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I was fined at an airport drop off - should I appeal?

I have recently dropped a friend off at Newcastle International Airport & used their Short Stay Car Park 2 which gives the first 15 minutes free. On attempting to leave well within the 15 minute period I was held up by another vehicle which obstructed the exit road, as it is a one way system I had no alternative but to wait until the driver moved. When I arrived at the exit barrier I was charged £8.00 for overstaying.
On checking my dash cam it shows that I was delayed because of another motorist & that in total from entering the car park to arriving at the exit barrier was only 15m 12s, in effect I've been charged £8.00 for overstaying by 12 seconds.
Do you think there is any point in asking for a refund and if refused taking action in the small claims court?

Asked on 16 September 2024 by Derreck

Answered by David Ross
Although this situation is frustrating and without the delay you would have left the car park in good time, the reality is that the charge applies as soon as the 15 minutes have elapsed, so the charge would have been the same whether you were 12 seconds past the 15 minutes or considerably more. You do have the option to request a refund but we would not expect it to be given, and a court claim is unlikely to be successful given that entering the car park would likely be deemed an acceptance of the terms and conditions that apply. It is also worth bearing in mind that the fees for a small claims court would be £35, so you may well end up £43 out of pocket.
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