Parking panic: Woman charged R110k for 2-hour parking at shopping mall

IOL News

5 hours ago

Yaditi Kava, a 39-year-old woman from Slough, England, received the shock of her life after being charged £4,586 (just over R110,000) for a two-hour visit to the Queensmere Observatory Shopping Centre.
But even our most expensive car parks can't compare to what happened to a woman in the UK, who was charged more than R110,000 for a two-hour stop at a shopping centre. Yes, you read that right - R110,000.
As a Capetonian living in Blouberg, I find it baffling that one of our nearby centres charges more than the V&A Waterfront. While I love its open design and spacious feel, the steep parking fees always leave a sour taste.
If you've ever grumbled about paying R20 for a quick visit to your local shopping mall, you're not alone.
The incident, reported by the BBC, has sparked global attention and has many of us side-eyeing those mall exit barriers even more.
Ms Kava had taken her two daughters shopping after work on a Friday evening and decided to have dinner before heading home. When they returned to the parking area, the payment machines inside the centre were closed, so she opted to pay at the exit gate.
In a rush and with tired children in tow, she tapped her card at the boom gate and was prompted to enter her PIN. She didn't think much of it as the large display read '4,5', which she assumed meant £4.50 (R108).
So, when Yaditi Kava thought she was paying £4.50 (R108) for parking, she was instead charged £4,586, which is around R110,000
The barrier lifted, but her phone buzzed almost instantly with a payment notification that made her heart stop.
The error, she later learned, was due to a faulty card machine. The centre's managing company, Savills, described the incident as 'an isolated anomaly' and assured her a refund was being processed. But getting that money back wasn't straightforward.
It took Ms Kava three full weeks to recover the funds. During that time, she was left without the savings she had put aside for legal fees amidst a divorce, and even considered cancelling her daughter's birthday celebration due to the stress and financial strain.
Feeling desperate and getting nowhere with mall management, she contacted a UK consumer rights programme. According to her, 'It was a godsend - one call from the programme's host and the next day the money was in my bank.'
Savills told the BBC they had remained in regular contact with Ms Kava throughout and were investigating the system to prevent future mishaps.
While the incident happened in the UK, it hits close to home for many South Africans frustrated with mall parking fees. Whether it's R20 for two hours or a five-figure blunder, it raises a broader question - why do we put up with such inflated costs just to do our shopping?
Parking should feel like a service, not a penalty. And while Ms Kava's case may be rare, it's a reminder of how quickly a simple errand can spiral when systems fail, and just how important it is to check that machine before you tap.
IOL Lifestyle