmfoods. They have shown a true gesture of goodwill.
It shows they value their customers.
I am so relieved.

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BalakayAARon · 12/08/2026 11:29

Fantastic news!

GwendolineFairfax8 · 12/08/2026 11:35

@Rosesandthorns66

Great News 👏 😊

ParsleySageToiletDuckAndBinBags · 12/08/2026 13:06

Excellent news - I'm so glad for you.

But what a nasty thing to put people through in the first place, when all you've done is go out to buy groceries for your family. How many other people, who don't have confidence and support to ask for help and advice, will have just paid this without challenging it? Their victims will undoubtedly include a lot of vulnerable, poor people, who will see no alternative but to pay them and resign themselves to not eating properly or heating their homes for several weeks as a direct result?

I'm not condoning people abusing car parks at all; but the fines they levy and the way they harass and hound people who have made a genuine mistake - or even where the car park owner is the one who has made the mistake - is nothing other than corporate bullying. Imagine making your living as a parasite waiting to swoop and ruin somebody's day/week/month for the sake of parking for an hour or so without technically adhering to often arbitrary, unreasonable and deliberately obscured rules.

Original poster

Rosesandthorns66 · 12/08/2026 15:44

ParsleySageToiletDuckAndBinBags · 12/08/2026 13:06

Excellent news - I'm so glad for you.

But what a nasty thing to put people through in the first place, when all you've done is go out to buy groceries for your family. How many other people, who don't have confidence and support to ask for help and advice, will have just paid this without challenging it? Their victims will undoubtedly include a lot of vulnerable, poor people, who will see no alternative but to pay them and resign themselves to not eating properly or heating their homes for several weeks as a direct result?

I'm not condoning people abusing car parks at all; but the fines they levy and the way they harass and hound people who have made a genuine mistake - or even where the car park owner is the one who has made the mistake - is nothing other than corporate bullying. Imagine making your living as a parasite waiting to swoop and ruin somebody's day/week/month for the sake of parking for an hour or so without technically adhering to often arbitrary, unreasonable and deliberately obscured rules.

Yes I agree.
Customer services at Farmfoods have shown real kindness towards me in this incident. They have had the fine cancelled for me because I was able to show them proof of purchase. This showed that I was a customer at farmfoods.

However, its the people that park there for longer and don't even use the stores in the carpark, the fines are a means of deterrent for them.

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RunningNananananananananana · 12/08/2026 16:00

Great news 😀

Jacketpandbeans · 13/08/2026 07:43

Really pleased for you OP. I read your thread but didn't get a chance to comment on it. I'm glad Farm foods have done the right thing for you by cancelling. Those car park fines are money makers designed to catch people out and it sounds like the fine would have really impacted your family. You must be feeling very relieved!

Original poster

Rosesandthorns66 · 13/08/2026 10:53

Jacketpandbeans · 13/08/2026 07:43

Really pleased for you OP. I read your thread but didn't get a chance to comment on it. I'm glad Farm foods have done the right thing for you by cancelling. Those car park fines are money makers designed to catch people out and it sounds like the fine would have really impacted your family. You must be feeling very relieved!

Thankyou for your message.
Farmfoods have really been very supportive and acted with kindness.
It means a lot that they have cancelled my fine. I showed them my proof of purchase and I had been a customer at the store on the day.

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Elieza · 15/08/2026 09:23

great result OP.

nice to see Farmfoods have acted decently in this matter, good for them and good to hear.

MN should keep a weekly tally of who saved what money by following MN advice lol.