Huntingdon train station APCOA disabled driver parking fine

David Ellis, from St Ives, said he first received the "unexpected" penalty by post for failing to register his blue badge on May 2 at Huntingdon train station, a fact he disputes. 

He said the situation had spiralled out of control and he now has "sleepless nights" over the £170 debt which has "exacerbated" his stress-related health conditions. 

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. 

Mr Ellis said he received two fines for the same offence in December 2023 and January this year.  (Image: David Ellis) Free parking is offered to all blue badge holders who are required to register their vehicles on a blue badge portal. 

It comes after The Hunts Post revealed a number of drivers had been left out of pocket following fines for stays they claim they never had at the station.

They have since called on the APCOA Parking to check its ANPR software after fines showed their vehicles entering the car park - and leaving again hours later. 

Mr Ellis said he was unable to contact the parking management firm to appeal the fine in time as he was out of the country and unaware he had been charged until he returned to the UK. 

APCOA Parking handed his case to debt collection agency Debt Recovery Plus and "refused" to discuss the matter when Mr Ellis attempted to appeal it. 

Mr Ellis said he has sleepless nights over the £170 debt. (Image: David Ellis) He told The Hunts Post: "For the last year I have been harassed by APCOA and Debt Recovery Plus in relation to parking at Huntingdon Railway Station. 

"I complied with the requirements of APCOA, including registering my blue badge, but despite this they persist on chasing me for money I do not owe. 

"It is extremely difficult to speak to anyone and there are no contact details given on any correspondence issued by Debt Recovery Plus, only the payment line.

He added: "When I contacted APCOA to resolve the issue they told me that it could not be appealed as it had already gone to debt collection."

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A spokesperson for APCOA said Mr Ellis received the fines because his vehicle was not registered on the blue badge portal during each visit. 

However, automated text messages seen by this newspaper confirm he registered his vehicle correctly.

It comes as Mr Ellis previously received two fines for the same offence in December 2023 and January this year. 

The second fine claimed the 69-year-old, who was not in the area at the time, had parked at Huntingdon station for more than eight hours. 

Mr Ellis said the ordeal has left him "in fear" of using the station car park in future and has still not been able to get through to Debt Recovery Plus. 

An automated text message confirms Mr Ellis had registered his vehicle and blue badge. (Image: David Ellis) He added: "The way I have been treated has been detrimental to me as most of my conditions are stress related. 

"I now dread having to use the car park for fear of being fined again and having to go through the hassle involved, which is made worse by the fact I haven't done anything wrong. 

The spokesperson added: "APCOA cancelled the first two fines on goodwill and advised Mr Ellis to register his vehicle on the blue badge portal.

“On the third occasion, the vehicle was still not registered, the driver did not appeal the fine and no payment was received within the timeframe, so it was passed to debt recovery.

"A member of our customer service team will contact Mr Ellis directly to resolve his case and to go through the blue badge registration process with him in person."

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