A cinema enthusiast from West Sussex was left with an unwelcome surprise after a trip to see the latest blockbuster, receiving a penalty charge notice for overstaying in a Cineworld car park.
The Unwelcome End to a Cinema Trip
The reader, who lives in Bognor Regis, visited the Cineworld in Chichester to watch the lengthy sequel Avatar: Fire and Ash. The film runs for more than three hours. Upon returning to their vehicle, they found a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) waiting for them, accusing them of exceeding the permitted parking time.
This came as a particular shock, as the individual had watched the two previous Avatar films at the same location without any issues. The cinema chain later informed them that customers are required to enter their vehicle registration plate on a screen upon arrival. However, the customer insists there were no clear signs or instructions alerting them to this new requirement.
A Widespread Issue with Reduced Parking Limits
This incident is not isolated. Cineworld customers in other parts of the country have faced identical problems. The root cause is a change implemented by the landowner at some sites last summer, where the maximum parking allowance was reduced from four hours to three.
While signs displaying the new time limit are present in the car park, regular patrons who were accustomed to the previous, longer stay may not notice the updated information. Furthermore, Cineworld's booking confirmation emails do not mention the need to log a vehicle registration on arrival, a critical step for validating free parking.
Who is Responsible?
When contacted, Cineworld stated that it does not own or manage the car park and pointed to the signs that advise customers of the rules. The company initially insisted it had no responsibility for the PCNs issued.
However, following intervention by a consumer champion, the company agreed to cancel the fine for the affected reader from Bognor Regis. This case highlights a gap in communication between the cinema chain, the car park operator, and its customers.
Consumer advice experts urge patrons to be extra vigilant. When visiting venues with private car parks, always double-check for any new signage regarding time limits or registration requirements, especially if you plan a long stay for events like marathon film screenings.
