Inverness man left feeling 'terrorised' after receiving parking charge at Rose Street Retail Park
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An Inverness man has been left feeling 'terrorised' after receiving a parking charge at Rose Street Retail Park.
Michael Holmes (75) and his wife have been parking at the off-road car park for years, however, were stunned to find they had received a charge – despite having a blue badge.
Mr Holmes did not realise that the car park had changed ownership and that those with disabled badges are now required to pay. He claims there was no clear signs saying they had to pay.
The car park is owned by Britannia Parking, which is based in Poole, England.
After trying to contact the company - with no answer - he has now received 15 letters with more than one charge with the threat he will be taken to court.
Speaking about it, Mr Holmes said: "I never look at the signs in the car park, and I always think because we have the blue badge it will be fine.
"I've tried phoning the company but the line just goes dead.
"We've spent thousands in the shops there over the years, and now we are too scared to park there.
"It's terrible, and we can't afford to go to court for it. It's making my wife very upset.
"All the letters are very intimidating and I feel hounded by the company. Some days we receive two letters in one day."
The Inverness Courier attempted to contact Britannia Parking but it gave no response via email and no-one could be reached on its phoneline.
Councillor Andrew Jarvie who has a blue badge himself has also received two charges at the Rose Street Retail Park. He re-iterates Mr Holmes claim that there were no clear signs up to say blue badge holders had to pay.
Speaking about his experience Mr Jarvie said: "There was no sinage in front of the disabled places to say that people had to pay. The main concession is that you have clear accessible sinage if blue badges have to pay. It's only been the last three or four weeks they have put signs up.
"All the other sings were high up on a lamp post and this is not accessible for anyone with a disability. The signs need to be clear for people to park.
"If they ever came to court I would contest it as their terms and conditions are unenforceable as there is no clear statement.
"I understand that fines from now on are fair game, but prior to this there was not accessible sinage, it was 10 foot up on a lamppost."
Britannia's debt collection agency, Direct Collection Bailiffs Ltd which has been sending the letters to Mr Holmes has also been contacted for comment but up until the time of publication there has been no response.
This is not the first time people have been enraged by the treatment they have received at the car park, and reviews online for Britannia Parking show many also struggling with the same situation.
Out of 257 reviews on Trust Pilot the company has received one star.
One person wrote: "This a company who tell lies and who try and extract money through their threading letters , praying on people’s ignorance.
"They should be barred from the DVLA for obtaining names and address via the index/ Reg No of vehicles."
Another wrote: "I wrote a letter to this company, who have not even had the decency to respond, they make it impossible to speak to anyone. I explained that my neighbour received a parking notice today for the sum of £100 or £60 if paid within 28 days.
"My neighbour is registered with a blue badge and he and not steady on his feet, Thomas had taken his disabled daughter out for a meal and due to the weather conditions was unable to remove her wheelchair from the car, he was unaware that there was a charge and he thought he had up to two hours free parking. Thomas is 84 and would struggle financially with the cost of the fine."
Have you received a fine at Rose Street Retail Park? Have you been able to contact Britannia Parking? Let us know at newsdesk@hnmedia.co.uk
