A young family's routine supermarket trip turned into a stressful nightmare when they found themselves trapped in a car park for over an hour due to traffic gridlock, only to be hit with a £100 penalty charge upon finally escaping.
The Traffic Trap That Cost a Family Dearly
Charlie Green, 25, and his partner had just completed their shopping at a Kent supermarket with their seven-month-old baby when they discovered the exit was completely blocked by stationary vehicles. What should have been a quick journey home became an hour-long ordeal as they sat helplessly in the car park queue.
"We were literally trapped," Mr. Green explained. "There was nowhere to go, no way to move. We had our young baby in the car getting increasingly distressed while we watched the clock tick past our parking allowance."
An Unwelcome Surprise in the Mail
Weeks later, the couple received the shocking penalty charge notice demanding £100 for overstaying their welcome - despite having attempted to leave for the entire additional hour they were stuck.
The supermarket's car park management company, Horizon Parking, remained unmoved by the family's predicament, insisting the fine was valid under their terms and conditions.
The Broader Problem Facing Shoppers
This case highlights a growing concern for UK shoppers where:
- Car park operators use automated systems without human oversight
- Genuine mitigating circumstances are routinely ignored
- Families with young children face particular challenges
- Appeals processes often favour the parking company
"It's fundamentally unfair," Mr. Green stated. "We're being penalised for a situation completely beyond our control. How can they justify charging people who are actively trying to leave?"
What Shoppers Can Do
Consumer rights experts suggest that affected motorists should:
- Always gather evidence including photos and timestamps
- Formally appeal to the parking company with full details
- Contact the landowner (in this case, the supermarket)
- Seek assistance from parking appeal services if necessary
The family continues to fight the penalty, hoping common sense will prevail in a system that often feels stacked against the ordinary shopper.
