Parking stories in the News/media

kryten3000

In an email seen by the BBC, a resident contacted One Parking Solution last month and the company replied that "all passengers and driver must remain on site". Businesses said that before, customers would get fined for parking over white lines or staying more than three hours, but not for leaving the parade on foot.

A clear example of the Outrageous Scam in action. I would be dropping my passenger(s) off outside the car park and then see what OPS did if those passengers walked onto the site and got in the car.

I do not see how the driver can be responsible for the actions of their passenger(s). OPS as usual trying to make the rules up to suit their predatory operation and the IPC doesn't acknowledge the problem.

kryten3000

In today's Guardian:

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/apr/06/valid-euro-car-parks-ticket-holders-chased-by-debt-collectors

Valid Euro Car Parks ticket holders chased by debt collectors
Even if motorists can provide evidence they’ve paid for parking, they are threatened with bailiffs and court.

Half_way

Yet another appallingly written article from the depths of local media on parking issues.

I dont usually post the full article, but "Wherever" live sites are full of adds that make the articles nigh on impossible to read on miobile or other devices

"Woman receives court threat in East Midlands Airport parking row - but she was 50 miles from the site
East Midlands Airport says it is simply trying to keep traffic flow 'safe and efficient' near its terminal"

https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/local-news/woman-receives-court-threat-east-10902139#comments-wrapper

Oliver Pridmore Agenda Editor06:20, 05 Apr 2026

"A woman has been threatened with court action after her car illegally stopped in a section of East Midlands Airport for less than a minute - whilst she was 50 miles away.

A 'ridiculous' appeals process and a lack of 'discretion' from either the airport or the parking enforcement company concerned means matters have escalated to the point where the 42-year-old mum faces a £170 fine.

The airport has stuck by the actions of the third-party parking enforcer, saying the area where the woman's car stopped "must be kept clear at all times for safety and operational reasons".
Article continues below

The incident took place on October 19 in 2025 when Marianne Marshall, who lives near Sleaford in Lincolnshire, had leant her car to several family members so they could run a series of errands.

Different family members were driving the car at different times and one of their stops was to pick somebody up from the airport.

The family were planning to use East Midlands Airport's rapid drop off area outside the terminal building, where the maximum stay is 30 minutes.

Given the restriction on timings, Marianne understands her family had briefly stopped the car to make sure the person they were picking up was ready.

They did so on a road just outside a short stay car park that had double red lines on it, but they were only there for 58 seconds, nobody got out of the car and they promptly went to the rapid drop off zone, paying the £5 charge afterwards.

Yet a fine was first issued to Marianne on October 23 and, at that stage, the CCTV suggested the car had only been there for just 14 seconds, and even that was enough for VCS Parking Enforcement to demand a £100 fine."

https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/local-news/woman-receives-court-threat-east-10902139#comments-wrapper

Also reported here

https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/local-news/lending-car-family-members-lands-10902724

but this time by

Zena Hawley Agenda editor16:57, 05 Apr 2026

I would comment on those sites, but for some reason after trying to point people here on other reach media sites every comment i post is marked as awaiting moderation

Coupon-mad

Shame those journos don't simply point out that the POFA doesn't apply on Airport land. We all know (and so do VCS) that she's not liable and doesn't have to name the driver.

Why not just print that from a 'legal expert' they could ask? Simple.

Half_way

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81952033#Comment_81952033

I posted that as a comment, or tried to that the registered keeper can not be held liable.

"there was no need to pay as this is not a fine, these companies are un regulated and just want to make money, as this is an airport "keeper liability" does not apply as by laws in place making this not relevant land under the protection of freedoms act so there was no keeper liability, more advice is on the free traffic legal advice site and money saving experts site forums"

Reply was marked as awaiting moderation then removed as it contravenes "our community guidelines"

Tried similar but without mentioning FTLa/MSE site and that had the same awaiting moderation then removed, dug a bit deeper and they appear to object if you say they are not fines and are not penalties as this directly contradicts their trained expert journalists and anything that contradicts them can be removed

Kaizen2024

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81952033#Comment_81952033

Maybe they respect the landowners wishes, assume most people are honourable (won’t want to try and weasel out of a legitimate charge); and doesn’t want to publish the loophole.

I could also be interpreted as fraud if you say you were not the driver and you were.

Jenni_D

🤦‍♀️

But to be expected. Such a shame that facts don't fit your industry's motivation - greed.

Nellymoser

This issue was first highlighted by BBC Online in Mar 2024, a 2nd time in Mar 2025 and today in 2026 the BBC report:

Train station car park to get new signage

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdxkv9p1d69o

The station has two parking areas run by different companies. The 29-spaced car park is run by Saba, with Total Parking Solutions managing the 200-spaced site.

Customers who searched online to pay for parking were usually directed to the smaller site and did not realise this would not allow them to park in the larger area.

Those motorists would then receive a PCN which many felt was unfair and called for the parking apps and signage to be made clearer.

Conservative MP for Daventry, Stuart Andrew, said: "I'm really pleased that West Midlands Trains has now confirmed the Saba operated spaces will soon be re-lined in green, with clearer signs and messaging to follow." "That should help stop drivers being unfairly caught out when they are simply trying to pay for parking."

I'm not so sure. Not convinced the 'expert' parking operators have the skills required to put corrective measures in place to stop drivers being caught out 🤔

It is not known if the TPS site would also get new signage.

Nellymoser

Paying to park a car is so difficult it's easier to stay at home

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/paying-park-car-difficult-easier-170000220.html

"I still have a bag of coins in my car – a throwback from the man-in-hut days – for use in parking meters. I live in hope that, one day, we technophobes will rise up, and the tide will turn."

kryten3000

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81952125#Comment_81952125

It's not a loophole, it is the law. Airports are not "relevant land" so there's no keeper liability.
The driver doesn't have to be identified regardless of the status of the land.
The keeper isn't under oath when they state "not the driver" and some companies prevent a keeper from appealing unless they admit/deny being the driver, so I would always choose the latter.

The shady methods and tactics of the parking industry could also be interpreted as fraud, so I'm not sure you really want to open that can of worms.