Initialparking Reviews 

We were issued a PCN for supposedly parking in the Electric Mountain Car Park in Llanberis. We weren't parked, we just drove into the car park, realised it wasn't the one we wanted and drove out again, into the car park opposite. According to their cameras it took us 35 minutes to do this. We got home from holiday and then received a PCN, all in Welsh!!!
We appealed to Initial Parking. Within 24 hours they had rejected the appeal and didn't address our question about it being in Welsh. We then appealed to POPLA, the independent adjudicator, and we WON. This was their response:
The burden of proof lies with the operator to prove that this PCN was issued correctly. POPLA's remit is to assess whether a PCN has been issued correctly, in accordance with the terms and conditions of parking displayed on the signage at a site. In this case the operator submitted a copy of a PCN which is only displayed in the Welsh Language. I cannot from this determine the reason for issue. It is within the operator’s gift to provide POPLA and the motorist with a copy of a PCN in English to fully entitle both parties to understand why the contravention occurred. Due to this, I am unable to assess the validity of the charge and therefore I cannot consider it was issued incorrectly and allow this appeal.

So if you get a PCN in Welsh appeal it. It will only cost you a bit of your time, not £100 which they are trying to scam from you.

Parked in Betws y Coed in North Wales for 10 mins I paid £1.50 and displayed the ticket and keyed in my registration n.o.
A week later I received a pcn £100 charge, I
appealed and showed my ticket which I had kept
the appeal was denied on the grounds that I had not logged in my correct reg no.
This was not true.
They offered me a reduced £20 charge which I paid, as I have no time or energy and do not trust the systems to challenge this, but this industry is legalised crime and society will have to devise a method to combat these sharks because our authorities seem to aid and abet this behaviour.

Parked in Haworth Carpark for just over an hour. Purchased a ticket using the machine for 2 hours but have just received a parking fine through the post. Appealed the charge and provided the ticket confident that would close the charge but they have responded to say I had keyed my registration plate wrong and they still require £20 payment. I am very particular and can assure you I would not have keyed this wrong and firmly believe the machines are rigged to produce errors so they can try and scam you. Please be aware and avoid!

We parked in the Central Car and Coach Park in Howarth at 19.13.17 (parking fees payable between 8am and 6pm) and left at 19.34.40. The parking machines were not working so we were unable to pay. Ten days later received a parking charge of £100! People be warned!!!

I am extremely disappointed with Initial Parking and how this situation has been handled.
On 3rd December, I entered the car park but did not park my car. I did not leave the vehicle, did not turn off the engine, and did not use any facilities. My 8-month-old baby was asleep in the car, and like any parent, I did not want to wake him unnecessarily. We had planned to go Christmas shopping, but after 27 minutes and 18 seconds I realised it wasn’t worth disturbing him, so I drove home.
Despite this, I later received a £60 “parking charge” through the post. I was shocked. Sitting in a car with the engine running while caring for a sleeping baby is not parking.
I appealed on 23rd December, explaining everything clearly and honestly, only for my appeal to be declined. There was no empathy, no common sense, and no acknowledgement of the circumstances. It felt like my explanation wasn’t truly considered at all.
This charge feels completely unfair and unjustified. Calling this a “parking charge” is contradictory when I never parked. No space was taken, no rules were knowingly breached, and no harm or inconvenience was caused to anyone.
As a parent, this experience has been stressful and upsetting, especially at an already expensive and busy time of year. The lack of compassion and discretion shown has left me with a very negative view of this company. I would strongly advise others to be cautious, this feels far removed from fair or reasonable parking enforcement.

I had a recent experience with initial parking , absolutely shocking no understanding empathy for a persons situation at the time I applied to appeal the decision as I missed the deadline as I had an operation I was in recuperating for 3 weeks I contacted initial and POPlA the ombudsman for a further 10 digit number to appeal after I was feeling better. I was basically told do one not interested I was asked to prove my operation date for GDPR purpose should not be asked for I provided information reluctantly I was told it’s with the debt collector.
Worrying no staff put a name to the ryde email reply’s

We visited the castle on 10 October. It was a terrific visit especially the Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum.

But we could not pay for parking in the machines in Slate Quay car park. There was a huddle of cross and confused people at the defective parking pay machines and I decided to pay through the advertised app “Just Park”. Unfortunately I had just changed car and I entered my old car registration number by mistake. This honest mistake (after all, I paid £9 correctly) was exploited to the full by Initial Parking and I have had to pay a fine of £130 for entering the wrong registration number despite a number of e-mails to-and-fro.

This has rather spoilt our memories of the day and I recommend you choose a parking site operator which has reliable on-site payment machines and a more understanding attitude. If I could, I would blacklist Slate Quay car park completely.

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 receipt, unjustly obtained the registered keeper's address from DVLA and demanded £100 fine. This might have been a failure to reconcile ANR and bank data, but their persistent denial makes their actions fraudulent. They passed it on Debt Recovery Ltd., who are progressively increasing threats and amount demanded. We battle on!

Complete fraud. I paid for parking at a parking meter in Lands End, Cornwall. I received a notice of non-payment. Before paying, I spent 5-7 minutes getting the children out of the car and getting dressed (Late November). I sent them an appeal with screenshots of my bank statement showing that I had paid the fee, but received a refusal with vague phrases.

I used this car park a few weeks ago. The instructions stated I was to pay on exiting the car park. After putting in my reg number in the machine told me what to pay however the amount didn't seem right. I had a look at the machine and see what to do as I knew the amount was incorrect but there was no instruction as to what to do. Therefore I paid what the machine stated. Having read through a number of reviews this appears to be part of the scam! Never use again

I have no problem paying for parking - I feel it’s the right thing to do. I used one of these car parks for the first time, signage very unclear as I tried to pay when I arrived and then realised it was payment on exit. When I came back to the car I tried to pay and went through the process numerous times and each time the transaction wouldn’t complete, I tried other cards and it was the same problem. I admit I left with out paying as I did not know what else to do. Consequently I have - even after appeal , had to pay a fine.

I parked in Caernarfon Castle car park once night whilst on holiday. Having no cash, I went to the (unlit/very hard to read) information board to see which parking app I needed. Not having it, I tried to install but had no signal. As it was heavy rain, I walked higher up to get mobile signal and take shelter. After installing the app, I had to register as a user & add all my credit card details. After 2 failed attempts by the parking app, the 3rd attempt went through (each time I had to login to my banking app to approve the purchase). All in all it took me over the 10 mins grace period. Knowing how long it took, I left the car park with enough time left to bring me within the 10 mins at then beginning but STILL received a PCN!!! I obviously appealed but they just refused saying I'd gone over. An absolute disgrace, the owners clearly have no conscience and are just in it for making money extra off people. Checking companies house, they have other 'parking' companies on the go. They even send the letter so it arrives over a week after the 'posted date' stating the reduced fee is only for 2 weeks, pressuring people into paying. Shame on you!!

No signage indicating charges start as soon as entering the car park and not when you have chosen a place and paid your money. This should be alerted at the payment machine so customers allow for this time when buying their ticket.

Do not use these clowns.
The machines are rigged. You type in your number and go to pay and then use tiny arrows to select your time.
What kind of backwards system is that.
Newquay airport went from bad to worse using this company,
The reviews totally sum up this shoddy company. Do yourself a favour and close your service and let a decent company in with modern technology.

Absolute scam. I visited Caernarvon castle and paid the tariff on exiting the car park and the charges appear on my credit card. I received a notice in WELSH that was sent to the rental car company for a £60 fine. Initial Parking's website will not accept the PCN number for an appeal and their phone system to pay has no record of the PCN they issued me. They are just the administrators of the Slate Quay car park, not the landowners, which are Caenarfon Harbour Trust, so I contacted them directly. Talked to Dave there, who seemed tired of hearings complaints about this company and their rotten administration of the car park.

In August i received a parking charge that was issued on the basis that i did not pay the tariff.

I provided evidence (bank statement) that the tariff was paid but Initial refused my appeal, this time stating that they recognise the payment but because the reg number was incorrect making the payment not valid.

This is just a money making exercise done by a criminal organisation that must be stopped.

You received payment for the correct amount on 14th August. Don't you dare send the debt collector otherwise I will start legal action.

Motorists! We need to start a class action against this racket!

Legalized scam. Car Park in Newquay is pay on exit. Entered my car reg and paid the fee presented. Then charged a £100 fine. Unlike every other pay on exit car park, this one wants your reg but also requires you to manually select the charge due. Despite multiple complaints over honest mistakes due to their low tech system the company makes unreasonable charges for small shortfalls in payment. The appeals process is not designed for the customer and is a farce. Any company or council engaging Initial Parking can expect masses of complaints and a loss of business.

Shockingly deceitful approach to car park charging. You insert your reg number after parking and the machine says £2.50.

It's then up to you to calculate how much the charge should be and then pay that. Bonkers.

It's crap and NQ airport should change their supplier and refund the fines.

Avoid parking with these cowboys at all costs, why are companies like this allowing to operate. Why should there be any charge for short term parking at Newquay airport, it’s not like you’re parking there to go anywhere else. Be careful of payment signage confusing and probably designed to be so!!! What sort of low down company doesn’t provide a telephone number, another clue as to how they operate!!

I paif £1.50 to park at Lamorna Cove, followed every instruction, and still received a Parking Charge Notice from Initial Parking days later. Despite proof of payment, they refused to acknowledge it — their so-called “appeals process” felt like a rubber stamp exercise designed to squeeze more money out of honest drivers.

This isn’t “parking management” — it’s a trap for visitors, especially those who simply want to enjoy one of Cornwall’s most beautiful spots without being harassed afterwards. Their ANPR system clearly fails, yet they continue to issue tickets and hide behind automated responses.

What kind of company penalises people for doing the right thing? One that profits from confusion, not service.

If you’re visiting Lamorna Cove (or anywhere managed by Initial Parking), beware: even if you pay, you may still be fined. Keep your receipts, take photos, and tell others. Cornwall deserves better than this predatory outfit.