Britannia parking’s debt collectors demand £170 from Highland pensioner as the ‘cowboy style’ operation was slammed by Dingwall Councillor Sean Kennedy who was also stung
Debt collectors working for Britannia Parking have demanded £170 from a Highland pensioner despite the man never receiving a parking charge notice after he stopped for 15 minutes at the Rose Street Retail Park.
The tactics used by Britannia Parking by allegedly pursuing “people for the most trivial technical violations of conditions to enforce payment” led one councillor to “suspect that their business model relies upon this income”.
The current charging rates range from 50p for up to 30 minutes to £2.50 for up to four hours – while the fines come through at £60 (if paid early), £100 or from debt collectors £170.
Earlier we reported how Dingwall Councillor Sean Kennedy was also stung with a fine, he said: “I would also question whether this is deliberate because a £60 or £100 fine will take in more money than one hour of parking”.
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Public anger is mounting over the operation of the car park with ticket machines being out of order for what is believed to be months at a time resulting in fines much larger than the cost of parking – though they are currently working again.
Numerous members of the public have been in touch to speak out about their experiences with what one described as a “cowboy style” operation that is “unacceptable” – including Alex Crawford.
During a visit to Inverness for a hospital appointment in October, Mr Crawford and his wife wanted to go to Home Bargains in the city centre and he said he was parked for no more than 15 minutes.
He said: “When I went to pay for the ticket the screen stated that it was out of order so I don’t know after that how you were supposed to pay and we just carried on with the shopping.
“I think we must have been parked there for 10 maybe 15 minutes at the most and then we were back on the road – this was back on October 23 last year so I thought nothing more of it.
“Then on January 15 but dated January 3 I got a letter from Direct Collection Bailiffs Ltd (DCBL) demanding payment for non-payment of parking fines costing £170 stating we only had two weeks to pay.
“The problem was we did not get any parking fine at all and by the time we got the letter from DCBL I was told when I phoned them that it was already too late to arrange a repayment schedule.
“But because I am a pensioner they said I could pay £85 this month and £85 next month. They also told me that Britannia Parking had sent the parking tickets to my old address.
“I couldn’t understand how the debt collectors could get the right address but Britannia could not – to me it seems like the whole thing is a big rip-off, it is simply not fair.”
The Inverness Courier revealed that the notorious car park snared Highland councillor Sean Kennedy who tried to pay but the ticket machine was apparently not working – he was not alone.
Jean Wright told us: “I was fined and paid the fine at this car park a few years ago. At the time, the pay machines were ‘out of order’. I am now afraid to enter this car park in case the machines are not working so park elsewhere and walk.
“It was usually for Smyths Toy Store when I did park there and it now means I have to carry products further rather than face the dread of a fine again”.
Mané Sharma said: “I parked there on December 30, 2024. None of the machines were working, and after looking around I noticed nobody else had the pay and display tickets on their window. So, I went in to do my chores.
“On January 15, I found I had been issued £100 for failing to pay my parking. I have appealed, and hope they don't charge me. It is awful the way this company doesn't maintain their machines, and then charge you £100 for not paying.
“I hope we can find a solution to stop the cowboy style car park running in our city. It is unacceptable”.
And Bill Sadler said: “I too found it impossible to pay due to the [ticket] machine not working. The company had photographic evidence I had parked and evidence some had paid.
“I appealed and received the legal reply that as I had parked I was due to pay irrespective of circumstances.”
Local councillors in the Inverness Central ward where the car park is located said the treatment of the public is not acceptable, Cllr Kate Maclean said: “I have started to send complaints about this and other car parks to the Trading Standards office”.
Cllr Michael Cameron said: “The way these companies pursue people for the most trivial technical violations of conditions does make me suspect that their business model relies upon this income.
“The number of facilities is growing and the latest code of practice is simply insufficient. I believe legislation is required to ensure that private car parks can operate in a more acceptable manner. That should benefit both drivers and decent parking operators”.
Cllr Michael Gregson said: “Any profit Britannia and the other companies take from the Foundry/ Rose Street car park is entirely based on everybody else making our city an attractive place to live, work and visit.
“And the growing catalogue of stories show they don't give a hoot for their customers”.
Sean Kennedy said: "I have been inundated with emails from people who have also experienced real and, I believe, unnecessary problems with parking at the Rose Street Retail Park.
“I would question why the machines were out of order for so long and I would also question whether this is deliberate because a £60 or £100 fine will take in more money than one hour of parking.
“What also strikes me as worrying is that no one seems to know who owns the car park and this is important because if we can get to the bottom of that then maybe we could get this sorted out.”