Who hasn’t been tempted to leave their motor in one of those handy parent and child parking bays at the supermarket? After all, they’re extra wide and usually conveniently positioned right next to the main doors. And they’re often empty. What harm could it do?
But slipping into one, even for a few minutes, could land you a hefty fine if you don’t comply with the supermarket’s terms and conditions.
The government is about to change the law to protect drivers from ‘cowboy’ private car parking firms. It follows an escalation in protests about some private companies levying unfair charges on drivers.
Figures from complaints handling service Resolver show that gripes about private parking operators doubled in 2016 compared to the year before. Citizens Advice has also seen a steep increase in the number of people seeking assistance to deal with tickets issued by private firms. Last year, nearly 10,000 people approached it for help with parking tickets.