Fed up shoppers have slammed a Lanarkshire retail centre over continually being chased for parking tickets they say they've already paid up for.
Locals that use the Rutherglen Exchange now say they won't be back until the problems are sorted - two years after we first told of issues.
The shopping centre uses Gemini Parking Solutions to manage their car park, and residents in the Royal Burgh have constantly had issues with the service since it was first installed there, including being sent threatening letters demanding they pay fines.
Angry motorists hit out at the company in 2020 after they refused to stop handing out fines during the coronavirus crisis.
In recent weeks Lanarkshire Live has been contacted by a string of shoppers who say they've had enough.
One woman, who did not wish to be named, told Lanarkshire Live : "I came back from holiday and found a note saying I owed them a parking charge.
"Luckily I'd kept my ticket as I'd seen posts on social media warning that this happened a lot.
"However, I know there are a lot of people who don't, and are being bullied into paying up - the letters they send out are very threatening and basically terrorise someone into giving in and paying the fine. It's like harassment.
"The shopping centre need to do more about this. It's having an impact on local people, and I know several who simply aren't going to use the shops there anymore. "
Another shopper who contacted us told how she was fined on successive days, despite having bought a ticket each day.
She added: "I've thrown my tickets away, but I paid both days. At first I thought there was maybe a problem with the machine but the company won't even respond to me about that. They're saying it's a £100 fine or £60 if I pay within a couple of weeks, which dodgy in of itself.
"I used all the shops there and I liked trying to keep my shopping local but I'm never going back there."
The complaints against the centre came in the same week as it was announced the Works bookshop is to close there at the end of the month.
Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey has previously met Exchange management and Gemini representatives to discuss the problem.
She confirmed that the number of complaints has dropped since the 2020 peak, but that locals are still reporting difficulty.
Ms Haughey told us: “Since the new parking system was introduced at the Rutherglen Exchange, I’ve heard from several constituents who’ve received Parking Charge Notices when they clearly shouldn’t have.
"Along with Councillor Janine Calikes, I have met with the owner of the shopping centre several times, and we’d relayed concerns from local residents. It does appear that the issues are not as frequent as when the new system was first introduced, but it is still happening.
"I’ve had a great success rate, so I’d encourage any constituent who believes they have incorrectly received a Parking Charge Notice to contact me, particularly if they’ve had no success with appeals."
The Glasgow list MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy also told Lanarkshire Live she had heard from locals regarding the centre.
She said: "Constituents tell me that the manner in which Gemini are pursuing parking fines is aggressive and persistent and has left some feeling anxious and afraid.
"To make matters worse, it appears people have been getting fines despite having paid for tickets at their time of parking and people who couldn't purchase a ticket due to broken parking machines in the Exchange Car Park are getting them too."
"In the midst of the worst cost of living crisis in living memory it is important that companies are thorough and certain when issuing payment requests for fines, and where people are unable to pay, they should be met with understanding and support, not threats and scary looking letters."
The Rutherglen Exchange shopping centre were contacted regarding the claims.
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