A father faced with £200 parking fines at East Midlands Airport, despite paying for his visits, has criticized the system as unjust. Kevin Smith, aged 68, utilized the airport’s rapid drop-off area to drop off and pick up his son, paying the required £5 fee for both trips.
To his surprise, he received penalties totaling £200 because of a rule stipulating that payment must be made after exiting the drop-off zone, not while still within it. The airport employs a barrier-free ANPR camera system that enables drivers to park directly outside the terminal building.
The charging system at the airport entails a fee of £5 for up to 15 minutes, with an additional £1 per minute thereafter, up to a maximum of 30 minutes. Payments cannot be made in cash or at on-site barriers; instead, drivers must pay online or by phone before midnight the day following their airport visit.
Mr. Smith used the app to pay for both drop-off and pick-up instances, with the former occurring on June 30. Despite spending nine minutes on the outward trip and six minutes on the return journey in the drop-off zone, with £5 deducted from his account each time, he was still fined £100 for each visit, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days.
Mr. Smith expressed his frustration, stating that the fines were issued even though he followed the rules, paid via the app, and the money was deducted from his account. He emphasized the need for simplicity in the system, especially for individuals who may not have access to a phone.
The penalties were issued because Mr. Smith made the payment while still within the drop-off area, contrary to the app’s notification advising customers to ensure they have left the forecourt before paying. The airport spokesperson mentioned improvements in layout and signage to enhance the customer experience.
A representative from parking operator APCOA clarified that customers are informed on the payment screen that payment should only be processed after leaving the drop-off area, with a deadline until midnight the following day for payment.
While Mr. Smith’s first penalty has been canceled, he awaits a response regarding the second fine, declaring his intention to challenge it in court if necessary.
