Euro Car Parks Fined £473,000 in Landmark CMA Enforcement Move
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has issued a significant penalty of £473,000 against Euro Car Parks, a private parking company, for failing to comply with information requests. This marks the first instance where the regulator has utilized new fining powers granted in 2024, setting a precedent for corporate accountability in the UK.
High Court Rejects Injunction to Conceal Company Name
Euro Car Parks attempted to secure a high court injunction to prevent the CMA from publicly naming the company in connection with the penalty. However, the application was refused earlier this week, allowing the regulator to proceed with transparency. The CMA emphasized that this decision underscores the importance of regulatory oversight and the legal obligations of businesses to cooperate.
Failure to Respond to Multiple Information Requests
According to the CMA, Euro Car Parks ignored seven separate requests for information over a three-month period. These requests were delivered via registered post, email, and hand-delivered letters as part of the regulator's standard procedures when considering whether to open an investigation. The company only responded after the CMA threatened to impose a fine, claiming it had blocked the emails under the mistaken belief they were a scam attempt. The regulator dismissed this excuse as unreasonable and proceeded with the penalty in December 2025.
CMA's Stance on Legal Obligations and Enforcement
Hayley Fletcher, the CMA's senior director of consumer enforcement, stated that information notices are essential tools for understanding potential legal infringements. "It is a legal obligation to comply ... they are not optional," she asserted. By ignoring these requests, Euro Car Parks forced the regulator to expend additional time and resources to obtain the necessary information, highlighting the seriousness of the breach.
Penalty Details and Regulatory Powers
The CMA fined Euro Car Parks 75% of the maximum possible fixed charge, totaling £473,000. Under its enforcement framework, the regulator can impose penalties of up to 1% of a company's annual turnover for such failures to comply. This action sends a clear message to other firms about the consequences of non-cooperation with regulatory inquiries.
Background on Euro Car Parks and Consumer Complaints
Euro Car Parks, known for managing payment systems in car parks, has faced numerous accusations from drivers regarding unfair fines for alleged rule infringements. However, the CMA clarified that it does not currently have an open consumer enforcement case against the company and stressed that no assumptions should be made about breaches of consumer law based on this penalty alone.
This enforcement action represents a significant step in the CMA's efforts to strengthen regulatory compliance and protect market integrity, utilizing its enhanced powers to ensure businesses adhere to legal standards.
