Initialparking Reviews 

655
TrustScore 1 out of 5

1.1

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Evaluating 114 reviews, most reviewers were let down by their experience overall. Customers frequently report receiving parking charge demands and exorbitant fines, often despite having paid the correct fee. Many encountered issues with payment systems, such as machines not operating correctly or difficulties inputting registration details, leading to unjustified penalties. Reviewers also express frustration with the appeals process, as their evidence of payment or mitigating circumstances is often rejected. Some people were dissatisfied with the lack of grace periods, noting that fines were issued for minor overstays even after paying. Customers also frequently mention confusing signage and payment instructions. Furthermore, several reviewers report that unpaid fines are quickly escalated to debt collection agencies, leading to increased demands.

What people talk about most

Payment

Consumers find payment to be a frustrating experience, often leading to unexpected fines despite their... See more

Price

Reviewers express significant dissatisfaction with pricing, frequently encountering unexpected charges and... See more

Location

Customers consistently note negative experiences with location, particularly regarding car parks such as... See more

Claim

Customers had negative experiences with claim processes, often reporting that their appeals were rejected... See more

Service

Users describe negative interactions with service, with many reporting being charged from the moment their... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

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

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

I have just received a "Parking Charge Reminder" for overstaying at Polseath Car Park. The notice says that the discounted period amount has expired - yet this letter is the first I have heard of the... 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


1.1

Bad

TrustScore 1 out of 5

655 reviews

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1.1

All reviews

(655)

106 reviews in the last 12 months

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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

DAYLIGHT ROBBERY

IPL 1090547. If I could give no stars I would, this company is a big fat leech preying on locals and tourists alike. I parked on the Slate Quay opposite Caernarfon Castle at night to go for a meal with family. The hut was closed and we didn’t notice the camera anpr on the board together with tiny small print, we thought it was free at that time!! How foolish! We then received two fines for £60 each if paid within 14 days. So that killed the birthday vibe. This fee does not fit the crime, it’s a total disgrace and Caernarfon Harbour Trust should find a new partner because from the reviews on here there’s no point appealing because they dismiss genuine claims!! I don’t mind paying a reasonable fine but this is disgusting in these times, we certainly won’t be returning and urge others to avoid this car park.

May 17, 2025
Unprompted review
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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

We parked @ Gulls Rock Inn

We parked @ Gulls Rock Inn, Cornwall, for a cup of coffee, after displaying our Blue Badge, we then received a £100 fine, which has been appealed/declined by Initialparking, this company is a disgrace and people working for it should be ashamed.
It makes you want to disown Cornwall visits.
Be warned.

May 15, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Avoid Initial Parking Sites

This company is to be avoided at all costs. I received a parking charge even though I left the car park in Scarborough with 25 minutes to spare. They stated that I had evaded the fee. I wrote and explained my position and they immediately suggested the fine would now be £20 if paid within 14 days. Shocking way to treat customers.

May 14, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Dreadful company



If I could give 0 stars I would. Absolute disgrace of a company.
Parked at Hollywell Bay in Cornwall during the Easter break.
The machine didn't let me put in my reg plate properly and at £2.50 an hour for parking, I didn't want to try again and risk loosing another £2.50.
Anyway, the machine let me type in OO which I have in my reg number, and I paid the £2.50 on my card.
Thought nothing else of it.
Got home from holiday, and a few days later have a parking charge come through, saying I haven't paid. Luckily kept the ticket, and found the transaction on my bank statement. Sent them as proof to the company and with the explanation that I couldn't get the machine to accept my whole reg plate but obviously did try as you can see on the ticket OO.
Had an email back to say that my appeal has been rejected and that I did not pay. Clearly these people haven't looked at the proof I sent and just want their fine money regardless.
I'll be taking this further, why should I pay the fine when I paid for the parking in the first place.
Avoid initial parking car parks at all costs. Nothing but scam artists.

April 22, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Terrible scam company

Do not park in their car parks. From what I have heard and experienced they will do anything to slap you with a fine. They say they have disabled spots but they don’t. No respect for seniors or people with disabilities. Their signage is misleading and their payment machines don’t work - all the better for finding a way to send you a huge fine. Their online appeal software doesn’t work.

April 18, 2025
Unprompted review
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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I parked in St Mary's car park Betws y…


I parked in St Mary's car park Betws y coed and paid for 1 hour because I had to be in Bodnant restaurant by 3.30. Unfortuately I was late getting back to my car only to get a fine a few days later for £60 and told I should have paid another £1.50 for the 19 minutes extra I had stayed. I did not realise at the time that I was late. The 3 of us in the car that day are 84 year old pensioners and on limited income. One of us had bowel cancer and a stoma and needed to go to the toilet before getting back, she was also tired and had to rest a while on the way back, these factors contributed to us being late.
Initial are a nasty greedy company. I will not be using the church car par again, I should add this is the only time I have used it. Never agin.

May 2, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Fined while Volunteering at Local Soup Kitchen

Was issued a parking charge by Initial Parking for overstaying while volunteering at my local soup kitchen. Despite appealing and raising complaints, they have shown no consideration for my circumstances and have enforced the £60 fine. Absolutely heartless and completely lacking in compassion.

April 29, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Parked at Praa Sands

Parked at Praa Sands - after a few attempts on a couple of different machines it wouldnt accept payment by phone. Tried again with my credit card and put in the registration number, got to the end and paid and noticed the ticket had only printed with the first 2 letters of my reg. As I had paid and displayed the ticket assumed there would be no problem until I received a Parking Charge Notice. Have appealed but it has been declined due to full reg not showing - sent proof of my payment. They offered to close the matter if I pay £20 - definitely a dodgy company!! Avoid parking at any intial parking sites!!!

April 23, 2025
Unprompted review
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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Parked at Howarth Central Car Park

Parked at Howarth Central Car Park. Tried entering reg number 3 times. As soon as the first character was entered the machine went to the next step, not allowing for reg to be entered. Paid for my parking. Was sent a letter a week later with a parking charge for £100. Have since appealed but not holding my breath. Scam company.

April 26, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Disgraceful experience, scammers

Disgraceful, got a 100£ fine for parking on my last day on Mousehole Car Park in Cornwall, despite it was a bank holiday (Easter Monday) and there was no reception, the machine also works like crap. I used the car park for 15 minutes.
I hope you spend my reduced £60 in medicines. I won’t bother appeal, take my money miserable worms and scum, you’re nothing less than a brown stain.
You can just visit their website to understand their only purpose is to collect money. Shady scammers, I do hope you fail as a company, definitively disgusting.

April 21, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Pathetic. Timed from minute entering. No grace. No care. Money grabbers!!!

We were hugely disappointed to receive a parking charge notice from ‘initialparking’ for parking at Mousehole, Cornwall.

When we arrived, we took a moment to decide how long we wanted to stay and took in the scenery. We had no idea that the clock was already ticking from the monent we had entered the car park, even though we hadn’t even made it to the parking machine.

Then we headed over to the parking machine and realised it could be used in conjunction with ‘Just Park’. Therefore, we loaded up the app, which took a while because the signal was poor, and keyed in how long we wanted to stay. By the time we’d finished doing that we were already 6 minutes in the car park and in to our stay (according to the cameras).

Once we had paid for the parking via the app. We continued with our trip around the harbour side village. When we got back it was raining heavily so it took us a while to load up, get the kids sorted not knowing we were still being monitored by the cameras. We left the car park 12 minutes over our 2 hours but had been with our vehicle for that entire duration. We stated on our appeal that surely there is a grace period particularly for a family of 5 with young children to take a little time unloading and loading..?

In short. They charged us £60 for effectively being 12 minutes over; even though we were actually with our vehicle for the entire fined ‘time’. I’m shocked they even included the 6 mins before we’d even paid too… unbelievable.

Our appeal was rejected within 37 mins! No humility. No care; just want to take money from hard working, tax paying people trying to support the local economy and give their children happy memories.

I will NEVER use an ‘Initialparking’ car park again… and I advise others to follow suit!

They obviously don’t read or care about their public profile either. The reviews on here, on Just Park and Facebook are horrendous! Why don’t they care? They need to care more. So poor.

April 18, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Disgraceful!!!!!!

We overstayed our parking by an hour (paid for 4 hours and stayed for 5) at one of their car parks in Cornwall due to my daughter taking ill along the hike and so were forced to stop for a while. The hike was meant to be 3 hours long.

It was a Sunday, the car park was empty and the local cafe was closed. They did not lose any revenue as a result of us overstaying and now I have to pay £60 for the sake of an hour, equivalent to £2.

Seems like a money making act to me as their machines were cash only - who has cash only machines nowadays in rural Cornwall.

Disgraceful!!!!

April 13, 2025
Unprompted review
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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I have had a different experience

I have had a different experience, after I have parked in one of their managed carparks in Manchester, paid for the parking twice , I have received a nice letter home saying I didn't. I appealed with proof deom my bank statement and I have it canceled.

April 14, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Parked in one of their car parks solely…

Parked in one of their car parks solely to charge my electric vehicle. One of the passengers was a blue badge holder and there was no signs to say blue badge holders were not exempt. Appealed but they haven't even mentioned the blue badge in their reply. Parasites.

April 14, 2025
Unprompted review
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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Absolutely dreadful company

Parked my car (Helston), bought a ticket, machine didn't request my registration number. Got a letter saying I owed. Sent copy of the ticket I paid for and confirmation from my bank statement. Had my fine reduced to £20 but appeal not granted on grounds that vehicle registration was missing from my ticket. Dreadful. Shan't park there again.

April 7, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Cowboy company talking utter bullshit…

Cowboy company talking utter bullshit saying I haven’t payed for parking when in fact I was informed that a gentleman who collects coins from the machine can wipe any information on the parking meters so they basically wipe your car registration details off

February 27, 2025
Unprompted review

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