### Motorist Receives £100 Fine Over Typographical Error Despite Paying for Parking
A Worcestershire father says he has lost faith in a popular Kidderminster car park after being issued with a £100 penalty for a minor mistake that, in his words, “could happen to anyone”. Niel Kirk, 52, found himself up against an uncompromising parking system when he accidentally entered the wrong vehicle registration at the Euro Car Parks facility in Weavers Wharf, despite paying for the full duration of his stay—not once, but twice.
Mr Kirk, a project manager from Blakedown, had visited the car park with his family while enjoying a meal at Pizza Hut. After paying £2.40 for two hours’ parking through one of the newly installed payment machines, he later discovered that the sum had been withdrawn from his account twice. On reviewing the payment confirmation text, he noticed another issue: he had mistakenly keyed in the incorrect registration number while making the payment.
Recognising the error, Mr Kirk attempted to alert the operator by replying to the payment confirmation text. However, this proved fruitless as the number was unmonitored. “We didn’t think it would be a major problem. We had the bank records, proof of both payments, and a receipt. It seemed like something that could be cleared up quickly,” Kirk explained to reporters.
Instead, about a month after the visit, a £100 parking charge notice arrived in his post. Stunned by what he believed to be an honest slip-up, Kirk embarked on the appeal process, submitting supporting evidence that he had paid for parking and not overstayed. Despite these efforts, Euro Car Parks dismissed the appeal, citing violation of terms and conditions due to the wrong registration entry.
Frustrated, Mr Kirk sought a personal response from the company’s managing director. Despite this escalation, the operator maintained their stance but, perhaps tacitly acknowledging the mitigating circumstances, offered to reduce the fine to £20. “With hindsight, maybe I should have paid the reduced amount,” Kirk reflected, “but the principle mattered. We had paid in good faith and made a simple mistake.”
He went on to question the robustness and fairness of the system, describing the penalty process as “unscrupulous and draconian”. He noted, “There’s little leeway for honest mistakes and the language in the letters can be quite distressing. Threats of increased charges or debt collection could easily unsettle people, especially the vulnerable.”
Mr Kirk’s concerns also extend to the implications for the town’s businesses and vulnerable visitors. “It seems the car park is no longer as busy since these new payment systems were introduced,” he observed. “This could negatively impact local shops and restaurants. People need to be extra vigilant—or possibly avoid the car park altogether until there’s a review.”
As for those with limited mobility, Kirk added a note of empathy: “I can easily park further away and walk, but this isn’t an option for everyone. There needs to be more understanding for genuine mistakes.”
Weavers Wharf is owned by LCP Estates Ltd, trading as part of M Core, but the day-to-day running of the car park is handled independently by Euro Car Parks. In response to Mr Kirk’s predicament, an M Weavers Wharf spokesperson commented, “We are sorry to hear about this individual’s experience; however, the car park at Weavers Wharf is managed independently by Euro Car Parks. We understand the matter has been raised directly with them, who are best placed to respond.”
At the time of publishing, Euro Car Parks had not provided a public statement in relation to the incident.
The situation highlights ongoing frustrations experienced by drivers across the UK, as parking systems become increasingly automated and less forgiving of simple errors. With fines often exceeding the original cost of parking by significant margins, questions remain as to whether more proportionate and humane processes ought to be put in place—particularly given the reliance many businesses have on accessible, user-friendly parking for their customers.
For now, Niel Kirk says he will be taking his business—and his parking—elsewhere, advising fellow drivers to double check all details before leaving their vehicle or risk facing similar consequences.