Euro Car Parks Under Fire for Issuing False Parking Fines
Motorists across the UK are raising alarms over Euro Car Parks, a major car park management firm, accusing it of issuing "false" parking fines and employing aggressive debt collection tactics, even when drivers have clear evidence of payment. The company, which oversees more than 3,000 car parks for supermarkets, hospitals, airports, and universities, uses automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology to issue parking charge notices (PCNs), but many customers report being unfairly targeted.
Case Studies Highlight Systemic Issues
Jane Winder, a 51-year-old from Preston, received a £100 PCN in November 2023 after parking in a Lancashire car park managed by Euro Car Parks. Despite providing a bank statement and photo of her £2.30 parking ticket as proof, her appeal was rejected, and she was asked to pay a £20 administration fee. When she refused, believing she had done "nothing wrong," she was bombarded with letters from five different debt collection agencies over 14 months, each demanding £170 and threatening court action.
In June 2025, Preston Combined Court Centre notified her of a hearing for a debt that had ballooned to £278, but Euro Car Parks discontinued the claim at the last minute. Winder views this as an "admission of guilt" and says, "I had to stand up for the little people, because these big companies can afford to do this, and the majority of people will actually pay with the threat of court and debt collectors."
Widespread Complaints and Regulatory Scrutiny
Other drivers have shared similar experiences. Kelly Haydock, a 55-year-old foster carer from Wigan, received a £100 PCN in November 2023 after shopping in Manchester. After her appeal with evidence was rejected, she faced relentless threats from debt collectors, who used "bullying tactics" to demand payment. In May 2025, she was taken to court for £277, but a debt collection firm offered to drop the case if she paid £75, which she did out of stress. Haydock describes the ordeal as "truly horrible" and says it left her feeling "very bitter."
Michal Lucki endured a two-and-a-half-year battle over a £170 PCN from a Bedfordshire car park, calling it "mentally draining." His case was only resolved in December 2025 when the court claim for £282 was struck out after Euro Car Parks failed to pay the hearing fee.
According to Popla, an independent appeals service, PCNs issued by Euro Car Parks were the second most-appealed fines in 2023 and 2024, with 12,000 and 15,000 submissions respectively. The company has also faced regulatory action, receiving a £473,000 fine from the UK's Competition and Markets Authority for failing to provide information.
Public Outcry and Lack of Response
On Trustpilot, over 3,000 reviews give Euro Car Parks a 99% one-star rating, with many customers detailing similar grievances on social media platforms like Facebook. Despite multiple attempts by Guardian Money to contact Euro Car Parks for comment on these cases, the company has not responded, leaving affected motorists in limbo and calling for stronger consumer protections in the parking industry.
