A furious shopper says they have been fined for a stay of five hours in an Asda car park after nipping in for more than one five minute visit in a day.
Several residents in Lancashire who had to return to the supermarket in Darwen after forgetting items say they have been hit with hefty charges as a result. While many have been able to successfully challenge the bill, some say the situation caused them 'huge stress and inconvenience'.
LancsLive spoke to several annoyed Asda shoppers, while many more have taken to social media to express their outrage towards the parking system. Most were furious about not being able to visit the same place twice without being fined.
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Courtney Brown, who lives in the town, said her partner visited the Asda in question one morning and was issued a £40 fine from the company Parking Eye. She said: "My partner went to Asda for my baby's nappies in the morning, parked up and left after five minutes.
"Later on, I forgot something we needed, so he went back and then came home again after five minutes of being there. He then received a fine saying he had been there for five hours when this was not true. We paid the fine as it was a threatening letter, saying it would go higher."
However, it was not the only occasion that Courtney and her partner would receive a letter stating that a fine had been issued for their car parked by the supermarket. She continued: "We then got the same letter weeks later after going to the Asda again.
"My partner emailed them and they didn't even check anything, they just dropped it. It seems they are charging people for no reason, it seems like a con. We have lost money from the first time unfortunately, as we paid it so it didn't extend but we fought the second one.
"I think it's ridiculous, people should be able to travel twice to the same place without being charged. Darwen is also a very small place, there isn't much to do for five hours."
Cheryl Magee also claims the fine was a "massive stress and inconvenience" to her. The caregiver was fined £40, which if unpaid within 14 days, would have increased to £70.
She said: "I went in the first time round for no longer than 20 minutes. However, I forgot to collect my pants at Asda and then I went back in for another five minutes." Cheryl was issued the fine through the post after her visit to the supermarket on 22 March.
How unfair do you think the fines are? Let us know in the comments section.
Two days later, Parking Eye contacted her to cancel the fine after she contested it. Another visitor to the supermarket took to social media to express their frustration over the fines.
Most angry residents claim they have been fined after apparently staying in the car park over the allowed hour duration, despite leaving the car park and returning at a different time. A lot of the people claiming that this has happened have given others advice to appeal the fine and have it quashed.
One lady took to Facebook to state that their partner had been fined twice, as the cameras apparently do not pick up cars going in and out and rather, only picks up the car entering the premises. She also states that she won both appeals after bringing it up to Parking Eye.
Another asked the company to prove that the fine she received was the same person driving and if they could provide evidence that the car had been parked for as long as the fine stated. After bringing up this with Parking Eye, she was later informed that the fine had been dropped.
A local business also stated on social media that they had written letters and made phone calls to Parking Eye about the parking issues. One shopper has vowed never to return to the supermarket again after the controversy.
A Parkingeye spokesperson said: “The car park at Asda in Darwen is monitored by ANPR camera systems and has six prominent and highly-visible signs that give motorists clear guidance on how to use the car park responsibly.
“Parkingeye operates a BPA (British Parking Association) audited appeals process, which motorists can use to appeal their Parking Charge Notice. If anyone has mitigating circumstances, we would encourage them to highlight this by appealing to Parkingeye. The motorist Cheryl Magee’s PCN was cancelled following an appeal.”
Asda has been contacted for comment.
