A recent survey by the RAC has revealed mounting frustration among UK motorists regarding the enforcement policies of private parking firms. According to the survey, 55% of drivers believe these policies are excessively stringent, while 40% see no justification for the manner in which rules are enforced. This dissatisfaction comes amidst a sharp rise in the issuance of Parking Charge Notices (PCNs), with nearly 41,000 issued daily in 2024, compared to around 24,000 per day in 2023.
The British Parking Association (BPA) and the International Parking Community (IPC) attempted to address growing concerns by introducing a self-penned code last year. However, this initiative faced criticism from notable organizations such as the RAC and the AA, who argued it was insufficient compared to an official code. A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson stated their commitment to improving industry standards.
In a notable case highlighting these issues, Rosey Hudson received ten PCNs from Excel Parking during a two-month period in 2023. Initially paying one fine, Hudson soon decided to contest the remaining charges, expressing her frustration with the system.
“I appealed through Excel but all of them got rejected,” – Hudson
Her determination to fight back stemmed from her belief that Excel Parking had not suffered any financial losses despite her adherence to daily rates.
“But something in me said ‘this isn’t right’ because they [Excel] haven’t financially lost anything. I paid the daily rate. So my heart was telling me to stick to my guns.” – Hudson
However, Hudson's battle was not without trepidation as she faced intimidating debt recovery letters.
“I was a bit hesitant to do this because after about six months I started to receive debt recovery letters, and one said that if you don’t pay, you could face a county court judgment.” – Hudson
In response to rising public discontent, the BPA and IPC announced the formation of a "scrutiny and advice panel" to oversee their code. This panel will review cases like Hudson’s as part of its initial tasks.
Elsewhere, a driver in Leicestershire faced potential court action for nearly £2,000 in charges after delays in paying for stays at a Derby car park. Similarly, Andy Garner was fined £70 for visiting a friend at Colchester hospital, a penalty upheld by Popla, the independent appeals service.
Garner voiced concerns about the fairness of these fines, particularly when imposed under stressful circumstances like hospital visits.
“This inaccuracy leaves countless visitors vulnerable to fines, often when they’re already dealing with the stress of a hospital visit,” – Andy Garner
Simon Williams from RAC also advocated for reforms within the system.
“We badly need an acceptable cap on parking charge notices, along with a cap on debt recovery fees as, in our opinion, both are disproportionate to most parking contraventions,” – Simon Williams
Williams emphasized the need for an independent appeals system to ensure fair consideration for those feeling unheard by initial appeals processes.
“A truly independent single appeals system is needed for those who feel their initial appeal to the firm concerned has not been listened to.” – Simon Williams
Despite these calls for change, private parking companies defend their practices. The BPA and IPC claim their new code will improve transparency and consistency.
“will raise standards and deliver greater transparency and consistency for the benefit of motorists” – BPA and IPC
They also highlight that most parking events remain without dispute.
“over 99.77% of parking events are compliant and free from dispute” – BPA and IPC
Parking firms like Parkingeye argue that their technology ensures enforcement only occurs when necessary.
“ANPR technology is designed to ensure that enforcement only occurs when the rules of the car park have been broken, such as the correct tariff hasn’t been paid or the motorist has overstayed,” – Parkingeye
However, motorists like Mike Preston feel unfairly penalized by the system.
“I feel like they’ve basically stolen some money from me,” – Mike Preston
Preston's experience underscores broader frustrations despite the relatively small amounts involved.
“I know £60 is not a major amount of money but this is about the way I have been treated and possibly others too.” – Mike Preston
The then Tory government had promised reforms including a cap on parking fines and debt collection fees as well as a fairer appeals process back in February 2022. Nevertheless, with the number of PCNs issued continuing to rise over the past five years, these changes remain elusive.