One of the UK’s largest private parking providers is being investigated by the competition regulator over whether parking tickets for drivers queuing at petrol forecourts are fair.
Euro Car Parks’ broader appeals process relating to petrol stations and car parks is also being looked into, to determine if it breaches consumer protection law.
The investigation forms part of a wider crackdown by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) into potentially unfair practices by private parking operators.
Research by the RAC has suggested the number of tickets issued in places like gyms, supermarkets, restaurants and retail parks more than doubled in six years, to 14.4 million.
Motorists have complained about these parking issues, the CMA said, highlighting problems including unclear signage, faulty apps and broken ticket machines.
The regulator said it wanted to make sure drivers are being treated fairly following complaints from motorists who feel they’ve been unjustly issued with parking tickets.
The CMA says it has its own concerns about the way some operators are handling appeals, or attempting to make motorists pay additional fees on top of parking charges.
It has written to the sector as a whole, and issued warnings to some individual operators about their practices.
The CMA’s executive director of consumer protection Emma Cochrane said receiving a parking ticket could be a stressful experience.
“Costs are high and often unexpected which is difficult when people are budgeting carefully,” she said.
“Parking companies must treat motorists fairly at all stages – and a clear and consistent appeals process must be at the heart of this.
“It’s time for all private parking operators to comply with consumer law or risk action from the CMA.”
In the open letter to private parking operators, the CMA warned they should review their terms and conditions and make changes if necessary to ensure they are complying with consumer law.
The CMA’s investigation into Euro Car Parks is focusing on whether it is fair for drivers to receive parking charges while queuing for, or using, petrol pumps and other forecourt services such as car washes, plus its wider appeals process.
It is in the evidence gathering stage, and is set to run until Spring 2027.
Euro Car Parks has more than 3,000 facilities across the UK and Ireland, according to the company’s website, with more than two million cars parking in their spots every day.
The BBC has contacted Euro Car Parks for comment.
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