Snap Report Finance

Euro Car Parks Fines: What to Do If You're Being Chased Despite Having Paid

Several drivers across the UK say they have received penalty charge notices from Euro Car Parks despite having clear evidence they paid for their parking. In some cases, those drivers have then bee...

1

What Is Happening?

Guardian Money has spoken to a number of drivers who say Euro Car Parks issued them penalty notices incorrectly. One motorist in Lancashire, Jane Winder, says she was sent letters from five separate debt collection agencies each demanding £170 — over a £2.30 parking ticket she says she paid.

So what: She is one of several drivers who provided evidence of payment to the publication and described being threatened with bailiffs and court proceedings regardless.
2

Can a Private Parking Company Take You to Court?

Yes — but the process has more friction than many drivers realise, and operators must follow specific rules under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 and the Private Parking Code of Practice.

So what: If you have clear evidence you paid — a receipt, bank statement, app confirmation, or ANPR camera exit time — you are in a strong position to contest the notice.
3

What Should You Do If You've Received a Fine You Dispute?

Step 1: Do not ignore it. This is the most important point. Even if you are entirely in the right, ignoring a penalty notice allows the operator to escalate to debt collection and, ultimately, to a court claim. Engage with the process.

So what: Step 2: Gather your evidence. Pull together everything that shows you paid: the parking receipt, a screenshot from the parking app, your bank or card statement showing the transaction, the time you entered and exited the car park if you can establ...
4

What If a Debt Collector Has Already Contacted You?

Debt collectors acting on behalf of parking operators have no additional legal powers — they are simply third parties pursuing the debt on the operator's behalf. You can write to them stating the debt is disputed and that you are engaging with the formal appeals process. They should cease contact while the dispute is active.

So what: Keep a record of every letter and phone call, including dates.
5

The Broader Problem

The issue of private parking enforcement has been contentious for years. The government introduced the Private Parking Code of Practice in 2022, which caps penalty charge notices at £100 (or £50 if paid within 14 days) and imposes obligations on operators around signage, grace periods, and appeals handling. However, enforcement of the code has b...

So what: Consumer groups have long argued that the business model of some private parking operators relies on issuing speculative notices and hoping a proportion of recipients pay without questioning them — a claim the industry disputes.

That's it for today. Back Monday.

— James

Nothing in Snap Report is financial advice. James Holt is not a financial adviser.