CAR PARK 'TRAP'
Urgent warning as 1000s of drivers slapped with £170 parking fines despite PAYING – how you can fight the fee
Read on for what to do if a parking machine is broken but you need a ticket
DRIVERS are being slapped with fines of up to £170 despite paying to park — because dodgy machines are missing digits off number plates.
Campaigner Lynda Eagan, who helps run a 47,000-member Facebook group, says “literally thousands” have been caught out by “sticky keys” and machines that let you pay without completing your plate.
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She claimed some devices are “set up to trap people”, while the RAC has called for urgent reform and the return of a scrapped code of practice.
Matt Chambers, 35, was fined £100 in Worksop after Excel Parking claimed he only typed the letter “B” - a charge he insists is false.
Lee Rogers, 67, got a ticket in Rye when his machine printed just one digit, and 79-year-old Mary Hawken’s £170 fine was dropped only after her MP stepped in.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander admitted the system is broken and said the Government is working on a code of practice.
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A spokesperson for trade body the British Parking Association declined to respond to the claims of faulty machines, but said someone who receives a parking charge they believe was issued in error should first contact the parking operator and provide “all the information that would be relevant for an appeal”.
Sometimes parking ticket machines break, but that does not mean that you can park for free.
Police can still give you a fine, so here is everything you need to know about much the fine is and if you can get it cancelled.
You may still face a fine for not having a parking ticket if the machine is broken, but you should be able to appeal the decision.
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According to Citizens Advice, the fine can be cancelled, but only if there wasn't another way to pay.
The penalty won't be dropped if there was another, working machine nearby — so ensure you double check before leaving without paying.
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If you do decide to park, you should take a photograph of the broken machine as you'll need it for your appeal should you end up getting fined.
More than half of drivers have successfully appealed parking fines handed out by local councils, an investigation by The Sun found in 2021.
But be careful, as some car parks will have a sign saying not to stop there if there's no way to pay.
Should you ignore the sign and get a penalty, your appeal is very likely to be rejected.
How you can appeal a parking ticket
Consumer experts always say you should appeal a ticket you get from either a private parking operator or the council.
Figures show that two in five penalty notices are scrapped after being appealed - but before you can appeal, you need to work out what type of charge you have received.
Parking charge notices are issued by private parking operators such as National Car Parks, Euro Car Parks, Apcoa Parking and Parkingeye.
Penalty charge notices and excess charge notices are issued by the council.
Fixed penalty notices come from the police.
Before disputing privately issued parking penalties, check if the company is a member of the British Parking Association (BPA) or International Parking Community (IPC).
If not, Citizens Advice recommends waiting for them to contact you first - as non-members often lack access to DVLA records.
If they do contact you, respond promptly.
Companies must issue notices within 14 days of the parking incident if no ticket was left on your windscreen.
Start by complaining directly to the company, using their formal process.
Contact details for BPA members are available at britishparking.co.uk, and for IPC members at theipc.info.
Gather evidence, such as photos of unclear signs or proof of payment, to support your case.
If your complaint is rejected, you can appeal.
BPA members use Parking On Private Land Appeals (Popla), and you have 28 days to appeal after rejection, while IPC members use the Independent Appeals Service, with a 21-day deadline.
If your appeal is rejected, consider appealing again - Popla cancels two in five tickets at the second stage.
For penalties issued by local councils, submit evidence through their complaints process.
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If unsuccessful, you can challenge the decision at a free independent tribunal via trafficpenaltytribunal.gov.uk (or londontribunals.gov.uk for London).
To dispute a police notice, send your objection to the nearest Central Ticket Office where the charge was issued.
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