Almost 100 motorists have appealed tickets issued during a free parking promotion in Perth and Kinross.
The local authority heralded the move to make all council car parks free on Saturdays in December as a way to boost festive shopping.
But hundreds of motorists were caught out as the scheme did not apply to on-street parking.
A freedom of information request showed 337 vehicles received penalty charge notices during the promotion. Of these, 97 people challenged the fines.
Richard Pool, from Kinross, is appealing a ticket he received when he parked in Victoria Street in Perth on December 30.
“I didn’t put on a ticket because I thought it was free,” he said.
“I had checked the council website and it listed Victoria Street as free, but the council is saying it makes a distinction between the Victoria Street car park and the on street car parking.
“I don’t understand why the promotion didn’t apply to on-street as well. The council is meant to be promoting Perth city centre but all they have done is alienated hundreds of people.
“I won’t go back and shop in Perth. I’ll go anywhere other than Perth now just on a point of principle. Ultimately it’s businesses that will pay the price if dozens of people do the same thing.”
The FOI request by Mr Pool showed 44 people were issued tickets in Victoria Street alone on Saturdays in December. 25 people subsequently appealed.
In the response to the FOI, the council make clear the figures relate to all traffic contraventions such as parking in bus stops or on yellow lines, as well as failure to display a ticket.
Kinross-shire councillor Willie Robertson said: “I think the promotion was quite misleading.
“I’m mystified why it just applied to car parks and not on street as well. I don’t see the logic of that. Clearly a lot of folk were caught out.
“If you come to Perth thinking it’s free parking and are then given a ticket I think you’d be pretty confused and annoyed.
“I have raised the issue with council officers.”
Perth and Kinross Council declined to comment.
