Angry people have been slapped with fines after using a cash machine in a car park.
A number of people have taken to Facebook after receiving what they have called 'unjust' parking fines.
The drivers claim they stopped on Thrifty's store car park on Wargrave Road, Newton-le-Willows to use the cash machine in the car park.
However, weeks later they were horrified to have received a £100 fine for spending mere minutes in the car park and not having actually shopped at the store.
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Have you wrongly been given a parking fine at this store? Get in touch on aaron.curran@reachpl.com or in the comments below
One person said: "Please note if you get money at the cash machine at Thrifty's Wargrave between the hours of 11pm to 7am and park in the car park they are very likely to fine you £100.
"The only alternative is to park on the double yellows, please don't do that it is dangerous."
Another person commented said: "These parking companies should be stopped! Councils should be encouraging people to stop, park and use these businesses, not enable people to get fined for the privilege!
"It’s hard work parking anywhere local these days, the Trafford Centre is much easier. And St Helens Council wonder why the footfall and spending in town and local businesses has reduced?! It’s not rocket science."
While another wrote: "These parking companies should be stopped! Councils should be encouraging people to stop, park and use these businesses, not enable people to get fined for the privilege!
"It’s hard work parking anywhere local these days, the Trafford Centre is much easier. And St Helens Council wonder why the footfall and spending in town and local businesses has reduced?!
"It’s not rocket science."
In a Facebook post the owner of the land said: "Sorry for any inconvenience the parking company has had on customers by issuing parking tickets for using the car park on Wargrave road (Thrifty's).
"The car park is managed by Parking Eye to prevent the car park from being abused by none customers etc. Due to some technical issues parking tickets may have been issued incorrectly.
"If any genuine tickets have been mistakenly been given, please send them over to me via Facebook messenger and I will get these cancelled for you. If some tickets have been paid for and you think that it was a genuine mistake I may be able to request a refund of the fine. "
Thrifty's told the ECHO the parking fines were not give by them.
The company Parking Eye also manage several other car parks in St Helens.
A Parking Eye spokesperson said: “The car park at Thrifty in Newton-le-Willows is monitored by ANPR camera systems and has prominent and highly-visible signs throughout displaying the terms and conditions of the parking facilities.
"Parking Eye operates a BPA (British Parking Association) audited appeals process, which motorists can use to appeal their Parking Charge Notice. If anyone has mitigating circumstances, we would encourage them to highlight this by appealing. All motorists are also entitled to a further appeal via POPLA, the independent body which reviews all cases.”
