I've just returned home and am really distressed to find a £60 PCN from a company called Vehicle Control Services. Two weeks ago at the Ivybridge Retail Park privately operated Car Park, seemingly I overstayed by 45 mins. They show a picture of my car entering the car park and another as I left, just after 6.30pm. I must admit I did not see any notices about max. 2hrs stay but then I wasn't really looking. During my shopping trip I moved the car from one end of the parade to the far end by another store - perhaps I should have exited and re-entered but I didn't think to do so.
I am furious, I've never been to Ivybridge before and I spent over £70 at 3 stores there on this my first visit. I was advised to go there for trainers. There was a sale on. The store was packed with parents and their kids, it also being the school holidays and I had quite a wait before I could find an assistant to serve me. Then it took a long time to find a suitable pair of trainers for me. They're the ugliest things I've ever purchased and I really hated having to fork out the £60 odd for them(and that was the heavily discounted sale price) and now I've incurred a £60 fine on top!!! I also visited 2 other stores, both had sales on and were busy so I had to wait for a free assistant. In both stores I made additional purchases. I was shopping at the stores within the Ivybridge Retail Park for the entire length of my stay but am being penalized for being a customer - that hardly makes business sense!
Do I have to pay this PCN of £60 or can I just ignore it? Perhaps I should take the PCN into the Sports shop with my credit card receipt and ask them to deal with the parking company. I paid cash in the other 2 stores and no longer have the receipts. I shall be grateful for any advice. |