I was fined £100 for leaving my car in a car park for just 25 minutes – but here’s why I’m NOT going to appeal it
A FUMING driver was slapped with a £100 fine for parking just 25 minutes - but here's why he is refusing to appeal.
Ian Ellis, from Chesterfield, Derbyshire, was shocked to be sent the hefty fee two weeks after he went shopping at a Lincoln shopping centre.
The 51-year-old said he popped into Tritton Road Retail Park at the start of June to pick up a click and collect order from Halfords.
But he reckons he was only in the shop a few moments and only left the vehicle with his partner for five minutes maximum.
The pair claim they left the car park to eat a pub lunch nearby and returned to the shopping centre that afternoon to visit Home Bargains.
This time, Ian said, they were only at the retail park for 20 minutes tops.
Read more Motors
So you can imagine Ian's surprise when he faced a £100 fine through the post two weeks later.
The letter claimed he'd been in the car park for five hours and demanded he paid the fee, which would be reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days.
Ian flat out rejects the parking fine, which he does not think he deserves at all.
He is refusing to fork out the money and is adamant he will not appeal either.
Most read in The Sun
Ian said: "I couldn't believe it when I saw it and I won't be paying it.
"The letter said that I could appeal against the fine but there isn't anything to appeal against, I just won't be paying."
The car park is managed by the UK Parking Control (UKPC).
Signs around the retail park state drivers are not allowed to leave the site and can park for a maximum of three hours.
He added: "There is actually CCTV footage of me in the car park of the Nosey Parker [pub] when UKPC claims I was at Tritton Road, so the evidence is there but the ball is in their court now.
"I'm not going to appeal and I have just told them that if they want to take it any further then they can go to court.
"Going down to the pub and signing forms to get the CCTV footage to win my appeal is going to take me time and my money, so if they want me to do that then I'll charge them an administration fee of £250.
"It's not just me that this is happening to and it seems to be having an impact on the amount of business that the shops there are actually getting."
The parking attendants are also hot on it
Shopper at Tritton Road Retail Park
Ian may be right that he is not alone - as Google reviews of the car park make similar claims against the car parking system.
One comment warned: "The parking attendants are also hot on it, if you're not in your bay you will get a ticket or if you dare to leave the car park again ticket town!! Be careful."
Another shopper who walked her dogs to the Pets at Home in the retail park said she was also handed a ticket.
She wrote: "Walked to the grass at the side of the carpark and walked back to the car to get shopping bags and I had received a parking ticket!
"The parking attendant said I had left the site ... as I was now standing talking to him I begged to differ.
"No empathy from this individual who kept smirking ... so upset about this."
"Cut my trip short and others beware as Tritton Retail park is NOT dog friendly," she finished with a sad faced emoji.
A third review read: ";BEWARE OF THE CAR PARK MAN!
"I parked here one afternoon and went to pick something up in the high street before the shops closed. Then came back and bought something in Halfords for my car.
"35 minutes after parking I go back to my car and find a parking ticket - £100 fine! Reduced to £60 if paid within 2 weeks.
"Apparently the ticket man spies on people from a hiding place.
"If they park and walk out of the area - for whatever reason - he runs out from his hiding place and tickets you. Regardless of whether you actually shop there.
"I've no complaint with the shops in this area, but if there is an automatic parking ticket, WHERE ARE THE WARNING SIGNS so that we are forewarned???!!
"Seems extremely underhand and excessive - surely this is not legal."
UKPC have been approached for a comment.
The reads: "If you decide to not pay a parking charge and we don’t receive payment from you, we will pass your details on to a registered debt recovery agency, and you may also become liable for the costs they incur as a result.
"If you still refuse to pay we may commence court proceedings against you.
"Only recently a woman in Scotland ignored hundreds of parking tickets for leaving her car at Dundee's Waterfront without a permit, claiming they were unenforceable but a court ordered her to pay £24,500 to the private parking company.
"Amateur lawyers posting on internet forums often advise people to ignore parking charges, claiming that they’re not enforceable in law.
This is bad advice.
"In fact parking companies take people to court every month and in most cases the judge finds in their favour on the basis that: the Parking Charge was issued correctly; the signage was clearly and prominently displayed; or the charge made was fair.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Read More on The Sun
"Court action is always an option of last resort for UKPC.
"We always prefer to resolve situations amicably but unfortunately this is not always possible."