I left my car with airport parking firm – then I got TICKET for stopping at housing estate while I was 2,000 miles away
A HOLIDAYMAKER got a ‘parking ticket’ while he was 2,000 miles away in Lanzarote after leaving his car with an airport parking service.
Alan Ennis, 62, and his mum Dorothy Hind, 82, went on holiday to the Canary Islands and used Stansted Airport’s valet parking service.
But when he returned he was shocked to receive a £60 parking charge notice for allegedly leaving his car on a road in a housing estate in Purfleet, Essex, without a permit.
Baffled Alan has complained to the airport parking team, who deny the claims.
But Essex Police are now investigating a “report of aggravated vehicle taking” at the airport.
Alan, a pet cremation worker, from Newbury, Berkshire, said: “It was a lot less walking for mum – that was my main concern, keeping the walking down for her.
“I’ve never used the service before but I thought it was worth it.
“My mum loves her holidays, loves going to Spain, so I wanted to take her away as soon as she was well enough.”
Alan’s mum uses a walking aid after having a stroke, so he opted for a valet parking service, so she didn’t need to walk very far.
Alan left his car at Stansted Airport on May 18, and paid £169.
The parking charge notice shows a photo of what looks like his car parked 45 miles away on May 21.
The letter from CPM says he needs to pay a “reduced” fee of £60 within 14 days – or £100 after.
He received the letter once he returned to the UK on May 25.
Alan said: “I went to the police.
“After some investigating, they told me the person responsible could face two charges – firstly, theft, because they took the car without my consent.
“And second – driving without insurance. Because as soon as they left the airport, they had no cover.”
Alan believes the car was driven at least 100 miles due to the location where it received the parking charge notice.
He said: “I didn’t think to check my mileage before – you just wouldn’t think to check.
“So, who knows? It could have been driven even further.
How to appeal a parking ticket
When you receive a parking ticket the notice will usually provide a window in which you can appeal it and some detail on how to do so.
If the fine is from a council, it will have a dedicated appeals service which should be accessible online or by email or post.
If you appeal within the given window (usually 28 days) the council will then consider your appeal and issue a response.
In the event that you are still dissatisfied with the outcome, you can take it to an independent tribunal, though this can take months.
Just be cautious as most fines include a discount for early payment, which you may miss out on while your appeal is considered.
As for private parking fines, it’s a little more complicated.
Like with councils you can appeal directly to the company that issued the fine.
However, if you are rejected, there is no tribunal to go to.
Instead, you will have to find out which independent appeals service the company you’re dealing with is a part of and submit your complaint to them.
The only thing to note is that the appeals services are often funded by the parking companies themselves.
Check out our exclusive video with the Secret Traffic Warden to find out three major reasons to appeal your ticket.
“I’ve only had the car for a month, it’s just so disappointing.
“We had a really lovely holiday then returned to find out this had happened.
“It was supposed to make things easier.
“It was a fantastic service – you pull up at the arrivals and you couldn’t be closer.
“You give your keys to the attendant, take your baggage out, and then they go and park your car.”
Essex Police are currently investigating.
A spokesperson said: “We are investigating a report of aggravated vehicle taking at Stansted Airport.
“It was reported a vehicle left at the airport on 18 May, but was detected in the Purfleet area on 21 May.
“It was also reportedly damaged before the owner returned to it on 26 May.
“Our investigation is ongoing and our enquiries are continuing.”
An airport spokesperson said: “All vehicles using official on-site parking services provided by the airport are stored in safe and secure facilities, and we have sophisticated systems in place to monitor both the location and movements of vehicles and keys on our site.
“In this case, we have categorically verified that the customer’s vehicle did not leave the London Stansted campus at any point before it was safely returned to its owner.
“In instances where it is suspected number plates of our customers’ vehicles have been cloned prior to them leaving their cars with us, we will provide all necessary assistance to the police force carrying out the investigation.”
Alan has since been found not liable for the parking notice.
CPM declined to comment when contacted by The Sun.
Airport parking fine rows
Wee problem
Driver Christian – who did not wish to give his last name – was slapped with a £100 fine for letting his wife out of the car at a red light to use the toilet at Bristol Airport.
Despite being aware of signs saying there was to be no stopping at any time to pick up or drop off, but feels that “it is a ploy to get people to pay”.
Christian had driven to the airport to pick up his mother-in-law before getting into a dispute with enforcement company VCN as he feels that it has disregarded everything that he has said.
VCN was contacted for comment.
Lost cause
Charlotte Balfe was fined £80 for getting lost in Heathrow Airport’s drop-off zone.
She had signed up for the long-stay car park when her and her husband were taking her two girls to France.
The hospice nurse, from Woking, Surrey, paid £90 in advance to leave her car for a week but on arrival had accidentally turned into a zone which charges drivers to drop off passengers.
“On each sign there’s 20 different things and you’ve got all the taxis pushing you on,” she told The Sun.
“I accidentally went up the ramp and not down it and even though I quickly drove back down, I got a fine through for £80 along with a picture of my car saying you entered the drop off zone and didn’t pay.”
She appealed the fine with APCOA but it was rejected.
Heathrow said options are “clearly signposted”.
APCOA was also approached for comment.
Parked off
Jo Timson says she was stung with a £600 fine after a “meet and greet” parking company failed to collect her car at Gatwick Airport.
She claimed Drive, Park and Fly should have then collected her car from the airport’s short term parking zone and stored it in their own car park for £78.99.
But, she said she returned from Malaga to find her car in the exact same spot.
The airport said it has nothing to with the ‘meet-and-greet’ firms, adding: “Legally these firms can operate on the airport as long as they do not break our bye-laws.”
Drive Park and Fly was approached for comment.