Parking Company Ignores Customer Appeal, Hikes Fine: What You Need to Know

In February, I briefly stopped my car outside a clothing store to run an errand at another nearby establishment. Shortly after entering, I was informed by the store owner that parking was prohibited in that spot.

I quickly went back to my car and drove away. The parking charge notices (PCNs) I received later from Euro Parking Services (EPS) stated that my stop lasted only two minutes and 24 seconds.

I challenged the fine on the same day by email and got an automatic response confirming receipt. Unfortunately, I received no further communication from the company.

At the beginning of April, a reminder arrived indicating that the fine had escalated to £100. This notice mentioned that my earlier appeal had been declined, a decision that had not been previously communicated to me.

I lodged a second appeal in response. I am prepared to settle the original £60 fine if my appeal is officially dismissed, but I strongly contest the increased charge due to their failure to notify me of the appeal result.

More importantly, I contend that imposing a fine for a mere two-minute stop is fundamentally unfair and defies logic.

AA, Birmingham

Given that parking firms issue 41,000 parking charge notices daily in Britain, this column could easily focus solely on the problem of excessive parking fines. It was particularly striking to find someone fined for a stay of less than five minutes.

The small parking lot you used is designated for customers of the adjacent clothing store. Due to issues with drivers using the lot while visiting other shops, the property owner employed EPS to enforce this rule.

The signage clearly states that the spaces are solely for customers of that store, and you must register your vehicle at a kiosk inside the store to validate your parking. Although there is a five-minute ‘consideration period’ intended to allow drivers time to decide if they want to park, this period ends once you leave your vehicle.

After my intervention, EPS gave you an additional two weeks to pay the charge at the initial rate of £60, acknowledging that you had not received their email regarding the appeal rejection. This resolution was satisfactory to you, and you have since paid the charge. Should you choose to pursue this matter further, the Independent Appeals Service remains an option.

This is my final column, but I will continue writing about consumer issues, so please keep in touch as usual

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