An American woman who was slapped with a hefty parking fine after moving to Wales during lockdown has won her two-year fight against the company which issued it. Lynnea Arnold faced having to pay an overall £269 penalty after going for a meal in Talbot Green, Rhondda Cynon Taf, back in September 2020 - shortly after the UK government eased Covid restrictions and implemented the Eat Out To Help Out scheme, aimed at breathing life back into the ailing hospitality industry.
However, a few weeks after parking in one of the bays on the town's Ely Valley Road to grab a burger with her partner and two children, the 39-year-old massage therapist from Detroit received a letter from London-based New Generation Parking Management. "It said I'd parked in a space where the maximum permitted stay is 30 minutes," said Lynnea, adding that she'd remained in the spot for just over an hour - from 7.35pm until 8.45pm.
"But it was dark, badly lit and I never saw anything other than a sign at the entrance with a big blue 'P' for 'parking' written on it." However, she'd later discover that the "really small and barely legible black text" underneath the "big blue P" stated that time restrictions applied and that drivers should "see contractual signage throughout the site for more information".
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Lynnea explained that this other signage specifying parking charges had been on the reverse side of the main entrance display, as well as attached to the walls of the shops at the opposite end of the car park. "And the reason I didn't park down that end is because those spaces were designated 'permit parking only'," she said.
"You have to understand that I was new to the area. In fact, other than to pop to Tesco I'd not been out locally at all because of the Covid rules at the time.
"Also, when the parking fine letter arrived in September, 2020 I immediately appealed it. But that appeal was completely ignored by the company - pretty much par for the course with these sorts of parking firms judging from what other drivers have told me in various online forums.
"And after that the letters kept coming, with the fine increasing each time. The total went from £60, which I initially had to pay within 14 days, to £100, then £120 and then £160 - until the final tally hit £269, which included all New Generation's administrative and legal fees etc."
She continued: "During this period I also became pregnant with my third child, so I found the threats of possible bailiff action and court dates all the more stressful." Eventually Lynnea contacted Parking Mate UK - a self-professed "online service to help drivers fight against unfair parking tickets".
"For a fee they drafted my defence paperwork and when the day came in January this year for my case to be heard at Pontypridd 's County Court - which I didn't have to attend - the judge just read both our submissions and threw out the claim against me.
"In the judgement form I was later sent he stated that he 'wasn't satisfied as to the presence of adequate signage on the day of the alleged contravention'. New Generation also admitted to having lost any video or photographic evidence of my car going in and out of the car park, which didn't help them one bit."
She added that it was "such a relief" to finally have the matter brought to an end. "It was like black cloud hanging over my head the entire time," said Lynnea.
"The whole thing was so frustrating, especially given that the parking firm never bothered to acknowledge my original appeal. I got the feeling they were just hoping I'd just give in and pay out.
"Given the circumstances at the time I'd have just appreciated being some shown some consideration and a bit of leniency." WalesOnline has contacted New Generation Parking Management for comment.
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