I’m furious after being fined £100 for queuing at a car wash – it was only 10 minutes longer, it’s insane

A MUM has become furious after being fined for exceeding the time limit of a parking space while queuing for a car wash.

Natalie Carby from Watford, Hertfordshire said she queued about 25 minutes at her local Esso workshop before driving home on February 15.

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Twelve days later, however, she was fined by Euro Car Parks on the grounds that she exceeded the maximum 15-minute stay at one of their locations.

There are signs advising customers to do so, but Natalie, 41, said the restrictions should not apply to the car wash queue.

She said: “I’m just absolutely appalled.

“I think it’s absolutely outrageous that they can do that. Fair enough, there may be signs for a car park, but the car wash is not a car park.”

Natalie added that she had planned to go to a nearby BP workshop but it was closed, resulting in an unusually long line at Esso’s premises.

She had bought the new car just an hour before the wash.

With the fine, the £9 wash could end up costing her over £100.

The mother-of-two was furious: “It took a lot of time and effort and the help of family members to get this car and then within an hour I’m slapped with a £100 fine.

“I had my previous car for over ten years and I never got a parking ticket. One hour in this car and I get a car wash fine – I’m just appalled.”

She has appealed to the company’s website, saying she cannot afford to pay in the midst of one cost of living Crisis and Rise energy bills.

However, she has just 14 days to pay the £60 fine before it is increased.

The fine notice she received added: “Failure to pay the full amount of this notice within 28 days may result in debt collection proceedings and/or legal proceedings being instituted against you.”

Euro Car Parks has been contacted for comment.

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