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Drivers throughout England are reporting an influx of demands up to £170 from private parking firms, stemming from malfunctions of parking machines.
According to one advocate, this issue has affected “thousands” of individuals.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander acknowledged the situation, labeling it as “a problem that needs to be tackled.” Meanwhile, the RAC has urged for the reinstatement of a government-supported code of conduct.
Typically, car parks require users to enter their vehicle registration number when obtaining a ticket from a machine.
This process is designed to shield users from receiving a Parking Charge Notice (PCN) when their vehicles are captured by automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) systems.
However, numerous drivers assert that, despite entering their registration correctly, they have still been issued PCNs.
Many experienced initial rejections of their appeals, even after presenting photographs of their tickets showing incorrect registration details.
Matt Chambers, a 35-year-old entrepreneur, reported receiving a £100 PCN from Excel Parking after visiting a car park in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, in February.
He stated: “They claim I only registered the letter ‘B’ for my number plate.
“That’s not accurate. I’m certain I input the full number plate as I have used that facility many times before, following the same procedure each time.
“I know how to operate the machine.”
Although he is contesting the PCN, he mentioned, “sometimes it feels easier to just pay to make it go away,” despite feeling he’s done nothing wrong.
Similarly, retired chef Lee Rogers, 67, faced a related issue.
He received a PCN from Euro Car Parks after using a car park in Rye, East Sussex, last August and later discovered that his ticket displayed only a single digit from his registration.
He remarked: “I didn’t stand there and key in just the first digit.
“Countless others have faced the same issue.”
He expressed a desire to take Euro Car Parks to court over the matter since they are aware he made the payment.
His partner, however, is anxious about the potential for legal repercussions, he added.
Mary Hawken, aged 79, also encountered a similar situation after using a car park in Praa Sands, Cornwall, in July 2024.
She stated: “I realized that the WK didn’t print (on my ticket) but I thought, I have my receipt, and the rest of the registration is recorded, so that should suffice.
“A week later, I received a PCN. I believed it was unfair and said they could pursue legal action if they wanted.
“I consistently pay for parking. I’m not going to be intimidated into compliance.”
The amount they initially requested reached £170, but the case was dismissed shortly after she contacted her MP, Andrew George, who intervened on her behalf.
Essential Information
Parking tickets have sparked significant frustration among drivers. Here, the PA news agency clarifies ten crucial questions surrounding them.
– What types of parking tickets exist?
Parking Charge Notices are sent by private firms, while Penalty Charge Notices are issued by local councils.
– How can I distinguish between them?
Both types typically feature yellow boxes with black text. Careful reading is necessary to tell them apart.
– What are the implications?
Councils have the authority to issue fines; private companies do not. Therefore, penalty charge notices reflect a fine, while parking charge notices are requests for payment.
– What circumstances lead to the issuance of parking charge notices?
These tickets are issued when parking operators assert a breach of contract, which might include failure to register their vehicle or exceeding time limits.
– What is the financial range for parking charge notices?
They are capped at £100, with companies typically offering discounts for early payments.
– What initial steps should I take if I think my ticket is unjust?
Resources available online provide detailed guidance on contesting parking charge and penalty notices, such as those from the RAC and Money Saving Expert.
Consult these resources before taking any action.
– What should I do for tickets from private companies?
Determine if the operator belongs to a professional trade organization, which may influence your next steps.
– What type of supporting evidence should I gather?
Photographic evidence of unclear signage or malfunctioning payment machines can bolster your case. Retain proof of extenuating circumstances, such as breakdown receipts.
– Who can I approach with my complaint?
If you believe your parking charge notice was issued unfairly, consider reaching out to the landowner, such as a retailer or healthcare facility, to request cancellation.
Failing that, escalating the issue to your MP may be worthwhile.
– What are the repercussions of ignoring a parking charge notice?
Certain operators might escalate the matter to a county court, which could ultimately impact your credit rating if you do not defend against the claim and a judgment is rendered.
Bailiffs could also attempt to seize property in such situations.
Instances of similar complaints have emerged from parking facilities located in Leicestershire, Somerset, and West Yorkshire.
Lynda Eagan, a dedicated campaigner, has been researching this issue for approximately ten years after receiving what she considers an unwarranted PCN.
She supports drivers through a Facebook group called Private Parking Tickets – Help and Advice, which boasts a membership of 47,000.
Regarding the scale of the problem in the UK, she estimated, “Literally thousands” have received tickets due to faulty machines.
She noted, “Unjust PCNs are issued to individuals simply because the machine malfunctioned.
“It’s a severely unethical business practice. This is simply wrong.”
Ms. Eagan indicated that the majority of machine issues arise from “sticky keys,” which fail to accurately register the buttons pressed, or devices that prompt users to pay prior to the complete registration being entered.
The latter, she argued, is designed to entrap users, as these machines accept payments even when only partial registration is entered.
Simon Williams, head of policy at the RAC, stated: “It’s clear from the numerous incidents that several parking companies are improperly demanding ‘fees’ from drivers who have legitimately paid for parking.
“Whether due to faulty machines recording incorrect vehicle registrations or innocent mistakes in entering their plate numbers, these individuals should not be tasked with paying the issued £100 parking charge notices.
“Many instances appear completely unjustified and should easily be dismissed on appeal, yet unfortunately, they often are not.”
“We urgently need the introduction of a Private Parking Code of Practice to enable critical oversight in this sector.”
A legislative measure for establishing a government-supported code governing private parking companies received royal assent in March 2019 under the Conservative administration.
However, this code was withdrawn in June 2022 following a legal challenge from parking firms.
It proposed to halve the penalty limits for most parking violations to £50, create a fairer appeals process, and outlaw aggressive terminology in PCNs.
Ms. Alexander has called for a significant enhancement in the public engagement practices of private parking companies.
She urged them to undertake basic actions, such as ensuring “functioning machines and equipment” and providing reachable contact information, rather than offering addresses that receive no correspondence.
Ms. Alexander emphasized, “The government is actively working on a code of practice because we understand the necessity to improve standards within the private parking industry.
“Public experiences currently are inadequate, and we acknowledge that this problem needs addressing.”
An analysis by PA and the RAC Foundation revealed in November that private companies in Britain were sending out an average of over 41,000 PCNs daily.
A spokesperson for the British Parking Association opted not to address the concerns surrounding machine malfunctions but noted that individuals receiving a disputed parking charge should first communicate with the parking operator and present any pertinent information for their appeal.
Excel Parking did not offer a comment, while Euro Car Parks was similarly unresponsive to inquiries for feedback.
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