Euro Car Parks Faces Allegations of Issuing False Parking Fines
Motorists across the UK are reporting distressing encounters with Euro Car Parks, a major car park management company, accusing it of issuing "false" parking fines and deploying aggressive debt collection tactics. Despite providing clear evidence of valid payments, drivers describe being hounded by multiple debt collection agencies and threatened with court action, creating significant stress and financial anxiety.
Case Studies Highlight Systemic Issues
Jane Winder, a 51-year-old resident of Preston, received a £100 parking charge notice in November 2023 for allegedly failing to purchase a £2.30 ticket at a Lancashire car park managed by Euro Car Parks. She promptly appealed, submitting bank statements and photographic proof of her valid ticket. Her appeal was rejected, but she was offered a reduced £20 administration fee. Believing she had done nothing wrong, Winder ignored this request, only to be bombarded with letters from five different debt collection agencies over the next 14 months, each demanding £170 and warning of court action and credit damage.
In June 2025, Preston Combined Court Centre notified her that Euro Car Parks had filed a court claim, raising the debt to £278. Confident in her defense, Winder prepared to challenge the company in court, stating, "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." At the last minute, the court informed her that Euro Car Parks had discontinued the claim, which she interpreted as an admission of guilt.
Widespread Complaints and Legal Battles
Kelly Haydock, a 55-year-old foster care worker from Wigan, faced a similar ordeal after receiving a £100 parking charge notice in November 2023 for parking during an afternoon shopping trip in Manchester. She also provided a photo of her parking ticket and bank statement, but her appeal was rejected. Debt collectors pursued her aggressively, using what she described as "bullying tactics" to demand payment, with the debt escalating to £170 by June 2024.
In May 2025, Haydock received a letter from the Civil National Business Centre stating that Euro Car Parks had taken her to court for £277. Just before the court date, a debt collection firm offered to drop the case if she paid £75. Overwhelmed by stress, Haydock paid, later regretting her decision. "It caused me a lot of stress, and I just paid the money so they could all go away," she said, expressing bitterness over the experience.
Michal Lucki, another motorist, endured a two-and-a-half-year battle after parking in a Bedfordshire car park in June 2023. His appeal, supported by bank statements and a parking ticket, was also rejected. The ordeal left him mentally drained and in a nervous state. In December 2025, his court claim for £282 was struck out after Euro Car Parks failed to pay the hearing fee to the county court, finally freeing him from the dispute.
Company Background and Regulatory Scrutiny
Euro Car Parks manages over 3,000 car parks across the UK and Ireland for organizations including supermarkets, hospitals, airports, and universities. The company uses automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology to monitor payments and issues parking charge notices (PCNs) to those who appear not to have valid tickets. 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 appeal submissions respectively.
The firm has previously faced regulatory action, receiving a £473,000 fine from the UK's Competition and Markets Authority for failing to provide required information. Public sentiment is overwhelmingly negative, with over 99% of the 3,000-plus reviews on Trustpilot giving the company one-star ratings at the time of writing. Similar complaints have been reported on social media platforms like Facebook.
Consumer Advocacy and Lack of Response
Guardian Money has attempted to contact Euro Car Parks multiple times for comment on these cases, but the company has not responded. The experiences shared by Winder, Haydock, and Lucki underscore broader concerns about consumer rights and the practices of parking management firms. As drivers continue to navigate these challenges, advocacy groups emphasize the importance of standing firm against unjust charges and seeking independent advice when faced with aggressive debt collection tactics.
