car park scam

[mtread]

Legally they can pass on an invoice which is what the ticket is. Its not a parking ticket in the same way as the councils and police issue.

Indeed. It can only be a 'fine' if the offense is covered by a law or bylaw, which private land is not. It is an invoice for a contract, which you are assumed to have accepted by virtue of seeing signs etc. They would need to take you to court and prove that you had accepted the 'contract' (were the signs clear?) and also that the charges are 'reasonable'.