Sign replaced at carNews park after complaints from confused drivers
FINED DESPITE PAYING FOR
A COMPANY at the centre of a car parking row in Leicester has responded to criticism by installing a new sign offering clearer instructions to drivers.
Visitors to Parallel Parking Ltd’s Mansfield Street car park, behind Belgrave Gate, claimed confusion at a pay-and-display machine led them to be unfairly fined.
They include Kanti Lad, from Wigston, whose family contacted the Mercury after he was sent a parking charge notice ordering him to pay £100.
His son said his 65-year-old father had bought a ticket from the machine at the privately-run car park, next to the rear entrance of the city’s Argos store, on May 20, this year.
He was issued with a ticket by the machine but, to his surprise, he was sent a letter informing him he owed the firm £100 because he failed to input his car registration number correctly.
Mr Lad’s son said that the lack of information on the pay-and-display ticket, and the fact that the £1.50 ticket was issued, meant his father would have had no idea he had made a costly mistake.
“How would they even know if they made mistake entering it if the number is not displayed?” he said.
Another driver, also from Wigston, fell foul of the same pay-and-display machine earlier this month.
The woman, who did not want to be named, said: “I was visiting the city centre for work on October 7. I parked in the car park behind Argos.
“When I put my money into the machine, it issued me a ticket straight away.
“So I thought everything was fine – well, why wouldn’t I?
“I did think it was a bit odd it gave me the ticket without asking me to enter my registration number but I know that is how other car parks operate.”
She added: “That’s why I was shocked when I received a parking fine from Parallel Parking through the post telling me I owed them £100.
“I thought this is ridiculous but decided to pay the reduced amount of £60 and then appealed.”
Her appeal was dismissed, however, with the ruling insisting it was her responsibility to tap in her car registration.
She said: “Surely, if I’d made a mistake then it shouldn’t have issued me my ticket. Because it did, I had no idea.
“I think it’s incredibly unfair. But when I tried to clear things up with Parallel Parking there was no way of getting in touch with them.”
She added: “This needs to be sorted out. This must have happened to so many other drivers too. It’s put me off visiting the city centre, which is a shame.” When the Mercury contacted Parallel Parking for a comment, they replied by stating that new signs had recently been erected at the Mansfield Street car park.
I did think it a bit odd it gave me the ticket without asking me to enter my registration number
Driver
‘THERE IS NO GLITCH’
“The pay-and-display machine instructions are shown on the machine,” said a spokesperson. “The driver is required to enter a full and accurate registration number.
“The entered details are shown on the display screen, and when the user is happy with the displayed details they then need to press green to validate before they are able to select the time required and insert their payment.”
They added: “There is no ‘glitch’ with the pay-and-display machines, they are simply printers and they only print what the user has entered.
“We have, however, placed a sign next to the pay and display machine stating that if anyone types in an incorrect registration number to contact us immediately.”