A mum struggling amid the cost of living crisis was shocked to receive an £85 private parking fine, claiming the signs telling her she needed to pay were “not very visible”.
Amrita Kaur has now issued a warning to drivers to be wary of signs after not realising she parked her vehicle in a private car park.
Amrita travelled to a Co-op store in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, and decided to leave her vehicle at a car park along Clemens Street on Sunday, March 19, at around 2pm.
She says she had left her vehicle parked there on a previous occasion, and never received a fine.
A few days later, Amrita was shocked to receive an £85 parking fine through her door.
Amrita, who is a single mum, said the fee has put a dent in her wallet along with the cost of living crisis.
Amrita, from Leamington Spa, told Coventry Live: “Getting a parking ticket is never a pleasant experience, especially when you were not aware that you had to pay for parking. That’s what happened to me when I parked at a new store in Leamington.
“As I drove to the store, I spotted a car park and assumed it was the same car park I had used before when visiting the Co-op. I parked my car and spent just over an hour there.
“When I returned to my car, I didn’t think I would be receiving a parking ticket a few days later.
“When I received my parking ticket I was confused as I had parked at the same car park before without any issues.
“However, as I looked closer, I realized that the car park was owned by a private company and that there were signs indicating that a fee was required to park there.
“Unfortunately, the signs were not very visible, and I had missed them.”
Amrita has since issued a warning to drivers to be careful and read signs in the carpark to avoid receiving fines through their door.
“I received a parking ticket for £85 (£51 if paid within 14 days). I managed to pay it within the 14 days, but I was shocked by the price.
“As a single mother, I have to watch my spending carefully, and with the rise of living costs, it’s crazy to charge someone so much for a simple mistake.
“I posted my parking ticket on Facebook not to complain but to warn others that may make the same mistake as me, as it is not a fun experience receiving such an expensive parking ticket, especially when you are carefully budgeting.
“In the future, I will be more careful when parking at new places and will make sure to check for any signs indicating that a fee is required. It’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to parking tickets.”
Express Online has contacted Horizon Parking for comment.
