ANPR barrier entry exit but charges shown ONLY inside car park

I went to a Council-run car park today at a reservoir.  The approach road was littered with signs about no parking being allowed on the road or verges.  There were big signs about ANPR and paying on exit.  Signs saying how the ANPR worked and so on.  Despite all this there were no signs on the approach or outside the enclosed car park stating what the charges actually were.  Only after I had passed through the barrier and was absolutely committed to parking did I see any signs indicating the charges.  And there was no way out without paying.
I'm sure I read about this sort of thing some years ago and that the charges are quite improper.  Could anyone point me in the right direction please?
Grumpy1

Update:
The car park operator (the Council) has said it has refunded the car park fee (£3) but in doing so managed to avoid accepting that there should have been a notification of the charges before the driver commits to going through the barrier, instead telling me that there is a fifteen minute grace period for free exit and I should have just left.

How could you "just leave" within the 15 minute grace period if, as you told us, there was no way out without paying?

Clearly, somebody is telling lies.

How could you "just leave" within the 15 minute grace period if, as you told us, there was no way out without paying?

Clearly, somebody is telling lies.

Or just lack of detail by the op?

There are car parks where exiting within the free period doesn't require payment.

I've seen hospital carparks like that.
As I recall barrier on entry which records your licence plate.
Then...if over the free period you pay at a paymachine putting in your number plate details and then exit at the barrier which again records your numberplate on exit, checks for payment and lifts for you.
Alternatively if you are within the free period you just drive up to the barrier and it opens for you....which I have been in all cases.

I've no idea what happens if you don't pay, and then just drive up to the exist barrier - does it block your exit until you do? no idea.

I've seen hospital carparks like that.
As I recall barrier on entry which records your licence plate.
Then...if over the free period you pay at a paymachine putting in your number plate details and then exit at the barrier which again records your numberplate on exit, checks for payment and lifts for you.
Alternatively if you are within the free period you just drive up to the barrier and it opens for you....which I have been in all cases.

I've no idea what happens if you don't pay, and then just drive up to the exist barrier - does it block your exit until you do? no idea.

If it doesn't block you, what other purpose could it possibly serve?

Pedant mode...

As I recall barrier on entry which records your licence plate.

There is no such thing in the UK. US license (sic) plates are literally that, as they include "tabs" with the month and year on them to prove that you have paid the license fee for the vehicle for that year. That is not the case for plates in the UK.

/Pedant mode

Pedant mode...

Quote from: d612 on July 31, 2025, 04:45:21 pm

As I recall barrier on entry which records your licence plate.

There is no such thing in the UK. US license (sic) plates are literally that, as they include "tabs" with the month and year on them to prove that you have paid the license fee for the vehicle for that year. That is not the case for plates in the UK.

/Pedant mode

Thank you!

Neither is “license” a noun.

Quote from: The Slithy Tove on August 02, 2025, 11:27:06 am

Pedant mode...

Quote from: d612 on July 31, 2025, 04:45:21 pm

As I recall barrier on entry which records your licence plate.

There is no such thing in the UK. US license (sic) plates are literally that, as they include "tabs" with the month and year on them to prove that you have paid the license fee for the vehicle for that year. That is not the case for plates in the UK.

/Pedant mode

Thank you!

Neither is “license” a noun.

License is a noun in US English hence the (sic) after it in ST's post.

Doesn't count if it's not in italics

License is a noun in US English hence the (sic) after it in ST's post.

Thanks, Captain Obvious.

Doesn't count if it's not in italics

It's a matter of choice perhaps?

"Sic usually appears in parentheses or brackets, sometimes with the letters in italics".