The PA news agency has spoken to motorists in several regions who received parking charge notices (PCNs) they claim were unfair.
One campaigner believes “thousands” of people have been affected.
(PA Graphics)
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander described the issue as “a problem that needs to be tackled”, while the RAC called for a Government-backed code of conduct to be reintroduced.
Many car parks require users to input their vehicle registration when purchasing a ticket from a machine.
This is supposed to prevent them being sent a PCN when their vehicle is detected by automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras.
But PA has uncovered numerous cases of drivers who insist they entered their registration correctly but still received a PCN.
Each had initial appeals rejected, despite submitting a photograph of their ticket, which shows an incorrect registration was printed.
Matt Chambers, a 35-year-old business owner, received a £100 PCN from Excel Parking after using a car park in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, in February.
He said: “They say I only registered the letter B for my number plate.
“That’s not right. I’m adamant I put the whole number plate in because I’ve used that car park several times before, and it’s the exact same process every time.
“I know how to use the machine.”
He said he is continuing to challenge the PCN but “sometimes it feels easier to pay just to make them go away” even though “I’ve done nothing wrong”.
Retired chef Lee Rogers, 67, suffered a similar problem.
He received a PCN from Euro Car Parks after using a car park in Rye, East Sussex, in August last year, and later realised the ticket he bought only had one digit of his registration printed on it.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said people’s experience with private parking companies ‘is not good enough’ (Chris Radburn/PA)
He said: “I did not stand there and key in just the first digit.
“Hundreds of others have had the same problem.”
He said he told Euro Car Parks he would “very much like to go to court” over the issue as “they know I’ve paid”.
His partner is feeling “trepidation that someone might come knocking at the door”, he added.
Mary Hawken, 79, was sent a PCN after using a car park in Praa Sands, Cornwall, in July 2024.
She said: “I noticed that the WK didn’t print (on my ticket) but I thought, I’ve got a receipt anyway, and the rest of the registration is on it, so that’s fine.
“A week later I had a PCN. I thought, I’m not paying it, you can take me to court.
“I religiously pay for car parks. I’m not going to be bullied into this.”
The amount being demanded reached £170, until the...
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