Initialparking Reviews 

656
TrustScore 1 out of 5

1.1

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Looking at 50 reviews, most reviewers were let down by their experience overall. Many people reported receiving parking fines despite having paid the correct fees, often due to confusing payment systems or unclear signage. Customers frequently faced issues where their payments were not recognized or were deemed invalid because of minor errors like incorrect registration input. Reviewers also found the appeal process largely ineffective, with many appeals being rejected even with proof of payment, leading to increased fines and involvement of debt collection agencies. People were often charged for minor overstays or for not adhering to unclear grace period policies. The overall sentiment suggests that the company's approach to fines is perceived as prioritizing revenue over clear service.

What people talk about most

Payment

Clients share negative opinions on payment, often reporting issues where they were unable to pay due to... See more

Price

Customers had negative experiences with price, often citing hidden charges and disproportionate fines. Many... See more

Location

Reviewers highlight negative aspects of location, with many expressing dissatisfaction with various car... See more

Claim

Reviewers express significant dissatisfaction with the claim process, often finding their appeals rejected... See more

Service

Users describe negative interactions with service, often citing unexpected charges and a lack of grace... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

St Mary Church Betwys Coed Initial Parking, you input registration into machine, pay via cash/card then a week later get a fine saying you parked without paying. No details of car reg are printed o... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

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... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

In July used slate quay car park. App didn't work so used coins to pay. Displayed ticket. Several days later issued with £100 PCN. Appealed and requested Initial parking check their CCTV to show ticke... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Beware, I parked and paid correct fee at Lee, North Devon (Village Hall car park) Initial Parking. ANPR cameras record vehicle entering and leaving. Parking charge demand received for £60. However my... See more


1.1

Bad

TrustScore 1 out of 5

656 reviews

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1.1

All reviews

(656)

89 reviews in the last 12 months

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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Vile

I am absolutely appalled at your company and behaviour. You are disgusting thieves.
There are two machines, perhaps the other successful payments were being made on the other machine. I do not use a phone that has access to the internet and do not use apps or websites to pay for things. I do this for my own safety but clearly, this does not work as I still manage to get fined for something thra is beyond my control.
YOUR machine took minutes to process my payment and YOUR machine told me my payment had been authorised.
Don't condescend me by saying the signs are LARGE enough to see. I am aware of how and when to pay for parking. I am a full grown adult with many experiences of paying for parking.

I hope one day you all have jobs that don't involve making others lives a misery.
I hope you find success in helping and nurturing people rather than thriving in utter contempt.

Greed is a bottomless pit which exhausts the person in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction.

December 1, 2024
Unprompted review
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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Initial parking MARK EDWARD ASHBY, JAMES ANTHONY DISS, BEN RICHARD JOHNSON. SCUM OF THE EARTH.

MARK EDWARD ASHBY ! JAMES ANTHONY DISS ! BEN RICHARD JOHNSON !
SHAME ON YOU ALL. KARMA WILL REACH YOU.
THIS ORGANISATION IS TOTALLY CORRUPT AND PREY ON VULNERABLE PEOPLE. I PAYED TO PARK FOR TWO HOURS BUT LEFT 4 MINUTES LATE DUE TO MY DISABILITY. I PROVIDED EVIDENCE TO COUNTER THIER ALLEGATION (the ticket from the machine) YET THEY REJECT MY EVIDENCE AND ARE TRYING TO CHARGE ME A REDUCED FEE OF £20 FOR SOMETHING I HAVENT DONE. AS A DISABLED AND VERY ILL PERSON THIS IS VERY VERY DISTRESSING AND HAS HAD A GREAT NEGATIVE IMPACT ON MY HEALTH. I WILL PAY THE £20 AS I FEEL BULLIED TO DO SO AND CANNOT COPE WITH ANOTHER BATTLE IN MY LIFE. FIGHTING CANCER AND A CRUMBLING SPINE AS WELL AS BEING SOLE CARER FOR MY ELDERLY TERMINALLY ILL MOTHER IS ALREADY TOO MUCH TO DEAL WITH. THESE SCUMBAG PERSONS NAMED ABOVE SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
DO NOT USE “INITIAL PARKING” . I WON’T EVER AGAIN. THE LEGAL TERM FOR THESE MENS ACTON IS “EXTORTION”!

December 6, 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Incorrect registration entered but tough luck

I entered the registration of the second car we own by mistake. They were able to see that I had paid for the parking (GBP 1 pound) and that I'd put in the other cars registration which I had provided them with. The outcome is they feel they can still charge a fine of 20 pounds which is 20 times the 1 pound parking fee. The initial fine of 100 pounds being 100 times the parking fee should surely be outlawed. An absolute disgusting disgrace of an organisation.

November 19, 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Consumer law

Consumer law, a trader's physical address is the geographical address where they are established. This information must be provided to consumers before a contract is made, and whenever a consumer requests it. The address must be a physical location, not just a virtual mailbox.

Suite 83, 51 Pinfold Street is their address. Look it up!

November 26, 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

This company is not even worth 1 star

This company is not even worth 1 star! They are an agressive money making machine. We parked for 1 hour in Ripley castle carpark, and paid the required amount of £1. A week later a letter arrived; PARKING CHARGE AMOUNT DUE £100. I appealed and sent proof of payment from the bank statement. They claim that we put in the wrong reg number and have 'reduced the charge' to £20. Big of them. Are real human beings running this company?? Why haven't they accepted the evidence of payment?

November 15, 2024
Unprompted review
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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Hated giving this company 1 star.

Hated giving this company 1 star.
I parked on their car park in Scarborough Yorkshire paid my fee for 2 hours was off the car park withing the hour, 10 days later I get a parking notice saying I owe them £100 for not paying, unbelievable. Glad I paid by card as I have proof of payment.

November 21, 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Nil stars

Shame that I have to click on at least 1 star to write a review as they deserve none.
Stayed at Lamorna Cove today but had no cash which I already spent at the car park in Mousehole. So had to go out to make a 20 minute d tour to get cash.
This is 2024 and it is amazing that no card payment or app is available this is purely to penalise visitors.

November 20, 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Like many others...

Like many others, I parked in the St Mary's car park in Betws-y-Coed. Whilst I was trying to understand the screed of instructions written in both English and Welsh, I was offered a 2 hour ticket (from a driver who had changed his mind about staying). This gave me plenty of time for a short wander around.
Came back to the car with around 20 minutes to spare, so thought nothing more of it. When I got home from holiday I had a fine of £100 for not having a ticket.
I appealed, telling them I had a ticket, covering my stay. I told them the ticket number and the entry/exit times on said ticket. Admittedly, I didn't say it had been given to me. But then, I had a ticket, and that was what I was disputing. Does it really matter which car parks in the paid for space??
After a few days of backwards and forwards emailing, their 'internal review' concluded that my appeal was rejected. As the ticket had been issued at 1133 hrs (for 2 hrs), and my reg plate came into the car park at 1157 hrs (and left at 1317 hrs) I didn't have a ticket so owed them the fine. It feels a bit like the Poacher deciding if he's committed a crime.
My argument was, and still is, that I had a ticket to cover the period of time I was parked in the car park. Which is what was required. At no point did I see on the T's & C's that I had to enter my reg number.
Unfortunately, I'll now be £60 lighter and put off visiting Betws-y-Coed. Perhaps their Tourist Office needs to be told...

October 25, 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Boycott there carparks

The same happened to me in Falmouth I only had two digits for my car reg, so they admitted I had paid but not for the reg of my car. I then contacted falmouth Harbour and informed them of there tactictics as this does nothing but harm the local community as people will not return, since this incident happened I would never use any carpark managed by these blood suckers and for the companies that use them they are doing more harm than good to the local business's like my self i will never return to falmouth

July 5, 2024
Unprompted review
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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Do not park in Initial Car Parks

Parked in St. Mary's Church car park Betws-y-Coed. I didn't have sufficient coins for the 1 hour we were staying so had to go for change to nearby shop. Waited in a small queue at the meter then read instructions & entered reg etc. On return (within time on ticket) it took a while to load up grand children into car & had to wait for a couple of cars to slowly get out of the car park. Was shocked to receive 100 pound fine without any reason given on PCN. Appealed to Initial only to receive immediate reply that appeal was turned down on basis of having exceeded the 1 hour by 20 minutes.
Total con & surely this company should be investigated & stopped from discouraging tourism.

October 17, 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Premium scam artists!

Parked at Marazion car park for St Michael's mount attraction. Entered reg. Paid cash. Took photo of transaction. Days later received summons for £100 for non payment. Appealed, with photo proof. They refused. These private companies are the scum of the earth and parking should instead be run by the local councils. This for sure puts off tourists. Legalised scammers.

October 17, 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

REF IPL1008516 , Parked at Fistral Beach on the 10th of…

Parked at Fistral Beach on the 10th of September, payment didn't come out of my bank until the 11th, sent me a fine, fortunately I have a company lease car, and the lease company paid the fine, reduced to £60 instead of £100, however I have disputed the fine with Initial, sent proof I was there on the 10th, even got written confirmation from my bank. They are now saying, I entered my Reg wrong, I have asked for proof, and even said I have legal representation via my bank, still no reply and no proof from them. However, payment has been made by our company lease company, then I have a salary deduction. Initial are scammers, my advise avoid them. My advise to Cornwall Council is, unfortunately lost tourism for Newquay.

September 10, 2024
Unprompted review
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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Scamming in Liverpool too!

Parked in Seel Street car park in Liverpool. Paid with coins at the machine and displayed my ticket in the usual way. Left within time shown on my ticket. I threw the ticket away a couple of days later (who keeps them?) and a week later receive the PCN saying that I hadn't paid. Of course, when I appeal, I can't prove that I purchased a ticket!

October 19, 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Pathetic predatory company

Bought a 2 hour ticket at Fistral beach & overstayed by 20 minutes by accident. They charged me a £100 parking charge and refused my appeal. I offered to rightly pay for the additional hour but they refused.

Honestly, they are truly the lowest of the low. Utterly pathetic predatory capitalism, providing absolutely nothing beneficial to society.

Newquay council, take over the parking lot to provide fair & reasonable parking terms.

October 15, 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Total scumbag...this parking company is…

Total scumbag...this parking company is a total waste of time and money. I parked my car at St's Micheals beach. Paid my parking at the machine as stated. Due to a printing error, it printed only half of the car registration. Now they send me a penalty notice saying I didn't pay. So I sent them the evidence of payment and a picture of the slip. They refused to accept the responsibility. I reported this BPA.

August 31, 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Rip off, rip off and more rip offs!

Rip off! Rip off! And more rip offs!
£8 for a single entry to Lands Ends car park when most of the vendors were closed,
An extremely misleading notice suggesting they owned the land and it was their car park: utterly misleading!
Another £1.80 for a 10 minute stay at St. Michaels’ Mount a few miles down the road by the same company.
Absolutely disgusting. The pay machines were so sluggish and slow to respond: was this a deliberate tactic?

October 23, 2024
Unprompted review
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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Absolute scumbags

Absolute scumbags. Wife had broken toes and took a while to find a parking spot at Newquay Fistral Beach car park. 15 mins over apparently (in total) as charging starts moment you pass camera on entry/exit NOT the time actually parked. Appealed case. Rejected with Initial parking. Appealed to POPLA, no answer then went quiet with no updates. Received a letter today from.debt recovery firm saying I now owe £170. Absolute scam. DO NOT PARK at NEWQUAY FISTRAL car park. Absolute scam and POPLA is a scam also to make even more money off you. AVOID!!!!

June 23, 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Avoid!!!

As expected, nothing good to say about this company. Misleading signage and when I tried to contact to verify they initially failed to answer my questions and then failed to respond following several further emails. I think I am going to adopt the tape/tea towel tactic as so many others do. Clearly these days honesty isn't the best policy and I will endeavor to treat this company as they have treated me - with no respect!

July 7, 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

This company should be blacklisted as…

This company should be blacklisted as fine received for overstayed parking time in Helston. Taken into account from driving into car park to leaving I was over by 5 minutes, I had to find parking space, check meter for payment but cash only, sort change for fee with wife and pay for ticket total over 5 minutes.
The ticket stated the exact time we left the car park but no it is time of entry to leaving according to them and their cameras! Will avoid any initial car parks in future the robbing b,,,,,s.

October 3, 2024
Unprompted review

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