A CUSTOMER spent nearly £200 in a DIY shop - only to receive a hefty fine from the store after it was decided that she had spent too long in its carpark.

Sarah Branley, of High Street, Wanstead, spent £98 on furnishings for her new flat during a two-hour visit to Homebase in Fulbourne Road, Walthamstow, on April 10.

The 36-year-old marketing manager, who had spent £109 in the store a week earlier, was shocked last Thursday to receive a letter from parking security company G24 Ltd, informing her that she had parked for longer than she was allowed and must pay £95 within 28 days or face action from a debt collection agency.

She said: “I am incensed.

“As a paying customer parking in the store's car park, I expect to be treated well, not penalised for shopping and spending money there.

“Why have such a massive store and encourage customers to spend time wading through if you are then going to restrict customers' time and penalise those who go through all the departments so they can purchase everything they need and talk to staff about planning and designing bedroom furniture?

Miss Branley said that she is suffering chronic back pain, which further slowed her down during her visit with her boyfriend Dan.

She added that she did not see signs informing her of the restriction, but did not expect there to be a limit for customers.

A Homebase spokeswoman said: "Homebase has made every effort to ensure customers are aware of the parking time limit through signage."

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