Why did I get a £100 parking fine while charging my electric car? A frustrating tale of parking disputes and the challenges of navigating complex parking rules.
I charged my electric car at the 24-hour Mer EV charging station in my local B&Q car park. To my surprise, I received a £100 parking charge notice (PCN) from the car park operator, Ocean Parking. The notice stated that no parking is allowed on the site between 9 pm and 6 am, even though the EV charger itself had no signs explaining this rule.
This is where the story gets interesting. The Mer EV charger's website advertised it as a 24-hour facility, and the entrance to the Redhill retail park had signs indicating free parking for up to two hours. However, smaller print beneath these signs mentioned terms and conditions that Ocean was relying on. These terms and conditions were not printed on the entrance signs or the sign behind the EV charger, making it difficult for drivers to be aware of the restrictions.
Ocean's defense was that they were unaware of the charger's operation until I contacted them, and they assumed I was just parking. But I had detailed in my representation that I was using the charger at the time, and Ocean's rejection letter confirmed that users of the charger are not exempt from parking restrictions. When I brought this to their attention, Ocean doubled down, insisting that the parking charges were issued correctly under the published conditions.
This situation is not unique. In Leicestershire, CH faced a similar issue with a private parking operator, Euro Parking Services (EPS). CH stopped on a road in a business park to drink a cup of coffee and received a £100 PCN for parking on 'double yellow lines/crosshatched bay' in a 'restricted area'. EPS asked CH to provide evidence that the restrictions were invisibly advertised, leading him to take photographs of a tiny sign with tiny print mounted on a pole.
EPS's response was to issue another £100 PCN, but their own CCTV photos showed that there were no yellow lines or hatchings on the road. EPS, a member of the International Parking Community (IPC), failed to meet the trade body's code of practice, which requires signs to be conspicuous and legible, and to allow drivers a five-minute grace period to check for parking restrictions.
Despite the clear lack of conspicuity and legibility of the sign, EPS refused to cancel either PCN. However, when I questioned EPS, they relented over the second charge but insisted on upholding the first. They recognized the importance of drivers being able to read and, if necessary, photograph signs to submit representations, and stated that it is not their policy to penalize motorists for doing so.
These stories highlight the complexities and inconsistencies in parking rules and the challenges drivers face when navigating private parking operators. It's crucial for operators to ensure that their signage is clear, legible, and appropriately positioned to avoid disputes and unfair penalties. Drivers should also be aware of their rights and the importance of checking for parking restrictions before parking.
