'I was fined for spending six hours in a car park - I was only there 20 minutes!'

Yahoo

18-06-2025

A DRIVER has blasted a 'disgusting' fine which claimed he had parked for six hours in a car park - when he had been there for just 20 minutes.
Sam Surridge, of Worboys Road, St Johns, was shocked and confused to receive a letter from Euro Car Parks stating he had exceeded the maximum stay at Tybridge Retail Park by several hours and had to pay £100.
The 61-year-old said: "They sent a picture of my van leaving the car park which they say was taken at 4.13pm, but it can't be because my van was in my driveway from 10.45am and throughout the afternoon.
"They said I was there for five hours and 53 minutes when I couldn't have been there for any more than 20 minutes.
"There is no way that photo could have been taken when they say it was taken."
Tybridge Retail Park's car park gives visitors up to two hours of free parking.
Mr Surridge's Ring doorbell caught him leaving his home at around 10am on Saturday, May 31, before returning at 10.45am, meaning he would have been in the retail park for no more than 45 minutes.
Now, he is using his doorbell footage in an attempt to have the parking fine cancelled.
"I have appealed my fine and sent them evidence that my van was on my driveway all day," he said.
"But the worrying part is what if I did not have a Ring doorbell which captured when I left and came home?
"I'm just concerned it will happen to other people."
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Euro Car Park, the company that issued Mr Surridge's fine, offers a reduced parking charge of £60 if the fine is paid within two weeks being issued.
However, it took almost two weeks before he received the notice, giving him just three days to pay or appeal before the fine becomes £100.
"I think it is disgusting," Mr Surridge said.
"This is either a system error or it is fraud."
Euro Car Park has been contacted by Worcester News for a comment but had not responded by the time we went to press.