Motorists seething over fines

PARKING mad . . . Glen Goodwin (left) and Simon Towler

OUTRAGED motorists are refusing to pay fines over claims a car parking firm is ripping them off.

Glen Goodwin (40), from Watersheddings, was hit with a £60 fine after buying a car-parking ticket in Rock Street which only printed part of his registration number.

But after sharing his frustration online friends said they had also received fines over the same issue at the car park near Oldham Parish Church.

Mr Goodwin appealed the Smart Parking charge on thegrounds the ticket machine had incorrectly printed his registration but was sent a second letter stating he owed £100.

A spokesman from Smart Parking said that a full, correct vehicle registration must be entered at the machine and that there are two machines at the site. They also said that they would observe any final decisions taken by POPLA, the independent appeals service used by the company over parking charge notices.

Mr Goodwin said: "This company is ripping people off. I entered my registration number but it wouldn't acknowledge it and the ticket only printed the last two letters of my plate.

"I had paid the full amount so I put the ticket in the window. About a month later I had a fine for £60 through the door.

"I appealed it and a month on they sent me a letter saying the ticket was void because it didn't show my full registration number and they increased the fine to £100."

Mr Goodwin had entered his full car registration number at the machine and paid £1.50 for the parking between 4.12pm and 6.13pm, leaving 60 minutes before his ticket ran out.

A £60 fine with a 14-day payment notice was sent to him by Smart Parking one month after he used the car park on September 13.

Chadderton-based Simon Towler (36) waded through bags of rubbish to find his ticket after he was also fined £60.

A notice from POPLA said that he owed £100 because his car registration number was not entered in full on June 18 when he used the site.

Mr Towler said: "It has been a joke from start to finish. I was within the time coming back to my car. I appealed to POPLA but it was refused because it didn't display a full registration number."

A spokesman from Smart Parking said: "There are six signs across the site which clearly highlight the terms and condition of use. Included in these terms is the condition that motorists must enter their full, correct vehicle registration when using the payment machine at the car park. There are two ticketing machines on site and on the day Mr Goodwin received his charge both were fully operational. Smart Parking are members of the British Parking Association and strictly follows its guidelines."