am from Virginia and was in Atlanta, GA for a conference and tourism. I would like to complain of how outrageous the parking policies are in Atlanta . Almost everywhere you go there are pay for parking signs. Some are clearly marked and others require you to really study and take the time to read the fine print.

By far my worst experience was in The Shops Around Lenox, where it was literally a trap! Since my annual accounting conference was held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Buckhead, I came across Hashiguchi JR Sushi on a search to find nearby sushi restaurants. On the afternoon of Sunday June 13, 2010, I parked in the Shops Around Lenox to go to Hashiguchi. Unfortunately, when my wife and I arrived, we found out it was closed when we attempted to enter. As such, we walked over to Lenox Square, a mall across the street to find another place to eat. When we returned, our car was booted. Immediately, an employee from MPE, drove by and demanded us to pay or we weren't going anywhere. After a long dispute with him, what infuriated me was the fact that he bluntly said to me that he saw that I came to the mall with intentions to eat at Hashiguchi, saw that it was closed and walked over to another restaurant. He asks me "did you buy anything?" I replied " Well, I couldn't because the store was closed." Then you have violated parking and you wont be able to leave if you don't pay I was told. Furthermore, he said that because this was private property, not even the police can do anything about it. He goes on to offer me a suggestion telling me to don't waste my time, this isn't a lot of money and to just pay him and move on because there isn't anything you can do about it. As I needed to catch my flight out that night, I was forced to have this fine shoved down my throat.


I feel that this type of business practice is unethical and a complete scam for the following reasons:


1) Parking signs are small with dense wording where you really have to go up to the sign and study it. Absolutely not conspicuous.

2) An MPE secretly monitors you and makes sure you absolutely buy something. They don't care if the store was closed or why you didn't purchase. If you didn't buy anything even if you attempted to and couldn't, TOUGH!!! In fact, the most ridiculous thing is that they even admit that you tried to patronize, but couldn't and therefore you have to pay up.

3) MPE knows and tells you out right that the fine isn't material enough for you to really expend a whole lot of effort and resources trying to plead your case as I was asked repeatedly to think about whether it was worth it to try to make my case over $75?

I feel so wronged and troubled by this that I will recommend that our annual East coast accounting conference be moved to another state that is more hospitable to tourists and business travelers. The way that businesses like the Shops Around Lenox treats tourists and does business is absolutely ludicrous. If you step foot into the complex, they will make you pay by forcing you to shop or slapping you with a hefty fine. They don't care if the store was closed or if you didn't find what you like. How business is conducted is absolutely rediculous and I hope my complaint will be heard. This type of harrassment on customers needs to change.