A holidaymaker who has been visiting Cornwall for decades says private car park companies are "mugging" people after he got slapped with a £100 parking charge notice for overstaying at a popular beach location. David Lester, from Wantage in Oxfordshire, got hit with the unsettling notice in the post after a trip to Cornwall in April.

The 70-year-old overstayed his parking time at Harlyn Bay, on the north coast, by 14 minutes. "They mug everyone and get away with it like it's a tourism tax," the pensioner said, adding that he "feels sorry" for people who have to pay the standard, and increasingly high, charges let alone additional parking charge notices (PCNs).

While he clearly overstayed and broke the contract under which the parking ticket is provided, which is entirely his fault, he wasn't happy with the company, even though he also exceeded its 'grace period'. "I found it frustrating that a little hick parking company refuses to publish their CEO's email address and they are hiding," he said. "It's a rip-off and we've had a property in Cornwall for 15 years but have been coming for 45 years and it is just mugging."

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Having written to the firm behind the car park, Alliance Parking, his appeal was rejected and he ended up paying a lesser settlement fee of £60 but he was not impressed that there was no way to easily reach the company bosses. "They get away with it and it's like a tourism tax. I often feel quite sorry for people when they go on holiday and have to pay £15 a day to park but this.

He's now paid the lesser £60 to prevent being charged the £100 or £170 it would soon become if he continued to challenge it. "Someone has to raise this because all these people are coming down with their hard-earned cash and then they get ripped off," he continued.

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"I don't think it's right. I don't think it's fair and I don't think the government is interested in it or otherwise they would do something about it."

In a response to his appeal, Alliance Parking said: "We are in receipt of your challenge in relation to the above Parking Charge. Appeals must be handled fairly and consistently, therefore, for us to cancel any Parking Charge; we must find that the Notice was issued in error.

"As per the clear and prominent signage at this location ('The Contract'), drivers agree to pay the sum of £100 if 'Payment for the duration of your vehicle's stay has not been made in full'.

"Had the driver felt that the terms of the contract were unacceptable, they had the option to seek alternative parking. By remaining, the driver is deemed in law to be bound by the terms of 'The Contract'.

"Our evidence confirms that the vehicle overstayed the period paid for, and the Grace Period was exceeded; therefore, the Parking Charge was issued correctly."