A spokesperson for Zip World said customer experience and satisfaction are their “top priorities, and feedback is important”
A couple from Cheshire are fuming after allegedly being slapped with two parking fines at a popular North Wales tourist attraction. The couple visited the Zip World site in Betws-y-Coed for a Red Letter Day gift experience, but claim they were stung with two £100 fines.
Their alleged experience comes as the attraction has garnered some negative reviews on TripAdvisor and Trustpilot over the same parking issues with guests of Zip World sharing stories of how birthday parties and other celebrations were spoiled by an unexpected £60 parking ticket, which escalates to £100 if not promptly paid.
All those who received fines claimed they didn’t see any parking signs and insisted they would have happily paid the £3 to £6 fee, according to North Wales Live.
A spokesperson for Zip World maintained that parking signs were displayed and parking fees were outlined in booking confirmations. A spokesperson added: “Customer experience and satisfaction are our top priorities, and feedback is important to us. We are in the process of enhancing parking signage across all our sites and provide parking charge information on our product pages and booking confirmations.”
Robin Lane, from Northwich, claims he was fined twice in one day at Penrhyn Quarry – once while taking his dog out for a drive as he waited for his partner.
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She had been gifted a Red Letter Days experience to try out Penrhyn’s Quarry Kart experience, leaving Robin in the café. While waiting, he returned to the car to take their dog for a quick drive on nearby roads to air out the car.
He used the site’s one-way entry and exit twice, resulting in him receiving two tickets. After disputing them, he claims he received a letter from Zip World stating that there was a clear sign at the site’s entrance and several others within the car park.
Mr Lane, a retiree, said: “Half the people must be blind if we are to believe what Zip World says about the signage. Numerous other people have fallen foul of this.”
“There aren’t any ‘have-you-paid-and-displayed’ warnings, neither are staff alerting visitors. This ‘experience’ is one that has soured me so much that I will not be booking anymore. I cannot understand how losing my revenue and probably that of many others will help their business.”
Having already reported the issue to BBC Watchdog after his appeal was rejected, he is now urging fellow Zip World visitors to be careful until signage is improved. The new parking fees, introduced at Penrhyn and other sites this summer and managed by Smart Parking via APNR cameras, have sparked controversy.
Zip World, which operates four attractions in Wales, including one featuring Europe’s longest zip line, claimed parking fees were necessary to manage rising costs while investing in sites and services. The company maintained that parking signs were displayed and parking fees were outlined in booking confirmations.
A spokesperson told NorthWalesLive: “At Zip World, customer experience and satisfaction are our top priorities, and feedback is important to us. We are in the process of enhancing parking signage across all our sites and provide parking charge information on our product pages and booking confirmations.
“In certain circumstances, we waive the fines if they have been issued due to a lack of signage. Customers are asked for their site location, date and time of arrival so that we can understand if there was sufficient parking signage on-site at the time.”
Picture: Eirian Evans/Wiki(Image: Eirian Evans/Wiki)
Numerous complaints have also been posted on Zip World’s TripAdvisor and Trustpilot pages. A dad, who spent over £230 on activities at Zip World Betws-y-Coed for his three young daughters, received a £60 parking fine, and wrote: “We have a caravan in the area and were looking forward to giving our kids some great experiences but this has changed all that. We will not be returning.” Regular customers, including a café patron and a family who visit annually to shop and dine, also received fines.
A large family group, who spent “several hundred pounds” during their visit in two vehicles, received two tickets. Another dad was also fined, stating on he review site: “Totally ruined my son’s 21st birthday party.”
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