A tourist visiting St Michael’s Mount in Cornwall was left angry after receiving a hefty £170 parking fine for overstaying by less than seven minutes. Amy Lathan, a mother of two from Nottingham, only found out about the fine weeks after her trip when a letter demanding the increased amount arrived at her home. The situation has caused frustration, especially as she never received the original £60 Parking Charge Notice (PCN).
What Happened During the Visit?
Amy explained that she had queued for 15 minutes to pay for three hours of parking at the Long Stay Marazion car park near St Michael’s Mount. She believed there was a 15-minute grace period in place for overstaying. However, it is unclear whether the seven minutes she overstayed occurred before she bought the ticket or after it expired. The lack of clear communication and the missed initial notice has made appealing the charge difficult.
Issues with the Parking Fine Process
Amy pointed out that the parking fine was issued in her father’s name, as she was driving his car, but there was no way to transfer the fine to her name or contact the car park owners to challenge the charge. When she tried to appeal and request a name change with Initial Parking, she was told the case had been passed to a debt recovery agent because of the delay, making it impossible to change the liability.
Certificate of Postage and Communication Problems
Cornwall Live reported seeing a ‘certificate of postage’ confirming a document was sent on April 10 via ‘hybrid mail’. Despite this, Amy insists she never received the original notice and only learned about the fine when the amount increased to £170. The sudden jump in the fine has left her feeling unfairly treated and reluctant to return to Cornwall soon.
Amy Lathan’s experience highlights the frustrations many face with parking fines, especially when initial notices go missing and fines escalate dramatically. Clear communication and better customer service from parking operators could help avoid such disputes. Visitors are advised to be aware of parking rules and keep evidence of payments to protect themselves from unexpected fines.
