Overstay In Supermarket Car Park

[JeniPeni]

What is the situation (in Scotland) with companies who buy your details from the DVLA and send a fine because I had 'overstayed' in a free supermarket car park. Do I need to pay this? Thanks.

[fiction-factory]

Usually yes- although it's a charge not a fine. You can go to great lengths to examine the wording of the sign, the size of the sign, whether the parking company is a member of an approved body. or you can put it down to experience and pay a reduced rate if it's offered.

[chelle7272]

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=4118207

[Buenchico]

If there was a clearly displayed sign advising you of the charge for parking there (beyond a specified free period), you entered into a legally binding contract to pay that charge when you parked your car.

Test cases have gone all the way to the Supreme Court, where such parking charges have been deemed to be valid:
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cars/article-3303189/Parking-ticket-disappointment-UK-motorists-Supreme-Court-rejects-chip-shop-owner-s-85-appeal.html

Scottish courts also give their backing to the enforcement of valid parking charges:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-39478203

Pay up!

[fiction-factory]

The first few posts I saw there were from 2012. The situation has changed a lot since then and courts often uphold charges when cases go to court provided teh charges are reasonable- eg £30 might be considered reasonable, £300 wouldn't

[fiction-factory]

^ Hi buenchico. My comments there related to chelle's link, not yours

[JeniPeni]

Thanks!

[JeniPeni]

The link for the woman who refused a parking permit in Dundee, is quite different from overstaying in a supermarket car-park - she was supposed to pay to park but didn't.