Huntingdon train station APCOA parking fines issued wrongly

Motorists received the unexpected charge by post after using the drop-off bay.

Parking at the site is overseen by APCOA Parking and is controlled by automatic number plate recognition (ANPR), costing users £8.40 per day and £39.10 weekly. 

The station also provides 20 minutes free parking for those using the drop-off bay. 

Drivers claim they've been left out of pocket and are calling on APCOA Parking to check its ANPR software after fines show their vehicles entering the car park - and leaving again hours later. 

ANPR cameras monitor the car park at Huntingdon train station (Image: Google Maps)

It comes as the British Parking Association (BPA), a group that represents the UK parking and traffic management profession, acknowledged the issue. 

In 2020, it said car park operators are "becoming aware of this and should check all ANPR transactions" to ensure motorists are not being sent parking fines when they haven't overstayed. 

Josh Stevenson received two fines within the space of a week after ANPR cameras at the station logged his car entering the car park - and leaving again the next day. 

He was accused of failing to pay for parking, despite being dropped off and picked up by his brother on both occasions. 

He describes the fines, which cover July 8 and July 12 as "disgusting" and has already appealed them. 

He told The Hunts Post: "It really doesn't make any sense. The fine says I used the car park without making a valid payment, but the whole point is that I didn't park at the station. 

"It's shocking because I've asked multiple times at the station and each time I've been told you're given 20 minutes free parking for the drop-off bay.

"I dread to think the stress these fines are causing people and I'm concerned some people just pay them because they don't want the hassle."

Drivers say they've been left out of pocket after receiving fines of £100 after parking at Huntingdon train station (Image: Josh Stevenson)

Josh, from Huntingdon, who is dropped off and collected from the station regularly to attend hospital appointments, said the fines have caused him to experience "sleepless nights". 

He added: "I'm outraged. I couldn't sleep after I received one of the fines because I just couldn't understand how I'd been charged for something I clearly hadn't done."

Kevin Simons has also been fined incorrectly after using the station's drop-off bay. 

However, when ANPR cameras logged him entering the station car park to drop off his son - then exiting more than 12 hours later - his car was being serviced at a local garage. 

He said: "I was in the station car park probably less than three minutes when I dropped my son off on the day I'd supposedly failed to park, so there's no way I'd been in the car park overnight like the fine claims. 

"Furthermore, my car was in the garage that day, so there's no way it could have physically been anywhere near the station. 

"The camera clearly hadn't registered me leaving the station the morning that I'd dropped my son off in the morning, nor me returning in the evening of the same day." 

After submitting an appeal, Kevin was contacted by APCOA who said it had waived the fine as a "gesture of goodwill."

However, Kevin believes that if he hadn't kept the receipt from his local garage, it's likely he would have had no choice but to pay the fine. 

He added: "APCOA's 'gesture of goodwill' really frustrated me because it suggests I was guilty and that I was being let off, which couldn't be further from the truth.

"I fear there are a lot of people who aren't as strong willed as me and who would just pay rather than challenge the fine."

A spokesperson for APCOA Parking told The Hunts Post that while ANPR systems are "very effective" are are used "extensively" across the UK and Europe, "minor misreads can occur". 

The company said obstruction of registration plates by other vehicles, dirt on the vehicle number plate, misplaced screws and poor weather conditions can result of misreads. 

Councillor Martin Hassall believes APCOA should suffer a financial penalty for wrongly issuing parking fines. 

He was also fined after dropping his son at the station's drop off bay in a leased vehicle more than three years ago, which he said shows incorrect fines are "still an issue."

Councillor Hassall said he is worried he might be fined again. (Image: Martin Hassall)

He said: "Fines keep being issued incorrectly, which makes me think there's some sort of software glitch or that all these number plates are obscured. 

"We've got to the point where we're now using both our cars to avoid using the same one twice in the same day in case we get fined again.

"APCOA should be penalised in some way. If they're going to charge me £100 for parking illegally and they get it wrong, then they should pay the equivalent kind of fine. 

"That might act as an incentive for them to get their system in order to prevent this happening in future." 
 
A spokesperson for APCOA Parking added: "The local Operations Team have inspected the ANPR camera system at Huntingdon Station, and they have confirmed that it is operating correctly. However, camera performance at this car park will continue to be monitored. 
 
"If any driver feels they have been issued a ticket in error, we ask that they kindly contact APCOA in order for their individual case to be investigated. 
 
"With regards to the drop-off bays, signs at the car park entrances advise drivers that the drop-off period is limited to a maximum of twenty minutes.

"However, as a result of your feedback, we will be installing additional signage in the drop-off area itself to highlight the limitations".