Driver vows to fight 'keying error' parking ticket

A motorist says he is willing to go to court to fight a parking ticket he received while on holiday because he can prove he paid.

Glenn Orrah, from Sheffield, said Euro Car Parks was failing to show "common sense" after he received a penalty charge notice (PCN) despite paying for a ticket while visiting Louth, Lincolnshire.

In a letter seen by the BBC, Euro Car Parks suggested he had made a "major keying error" when entering his registration details into the pay and display machine. The firm has offered to cancel the charge in return for a £20 administration fee.

Euro Car Parks has been approached for comment.

Orrah said he was on holiday with his wife in North Somercotes, on the Lincolnshire coast, when they visited Louth and parked in the Eastgate car park.

When they arrived home a few weeks later, he found a letter informing him of the PCN.

He said the letter stated he parked for one minute over the two hours he paid for, while pictures showed his car entering and leaving the car park.

Orrah appealed on the Euro Car Parks website, arguing there should be a 10-minute grace period.

Later, he found his pay and display ticket, which stated that it was paid for a minute longer than the time he was photographed leaving the car park.

A few weeks later, he received a letter telling him his appeal was unsuccessful because he had entered only the last three digits of his registration number into the pay and display machine.

However, Euro Car Parks offered to close the matter in return for a £20 administration fee, which is in line with the British Parking Association's (BPA) code of conduct for "major keying errors".

Orrah said "common sense" should show the company he paid to park, with the registration letters and photographs from the letter matching his car.

"It doesn't matter if it's £20, £100 or £170," he said. "I paid £1.50 for a ticket. I'm not prepared to pay £20 and admit liability."

He added: "I have been in business for 47 years and I have never owed a penny to anyone.

"I am prepared to take this to court because I am not wrong."

He is now appealing through Popla (Parking on Private Land Appeals).

According to the BPA code of conduct, a keying error is when a motorist does not enter the vehicle registration details correctly into a pay and display machine, validation terminal or online payment system.

A "minor keying error" can include mistakes such as a wrong letter or a zero instead of a letter "O". In these cases, the BPA says parking firms should cancel the charge if the motorist appeals.

Examples of a "major keying error" include a motorist making multiple errors, adding their spouse's number plate rather than their own, or entering just part of their registration, such as the first three digits.

The BPA says operators should seek to deal with the error at appeal, especially if it can be proven that the motorist has paid or attempted to enter their details, and it suggests a "modest charge to the motorist of no more than £20" can be justified to cover costs.

Isaac Occhipinti, head of external affairs at the BPA, said: "We would encourage any motorist who believes they have been charged incorrectly to use the operators' formal appeals process, which is set out under the code of practice.

"This allows motorists to provide context and evidence, ensuring decisions are fair and proportionate. Furthermore, motorists have access to an additional independent second-stage appeals review through Popla."

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