Initialparking Reviews 

We parked in the Central Car and Coach Park in Howarth at 19.13.17 (parking fees payable between 8am and 6pm) and left at 19.34.40. The parking machines were not working so we were unable to pay. Ten days later received a parking charge of £100! People be warned!!!

I am extremely disappointed with Initial Parking and how this situation has been handled.
On 3rd December, I entered the car park but did not park my car. I did not leave the vehicle, did not turn off the engine, and did not use any facilities. My 8-month-old baby was asleep in the car, and like any parent, I did not want to wake him unnecessarily. We had planned to go Christmas shopping, but after 27 minutes and 18 seconds I realised it wasn’t worth disturbing him, so I drove home.
Despite this, I later received a £60 “parking charge” through the post. I was shocked. Sitting in a car with the engine running while caring for a sleeping baby is not parking.
I appealed on 23rd December, explaining everything clearly and honestly, only for my appeal to be declined. There was no empathy, no common sense, and no acknowledgement of the circumstances. It felt like my explanation wasn’t truly considered at all.
This charge feels completely unfair and unjustified. Calling this a “parking charge” is contradictory when I never parked. No space was taken, no rules were knowingly breached, and no harm or inconvenience was caused to anyone.
As a parent, this experience has been stressful and upsetting, especially at an already expensive and busy time of year. The lack of compassion and discretion shown has left me with a very negative view of this company. I would strongly advise others to be cautious, this feels far removed from fair or reasonable parking enforcement.

I had a recent experience with initial parking , absolutely shocking no understanding empathy for a persons situation at the time I applied to appeal the decision as I missed the deadline as I had an operation I was in recuperating for 3 weeks I contacted initial and POPlA the ombudsman for a further 10 digit number to appeal after I was feeling better. I was basically told do one not interested I was asked to prove my operation date for GDPR purpose should not be asked for I provided information reluctantly I was told it’s with the debt collector.
Worrying no staff put a name to the ryde email reply’s

We visited the castle on 10 October. It was a terrific visit especially the Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum.

But we could not pay for parking in the machines in Slate Quay car park. There was a huddle of cross and confused people at the defective parking pay machines and I decided to pay through the advertised app “Just Park”. Unfortunately I had just changed car and I entered my old car registration number by mistake. This honest mistake (after all, I paid £9 correctly) was exploited to the full by Initial Parking and I have had to pay a fine of £130 for entering the wrong registration number despite a number of e-mails to-and-fro.

This has rather spoilt our memories of the day and I recommend you choose a parking site operator which has reliable on-site payment machines and a more understanding attitude. If I could, I would blacklist Slate Quay car park completely.

To our surprise Initial Parking made a new claim that Beacon near Lewes was a fee-paying car park. One of us paid £2 by card and has the bank statement showing that IP had received it. They denied receipt, unjustly obtained the registered keeper's address from DVLA and demanded £100 fine. This might have been a failure to reconcile ANR and bank data, but their persistent denial makes their actions fraudulent. They passed it on Debt Recovery Ltd., who are progressively increasing threats and amount demanded. We battle on!

Complete fraud. I paid for parking at a parking meter in Lands End, Cornwall. I received a notice of non-payment. Before paying, I spent 5-7 minutes getting the children out of the car and getting dressed (Late November). I sent them an appeal with screenshots of my bank statement showing that I had paid the fee, but received a refusal with vague phrases.

I used this car park a few weeks ago. The instructions stated I was to pay on exiting the car park. After putting in my reg number in the machine told me what to pay however the amount didn't seem right. I had a look at the machine and see what to do as I knew the amount was incorrect but there was no instruction as to what to do. Therefore I paid what the machine stated. Having read through a number of reviews this appears to be part of the scam! Never use again

I have no problem paying for parking - I feel it’s the right thing to do. I used one of these car parks for the first time, signage very unclear as I tried to pay when I arrived and then realised it was payment on exit. When I came back to the car I tried to pay and went through the process numerous times and each time the transaction wouldn’t complete, I tried other cards and it was the same problem. I admit I left with out paying as I did not know what else to do. Consequently I have - even after appeal , had to pay a fine.

I parked in Caernarfon Castle car park once night whilst on holiday. Having no cash, I went to the (unlit/very hard to read) information board to see which parking app I needed. Not having it, I tried to install but had no signal. As it was heavy rain, I walked higher up to get mobile signal and take shelter. After installing the app, I had to register as a user & add all my credit card details. After 2 failed attempts by the parking app, the 3rd attempt went through (each time I had to login to my banking app to approve the purchase). All in all it took me over the 10 mins grace period. Knowing how long it took, I left the car park with enough time left to bring me within the 10 mins at then beginning but STILL received a PCN!!! I obviously appealed but they just refused saying I'd gone over. An absolute disgrace, the owners clearly have no conscience and are just in it for making money extra off people. Checking companies house, they have other 'parking' companies on the go. They even send the letter so it arrives over a week after the 'posted date' stating the reduced fee is only for 2 weeks, pressuring people into paying. Shame on you!!

No signage indicating charges start as soon as entering the car park and not when you have chosen a place and paid your money. This should be alerted at the payment machine so customers allow for this time when buying their ticket.

Do not use these clowns.
The machines are rigged. You type in your number and go to pay and then use tiny arrows to select your time.
What kind of backwards system is that.
Newquay airport went from bad to worse using this company,
The reviews totally sum up this shoddy company. Do yourself a favour and close your service and let a decent company in with modern technology.

Absolute scam. I visited Caernarvon castle and paid the tariff on exiting the car park and the charges appear on my credit card. I received a notice in WELSH that was sent to the rental car company for a £60 fine. Initial Parking's website will not accept the PCN number for an appeal and their phone system to pay has no record of the PCN they issued me. They are just the administrators of the Slate Quay car park, not the landowners, which are Caenarfon Harbour Trust, so I contacted them directly. Talked to Dave there, who seemed tired of hearings complaints about this company and their rotten administration of the car park.

In August i received a parking charge that was issued on the basis that i did not pay the tariff.

I provided evidence (bank statement) that the tariff was paid but Initial refused my appeal, this time stating that they recognise the payment but because the reg number was incorrect making the payment not valid.

This is just a money making exercise done by a criminal organisation that must be stopped.

You received payment for the correct amount on 14th August. Don't you dare send the debt collector otherwise I will start legal action.

Motorists! We need to start a class action against this racket!

Legalized scam. Car Park in Newquay is pay on exit. Entered my car reg and paid the fee presented. Then charged a £100 fine. Unlike every other pay on exit car park, this one wants your reg but also requires you to manually select the charge due. Despite multiple complaints over honest mistakes due to their low tech system the company makes unreasonable charges for small shortfalls in payment. The appeals process is not designed for the customer and is a farce. Any company or council engaging Initial Parking can expect masses of complaints and a loss of business.

Shockingly deceitful approach to car park charging. You insert your reg number after parking and the machine says £2.50.

It's then up to you to calculate how much the charge should be and then pay that. Bonkers.

It's crap and NQ airport should change their supplier and refund the fines.

Avoid parking with these cowboys at all costs, why are companies like this allowing to operate. Why should there be any charge for short term parking at Newquay airport, it’s not like you’re parking there to go anywhere else. Be careful of payment signage confusing and probably designed to be so!!! What sort of low down company doesn’t provide a telephone number, another clue as to how they operate!!

I paif £1.50 to park at Lamorna Cove, followed every instruction, and still received a Parking Charge Notice from Initial Parking days later. Despite proof of payment, they refused to acknowledge it — their so-called “appeals process” felt like a rubber stamp exercise designed to squeeze more money out of honest drivers.

This isn’t “parking management” — it’s a trap for visitors, especially those who simply want to enjoy one of Cornwall’s most beautiful spots without being harassed afterwards. Their ANPR system clearly fails, yet they continue to issue tickets and hide behind automated responses.

What kind of company penalises people for doing the right thing? One that profits from confusion, not service.

If you’re visiting Lamorna Cove (or anywhere managed by Initial Parking), beware: even if you pay, you may still be fined. Keep your receipts, take photos, and tell others. Cornwall deserves better than this predatory outfit.

Paid for parking and couldn't extend the parking period on the app or the machine. Recieved £150 from debt collectors and no appeals process was made available. For everyone facing this issue, I am arguing it every day and my initial email said:

This charge of £150 is both unfair and disproportionate, and I request that it be cancelled immediately for the following reasons:

Inability to Extend Parking Period Due to Payment Failure
I made every reasonable effort to comply with the terms of parking and to extend my stay, but the payment system was not functioning correctly. As a result, I was prevented from making payment or extending my parking period. It is unreasonable and contrary to the Consumer Rights Act 2015 to penalise a customer when a failure to pay results from technical or procedural issues outside of their control

Unfair and Disproportionate Charge
A charge of £150 is excessive and does not represent a genuine pre-estimate of loss. Private parking charges must reflect a reasonable and proportionate sum. This fee appears punitive and therefore unenforceable under consumer protection law and relevant case law (ParkingEye v Beavis [2015] UKSC 67 makes clear that charges must be proportionate and justifiable).

Nature of the Charge – Private Invoice, Not a Fine
This is a private parking notice and therefore constitutes an invoice, not a legally enforceable fine. As such, I am within my rights to dispute this charge before any payment is made. Unless and until a court determines otherwise, there is no obligation for me to pay.

Given the above, I request that this parking charge notice be cancelled immediately. Should you decide to reject this appeal, please provide a detailed response with all requested evidence and confirmation of how to escalate my appeal to the relevant independent adjudicator.

Please note that this communication is made without admission of liability, and I reserve the right to pursue this matter further should it remain unresolved.

Feel free to copy and keep pushing. These are the vampires of the world.

The previous parking provider at Newquay Airport should never have been replaced. I never had a problem. Now I try to pay with the Initial website which was impossible. Therefore I bought a ticket at the machine to cover the entire parking period and they still sent a penalty notice. This is meant to be a window to Cornwall for the business community. Initial need to be replaced!

I was park at lands end carpark maintaining by initialparking .Bought ticket but no where to enter reg number.i received parking fine 100 gb and after appeal reduce to £20 .No customer can enter their reg to machine at that time in lands ent car park Cornwall .We have to do some this for this dogy parking company .