THEY are making a stand against what they call “profiteering” by a parking firm.

Chris Lemon and Sue Harris refused to pay a £100 fine after they overstayed their time at a popular Southampton shop.

Now the parking enforcers are taking them to the small claims court in a bid to get the money.

Chris and Sue met for coffee and a browse at The Range in Winchester Road, Shirley, on October 26.

A week later Chris was shocked to receive a letter in the post from ParkingEye Ltd saying she had parked there for two hours and 53 minutes, overstaying the car park’s limit on two hours of free parking.

The letter said that she would have to pay £100, or £60 if it was paid within 14 days.

But the 64-year-old is adamant that neither she nor 54-year-old Sue saw any signs in the car park and added that none of the other The Range stores had any time limits.

But ParkingEye, which manages parking at the store, says that there are in fact 26 signs spelling out the car park’s policy at the site.

Chris, of Sylvia Court, Totton, said: “We were shocked when we got the letters – we didn’t see any signs saying there was a two-hour limit.

“The Range’s website says that it has more than 65,000 quality products – if you’re having a coffee in there you wouldn’t be able to see all of those items in under two hours.”

Sue, of Poppy Close, Locks Heath, said: “At most we are hoping to win the case, not only to not have to pay out what they say we owe them, but to let people know that when they receive these letters not just to cave in and pay. It’s just profiteering.”

The case will be heard at the small claims court in Southampton next month.

A spokesman for ParkingEye said: “Customers of The Range get two hours of free parking, and there are 26 signs across the car park that clearly detail these terms.

“All of our signs are compliant with British Parking Association guidelines, and the vast majority of motorists using the car park follow the rules on them without problems.

“In the case of Ms Lemon, she parked for nearly three hours, so received a parking charge.

“ParkingEye have written to Ms Lemon many times, including the option that she takes this matter to the independent appeals service, but Ms Lemon has not appealed.

“Regretfully this matter is now in the courts process.”

Staff at The Range in Antelope Park, Bursledon Road, told the Daily Echo that it does not operate a twohour limit on free car parking.