Woman’s ‘shock in the post’ after using Caernarfon car park

Vincenza D'Alessandro, 45, from York, came to the town on May 3 as part of a weekend-long holiday in North Wales with her husband.

They entered Slate Quay car park at 3.15pm, and paid £2.60 for an hour’s parking at 3.19pm.

The couple then visited the nearby Oriel gallery, but left Slate Quay car park at 4.05pm.

Then, on May 9, Mrs D’Alessandro received a letter from Initial Parking, who operate Slate Quay, regarding “unpaid tariff time", fining her £100 (or £60 if paid within 14 days).

Slate Quay car park (Image: Submitted) When contacted by the Chronicle, Initial Parking said the wrong car registration number was placed, but that the fine was cancelled by the land owners, Caernarfon Harbour trust, in any event.

Mrs D’Alessandro said: “Looking online, this seems to be a common issue, where customers have paid for parking (at Slate Quay), but then still receive a penalty charge notice (PCN).

“It's unclear why this is, and it is impossible to get a reply from Initial Parking, so as a result, the public will simply pay the fine rather running the risk of the fine increasing.

“It is just really frustrating.”

Mrs D’Alessandro had not paid Initial Parking any money prior to the fine being cancelled.

She said she did not plan on paying it, either, and was determined to pursue the matter through POPLA, an independent appeals service for PCNs issued on private land, instead if she had to.

The letter she and her husband received from the company was, she said, a “shock in the post”.

Mrs D’Alessandro added: “I don’t understand why I was been fined. It’s all a mystery. It’s not nice to receive something like this.

“I was willing to appeal it and go all the way, but I just feel sorry for the people who just pay it because they don’t want the hassle.

“We don’t remember any entering any registration number. I’ve not received any confirmation from Initial Parking (that it’s been cancelled).

“I just don’t understand why they’d cancel if they think they’re right, either.”

The Chronicle has reported last year on multiple occasions of people disputing PCNs they have received after using Slate Quay car park.

Joe Mills, from Wigan, criticised “unscrupulous” Initial Parking after he was fined last September, while a pensioner from Anglesey said she received a PCN “to my great dismay” at Slate Quay last summer.

Another man on holiday in North Wales, Richard Adams, also received a PCN from Initial Parking after using the Slate Quay car park.

Mr Adams labelled this fine “absurd”, with it having been issued to him for apparently failing to enter his full vehicle registration.

In response to Mrs D’Alessandro’s comments, an Initial Parking spokesperson said: “As clearly stated on the very large BPA (British Parking Association)-approved signage which is located next to the payment machines, motorists are required to enter their full, correct vehicle registration when making payment for parking.

“As per the evidence the motorist has provided, the registration the motorist made payment for was ‘EE’. Therefore, the terms and conditions of the car park were breached and a PCN was correctly issued.

“Initial Parking operate a fully audited appeals service in accordance with the BPA. However, no appeal was received in respect of this PCN.

“Had the motorist appealed they would have been advised of the reason the PCN was issued and provided with further information regarding the Single Code of Practices guidance on Major Keying Errors.

“The PCN was subsequently cancelled on May 12 at the request of the landowner, and is now closed on our system.”