Published: Thursday, 4th February, 2010 8:00am

The parking fine from the future

by Adam Hewitt

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A METER reader who left his company car in a retail car park got a ticket - issued from the future.

Phil Atkinson, 50, of Tilehurst, shopped in Mothercare at Vastern Road retail park just before noon on Friday, then walked to nearby Isis Court to read an electricity meter.

But when he got back less than 10 minutes later at 12.05pm, there was a handwritten ticket from parking firm UK Parking Management (UKPM) on his car, telling him he had been off-site for 30 minutes -issued at 12.20pm.

Mr Atkinson, who works for AccuRead, said: "It's quite clearly a load of nonsense, they've made it up.

"I called UKPM straight away to complain and have the time I called recorded on my work mobile - 12.08pm. The sign says for customers only, but I was a customer at Mothercare, I went in because my son is expecting his first child. I went off site briefly after that to read a meter but I was back in less than 10 minutes."

Coventry-based UKPM's signs in the car park say the fine is £45, which doubles to £90 if not paid in 14 days, but Mr Atkinson said there were no proper details on the hand-written ticket.

He said: "I rang the customer relations number on the ticket but the girl who answered said she didn't deal with complaints."

UKPM had no comment at the time of going to press.