The owner of a private parking lot in Asbury Park is refunding people after a third-party security company allegedly harassed customers with a hefty fine.

The lot is at the corner of Lake Avenue and Bond Street in the city's redevelopment district.

The devices, called barnacles, are placed on customer's windshields, and only removed after a $225 fine is payed to the private security firm.

Customers say they thought they were paying for a meter spot owned by the city, and say there was still time left for their parking spot.

But they were wrong.

"All of these things, the way they are doing it, is in violation of four different consumer fraud laws and we are hoping to hold them accountable for that," says attorney Tom Deseno.

Asbury Park issued three summonses to Douglas Development.

Hearings are scheduled in the next few weeks.

A company spokesman says anyone who feels misled and charged $225 for the barnacle removal should give them a call.