Parking stories in the News/media

Le_Kirk

From today's MSE sidebar: -

You should soon be able to pay for parking across the UK using just one app under new Government plans. The initiative is designed to end "the scramble" to download multiple apps for use at different car parks.

Let's hope they test it in EVERY single car park and come up with a solution for "dark spots" where there is no WiFi and no data connection! 

DE_612183

Le_Kirk said:

From today's MSE sidebar: -

You should soon be able to pay for parking across the UK using just one app under new Government plans. The initiative is designed to end "the scramble" to download multiple apps for use at different car parks.

Let's hope they test it in EVERY single car park and come up with a solution for "dark spots" where there is no WiFi and no data connection! 

Would be interesting to see the difference in the number of tickets issued before and after the app was provided in the 10 areas as part of the trial and if it's made any difference there at all....

Car1980

Oh, they'll be thinking of ways to keep their ticket numbers up.

How about a stress inducing countdown timer? Works for Ticketmaster.

fullyrendered

Poor consumer advice in the Guardian on Tuesday: https://www.theguardian.com/money/2025/may/20/parking-firm-failed-to-respond-to-my-appeal-before-raising-the-fine

This consumer 'champion' got the charge reduced back to £60, and advised 'The site does have a five-minute “consideration period” (the window motorists have to decide whether to park at a location) but once you have parked and left your car, that ends.'

Really, in most cases you'd need to leave your car to read any signs, mmmm.

Coupon-mad

Very poor.

Nothing about the fact that it's illegal to covertly film people without their consent (the person did not see the hidden sign or camera on a wall - hardly prominent).

And nothing about the fact that catching people out for a 2 minute stop is clearly disproportionate and a breach of the CRA 2015, as well as the CPUTRs because of the misleading omission of warning signs and double red lines if wanting to operate the place as (effectively) a 'no stopping' zone.

Coupon-mad

Couple charged for faulty machine after 20 years of using the car park with no issues:

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/couple-slapped-100-parking-fine-31680393.amp

This was UKPA, proudly trying to rip someone off for £100 (then the usual desperate £20) because - reportedly - the machine wouldn't take the VRM. '

Heard that far too often. Great way to make a lot of money from duped drivers.

Coupon-mad

Gym goers ripped off by Smart Parking's typical ANPR bright idea: 'let's introduce a keypad and not tell the gym patrons' trick:

https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/plymouth-news/man-racks-up-2k-fines-10195574.amp

One victim was pursued for well over £2000 for the heinous crime of using Puregym. He said: “Smart Parking are chasing me for all 17 fines at £170 each. Mine add up to way over £2,000 and there are hundreds affected in Plymouth.

Basically they turned the parking cameras on over the Xmas break, then sent fines out but with a lengthy delay. Meaning by the time you realised... In my case I got 17 consecutive fines.”

Management at the PureGym had told him the fines could be cancelled, and he and others therefore missed an appeal deadline. But the fines have not been scrapped and he and others now fear being taken to court.

Puregym actually think they are going to be able to sort this out, having apparently lost dozens of members. No chance.

Coupon-mad

Hospital visitors ripped off by ParkingEye at £70 a visit, also reportedly due to faulty payment systems:

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/driver-slams-hospital-over-70-31676442.amp

Driver slams hospital over £70 parking fine he says is 'expensive and unjust'

After the first machine he went to wasn't working, he says he went to pay in the main car park and after inputting his registration number it said no fee was due for his 47-minute stay.

After contacting the Manchester Evening News, Paul was told he could submit an appeal on this occasion, but it was then rejected.

The ripped off victim's version:

Since ParkingEye took over at Royal Bolton Hospital's Farnworth site, he says you'll often see groups of people standing around the parking machines struggling with the complicated payment system.

ParkingEye's version:

A ParkingEye spokesperson said: “ParkingEye has partnered with Royal Bolton Hospital for five years to significantly improve how its car parks operate.

  

Coupon-mad

Looks like this driver got a UKPC fake PCN for being parked outside of a bay because his car was stuck (crashed) on a bollard:

https://www.thesun.co.uk/motors/35011570/car-crash-parking-fine-motors/

Either that or overstay. Hard to tell from an article in the scum.

Coupon-mad

Another one from Smart Parking ripping off a new driver due to alleged unclear signs to fairly delineate two different car parks:

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/anger-driver-latest-stung-parking-092257018.html

The father of a 17-year-old newly qualified driver is warning others to be vigilant after his daughter received a £100 parking charge at a ‘confusing’ Bury car park. He said that his daughter, parked on the car park near Angouleme Way, Bury on April 5. She paid at the nearest machine but did not realise until receiving a parking charge through the post almost two weeks later that she’d actually bought a ticket from the Council machine by mistake.

The Bury Council car park on George Street is nestled between one controlled by Smart Parking, with bays on either side and behind it. This has caused ongoing confusion for motorists throughout the years.

Neil added: “It’s confusing at best.

“Morally and ethically, it’s a disgrace.

Bury Council said:

“There are barriers between our car park and the private one, with chain links in between, to make it clear that these are two different car parks. Unfortunately, sometimes drivers simply walk to whichever is the nearest ticket machine. We have been in discussion with the owners of the private car park to see if they could improve signage on their side.

No chance. Years of lucrative PCNs are not going to be given up by Smart.