A PRINCES Risborough dad has called Tesco "corrupt" after being fined £40 despite adhering to the car parking rules.

Daniel Smith, 45, visited the Tesco Superstore in Longwick Road, Princes Risborough on March 27 at 11.44am. 

Rules at the car park state you cannot return within two hour or you will be fined.

Adhering to the rules, Daniel returned after two hours at 4.55pm but still received a penalty notice from Horizon for "exceeding the maximum stay period".

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The fine was £40, which Daniel says his elderly grandparents would have paid in fear of receiving the penalty notice.

Tesco has since cancelled his parking fine and apologised.

The carpenter said: "I wanted to move my child's car seat and it was raining so I went into the car park just to move the baby seat and then I didn't return to the store until about 5pm.

"I'm basically bringing to the publics attention that if you visit it [car park] twice in one day it takes your first arrival time and fines you.

"The system in the car park is corrupt. 

"I think its absolutely terrible an absolute scandal and if people knew the camera system is photographing and choosing to take your arrival and last exit and issue you a prosecution- its bent."

"My granddad was driving up until he was 95 what if he received a penalty notice in the post? He would pay for it.

"As if life is not complicated enough you cant even visit your supermarket without you being prosecuted."

After appealing his penalty notice and hearing nothing, Daniel contacted the Bucks Free Press.

A few days later, Tesco decided to cancel Daniel's penalty notice but he wants to raise awareness for those who may be vulnerable to paying the fine.

Mr Smith said: "I have the internet to make my case but what about the people with no internet."

A Tesco spokesperson said: “We are sorry to hear this has happened and following a review have cancelled the customer’s parking penalty notice.”

Horizon manages over 2,500 car parks in both the public and private sectors.

An email sent to Daniel from Horizon said: "Horizon invests in both the technology and infrastructure required to manage parking facilities on behalf of its clients.

"As with any technology, errors can unfortunately occur. Whilst errors are mercifully rare, there are a number of possible reasons why a vehicle registration may be either missed or unreadable by an ANPR camera.

"These can range from another vehicle driving too closely to the photographed vehicle during busy periods, through to a number plate that is obscured due to poor weather conditions or dirt.

"It is apparent that a capture of your vehicle has been missed on this occasion. When problems are highlighted to us, such as in this scenario, we are able to investigate and apply remedy.

"Please therefore accept our sincerest apologies and also our thanks for highlighting the problem to us." 

Tesco currently operates on a 2 hour free parking rule. 

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