DRIVERS have been left outraged after “faulty” car park machines left them almost £900 out of pocket.
Raging motorists claim they are being unfairly demanded to hand over hundreds after their registration plates were incorrectly recorded.
Local Debbie Dinckal has blamed ‘faulty’ ticket machines at a car park on why so many residents are facing huge fines[/caption]
Raging motorists claim they are being unfairly demanded to hand over hundreds after their registration plates were incorrectly recorded[/caption]
A payment machine in Syston Town Square car park in Leicestershire which has been causing issues for years[/caption]
One local has hit out at the private parking behind the dodgy machines and said they would “rather go to prison than pay” the unjustifiable charge.
Affected drivers feel they are being “bullied” by Euro Car Parks despite buying tickets to use Syston Town Square car park in Leicestershire.
Users of the car park say they entered their registration into a machine when they purchased a paper ticket like normal.
But a number of people have complained that once going home they had been hit with a parking charge notice (PCN).
It alleges there was no record of a payment when their number plates were scanned by cameras.
A video posted online appears to show a woman typing her registration into the keypad on one of the car park’s two machines – only for different numbers and letters to appear on the screen.
The RAC described the situation as “scandalous” and warned it has received similar reports from other car parks.
More than 130 Facebook users have joined a group of people unhappy with their treatment in Syston Town Square car park.
Many have received PCNs worth £100, and had their appeals rejected by Euro Car Parks despite some providing evidence that a ticket was purchased.
Some have even said the cost of a single PCN they have been hit with can reach upwards of £900 if they aren’t paid.
People have also said in the Facebook group they have faced threats of court action and had visits from bailiffs.
Single mother Debbie Dinckal, 55, created the online group after receiving a PCN following her visit to the car park in June 2023.
She refused to pay as she provided proof of a correct ticket but still claims she is being ordered to pay £170.
Ms Dinckal said: “You feel bullied and frustrated because there’s nowhere to go.
“If they were trying to take money out of your bank account, you could go to the police or your bank.
“But you’re in a position where you’re just repeating yourself saying, ‘I’ve got a ticket, I’ve got a ticket’, and they will say, ‘No, you need to pay it’.”
Ms Dinckal continued: “I think they’re faulty machines. They’re set up to trick people.”
She added many people are simply just accepting the first settlement offers as they “don’t want the hassle”.
I would rather go to prison than pay a penny
Kenneth Pruden
Another driver, Kenneth Pruden, 77, was sent a PCN in August 2022 after the registration printed on his ticket had one wrong letter.
He said: “We’re pensioners, we may well have put a wrong digit in, but it could equally have been the machine at fault.
“I have sent them countless photographs of my ticket which shows that I had paid.
“I had mediation where they offered to come down from £280 to £260.
“I declined their offer and was told I would have to go to court.
“I would rather go to prison than pay a penny.”
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “It’s scandalous that so many people over so many years who’ve legitimately paid to use this car park have been issued £100 parking charge notices because of a fault with the payment machines.
“Sadly, we’ve heard reports of this happening at other car parks too.
“Many have appealed and have staggeringly been rejected. Others have been sent threats from debt collection firms, adding £70 to the bill, forcing them to pay up for fear of the cost escalating even more.
“A private parking company should not be able to intimidate people like this, especially when the fault lies with them.”
Mr Williams urged Euro Car Parks to “do the right thing” and write off all PCNs where people have legitimately paid for parking.
Euro Car Parks manages more than 3,000 car parks across the UK and Ireland.
The company’s latest published accounts show it made a pre-tax profit of £12.5 million in 2023.
Analysis of Government data shows it handed out 1.7 million parking charge notices to drivers in Britain in the year to the end of March 2024.
The Sun has contacted Euro Car Parks for a comment.
Locals claim the machine incorrectly prints out a ticket which leaves people liable to fines[/caption]
