A dad was slapped with a £100 parking fine after a trip to the petrol station - but he insists he was only waiting in line for the car wash. Ahsan Haji said he waited for 45 minutes to clean his motor at his local BP garage on March 19.
The 33-year-old and his family, from Leyton, east London, then drove off and thought nothing more of it. But, a week later, he was sent a parking ticket demanding he pay £100 to Euro Car Parks for overstaying the 25 minute limit.
The dad-of-three has appealed the fine but said he's yet to hear back from the company - although he insists he won't be paying. Ahsan, who works in clinical procurement, said: "We never parked - we were in the queue the whole time.
"There were six or seven cars in the queue with us who would have also been issued a fine. I absolutely should not have to pay that. They should be ashamed of themselves."
Ahsan went to the car wash with his wife Linda Goslar, 31, and their three sons aged eight, five and three, last month. They had no idea anything was wrong until a letter was delivered detailing a £100 fine Ahsan now had to pay Euro Car Parks.
He said: "I couldn't believe it when I read that." The letter reads: "We are using cameras to capture images of vehicles entering and leaving the car park to calculate their length of stay.
"Your vehicle was parked longer than the maximum period allowed. By remaining at the car park without authorisation, in accordance with the terms and conditions set out in the signage, the Parking Charge is now payable to Euro Car Parks."
But Ahsan is adamant he will not be paying the fine - branding it "unacceptable." After sending a letter appealing the fine the day he received the letter, he awaits a response from Euro Car Parks.
He said: "I should absolutely not have to pay that. We were sat in the car the whole time - we never parked. They should be ashamed of themselves, and I am not paying. We were queueing - how can you charge us and call that parking?"
Euro Car Parks and BP have been contacted for comment.
