A Dundee man has been hit with an £85 parking fine for visiting the same supermarket twice in one day.
Jed Mitchell visited Tesco Express on Strathmartine Road around 7am on Wednesday and returned later that day to pick up some lunch.
But while he was in the store he received a ticket – which claimed he had been parked in the supermarket car park all morning – even though the tracker in his vehicle shows he travelled to and from his work in Strathmore Avenue in between times.
“I parked at about seven o’clock in the morning in the car park and then went back about five hours later to pick up some lunch,” said Jed.
“When I came out I had an £85 parking ticket, which said I had been in the car park for five hours and 56 minutes.
“The good thing is I’ve got a tracker in my vehicle so I have printed off everywhere I went that morning.
“But I am thinking about old age pensioners who might just pay the fines.”
After The Courier took up Jed’s case, ParkingEye (correct) which runs the car park has agreed to quash the fine.
And the company said its appeals process ensures nobody has to pay fines if they have been issued in error.
A spokeswoman said: “We operate an industry-leading audited appeals process as detailed on the parking charge notice and encourage individuals to appeal if there are mitigating circumstances.
“We are yet to receive an appeal in relation to this case, but based on the information provided by The Courier the charge has been cancelled and a letter of confirmation has been sent to the motorist.”
Fines issued by private parking firms have long frustrated motorists in Dundee, particularly residents of City Quay.
Around 30 cars belonging to people attending a Remembrance Day service on the Unicorn were hit with parking tickets after leaving their vehicles in a private car park.
The fines were later rescinded.
And the owners of the Gallagher Retail Park overhauled their parking system after dozens of complaints from motorists.
But it not just private parking firms that have been accused of over-zealousness.
Members of Broughty Ferry Lifeboat crew were given tickets by a council parking warden when out on an emergency call this month.