Private parking fines soar

Figures obtained by a Labour MP show that the amount of fines charged by private car parks has increased more than fourfold in the last five years.

Nick Smith, MP for Blaenau Gwent, discovered that fines have increased from £21 million to £93 million during this period. His research followed a string of complaints from constituents about a car park run by Excel Parking Services. The most common complaint about private car parks revolves around machines which require drivers to enter their number plate details. Many drivers report having paid for their parking, but still getting a fine because the number plate details had not been entered correctly.