**Widnes Couple Warn of Potential Airport Parking Scam After Receiving £170 Fine for Five-Minute Stop**
A couple from Widnes are speaking out after they say they fell victim to a suspected parking scam, leaving them £170 out of pocket for just a few minutes parked at Manchester Airport’s Terminal 3. Paul and Pam Walsh, both 62, recounted how a simple oversight while dropping off their daughter early one Saturday morning resulted in a hefty fine, which they believe may have been imposed by a fraudulent operation.
The incident occurred at about 3.45am on 5 July, as the Walshes briefly stopped in the designated drop-off area so their daughter could catch a Ryanair flight to Malta. Exhausted from the early start, and perhaps lulled by how straightforward the process appeared, the pair headed home. Upon arrival, they promptly went back to bed, inadvertently neglecting the requirement to pay the car park fee—a rule at Manchester Airport’s barrier-less drop-off zones which allows payment up until midnight the following day.
Although both Paul and Pam admit they made an honest mistake, their troubles only began when they sought to rectify it days later. Paul remembered their parking oversight almost a week after the airport trip, triggered by crossing the Mersey Gateway Bridge. Acting swiftly, Pam located a telephone number online they believed belonged to the car park’s enforcement company, APCOA. Upon calling, she spoke with a woman who insisted the couple now owed £170 due to the missed payment deadline.
Pam described feeling shocked and unsettled by the size of the sum requested, especially as she received no previous notification or reminder about the unpaid charge. “I don’t mind paying a fine because we did forget, but £170 is just extortionate—especially when we were only there for five minutes,” said Pam. “It’s more than a week’s parking. It felt like a scam, and I was worried about handing over my credit card details by phone.”
Seeking clarity, the couple reached out to the official car park operator, APCOA, which promptly said it had no record of the Walshes calling their contact centre. An APCOA spokesperson stressed that legitimate parking charges are only ever issued by post, in accordance with British Parking Association guidelines, and never communicated via phone, email, or text message. The prescribed penalty for non-payment at Manchester Airport, they confirmed, is £100—but can be reduced to £60 if settled within 14 days.
Manchester Airport echoed this, noting its website also lists the reduced payment options for fines and explaining that the introduction of barrier-less drop-off zones is supposed to streamline arrivals and reduce congestion. The airport asserts that most customers pay on time, but it has nevertheless increased the quantity and visibility of parking signage to help minimise such incidents.
The situation highlights growing concerns about the potential for online confusion and exploitation. With many non-official contact numbers appearing in web search results, some travellers could be inadvertently dialling fraudulent operators, exposing themselves not only to larger fees but also considerable data security risks.
Paul expressed his worry about the impact similar situations could have on others, especially as peak holiday season approaches. “We’re concerned about families who simply can’t afford to lose £170 over something so minor. If it took us by surprise, it could happen to anybody,” he remarked.
For their part, Paul and Pam urge fellow drivers to double-check all airport parking payment requirements, ignore unofficial phone numbers, and always wait for official postal communication if a fine is due. The episode has left them feeling wary and frustrated, yet determined to spread awareness before others are tripped up.
Both Manchester Airport and APCOA advise all passengers to pay close attention to signs in drop-off areas and use only verified contact details found on official documentation. With fraudulent operators growing increasingly sophisticated, taking a few moments to verify a payment demand could save much greater distress down the line.
As more airports across the UK implement similar parking systems, Paul and Pam’s story serves as a timely reminder to check the small print, retain payment receipts, and be cautious with personal information when resolving parking fines.