My £100 fine for 12-minute wait

A FAMILY day out at the beach ended in a £100 fine after they took 12 minutes too long to park and purchase a ticket.

Kieran Davis and his family, from Camborne, took a trip to a beach in Newquay on a busy summer’s day in August.

But when they arrived at Tower Road car park, it was packed and it took them some time to find a space.

Kieran then attempted to download a parking app to purchase a ticket but after several minutes struggling he gave up and phoned a number to pay. Phone records show the call lasted four minutes and 59 seconds, during which he paid for a two-hour stay.

It was three days later that a Parking Charge Notice arrived in the post demanding £100, reduced to £60 if paid within 28 days, from Smart Parking Ltd.

He said he appealed the fine but it was rejected as a camera showed that the family had 12 minutes of unpaid parking between the time they entered the car park and bought a ticket.

Kieran, below with the penalty notice, says he has subsequently incurred more charges for not paying the fine and currently owes £170. He described the situation as “completely unfair” and said it is adding “unnecessary stress” for him and his partner.

He said: “When we got to the beach and downloaded the app, I couldn’t put in the six digit location code to pay for a ticket that way. “Eventually I gave up and called the number on the sign in the car park and paid that way, so that was that done in my head, and we carried on as usual.We even rushed back to the car to make sure we got there in time. The stress of all this is unfair.”