A pensioner from High Wycombe has revealed they were ‘surprised’ to receive a car parking fine despite not going over the allocated time.

Mark Stinchcombe, 65, parked in the Sainsbury’s Dovecot car park in the town in January this year.

He noticed that there was a sign which said ‘four hours free parking’ but received a penalty of £195.

Shocked by the fine, he alerted those in charge to quash the fee, believing it was an error, only to have the figure increase to £245 (which includes a court fee of £50).

He has since contacted Popla (Parking on Private Land Appeals), Euro Car Parks, and the town’s former MP, Steve Baker, for help.

He said:  “I noticed that there was a sign which said four hours free parking.

“As you know, free parking is allowed from time to time in this car park.

“Normally the cost of parking for an hour Is less than £2. 

The sign that was put out in the car parkThe sign that was put out in the car park (Image: NA)

I took a photo of the sign on my mobile phone.

“I was surprised therefore, when I received a penalty notice but thought this was just a mistake.

“I sent a letter to Euro Car Parks with a photo of the four hours free parking sign.

“They did not deny that the sign was theirs and that it had been on display at the relevant time.

“They just said the penalty charge had been correctly raised but that I could appeal to POPLA.

“I appealed to POPLA and explained all the facts and attached a photo of the sign.

“Incredibly, they rejected my appeal and said that no further appeal was possible.”

The 65-year-old has since alleged that he has received ‘threatening letters’ suggesting that he will be ‘issued CCJs’

He also revealed he has contacted Debt Recovery Plus for additional help, but this avenue later turned out to be fruitless.

In a last-ditch attempt for help, he approached the town’s former MP Steve Baker, but this was just days before he lost his seat at this year’s General Election.

He continued: “In light of the Post Office scandal, where people with power and money created a huge miscarriage of justice, please can you answer the following questions and say what you will do to stop this sort of behaviour:

1.      How is it right to pursue an OAP for non-payment of a car parking penalty, when they have clear evidence that their staff had put out a sign saying 4 hours of free parking?

2.      How can non-payment of a £2 parking ticket justify a penalty of £195?

3.      Who sets these penalty charges?

“Surely a fairer system would be that penalties should be overturned whenever there is a reasonable excuse or confusion over signage.”

A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: “There are signs displayed throughout our Dovecot car park which explain the charges that apply.

"We are sympathetic to the customer’s situation and so we have arranged to waive the notice and cancel Debt Recovery on this occasion, as a gesture of goodwill.

We have also approached Euro Car Parks for a comment.