I was fined £250 after hospital parking machine said I didn't need to pay

Telegraph

30-03-2025

A motorist faces a £252 parking bill from a hospital visit three years ago – despite being told he did not have to pay.
Gordon Clark, 71, and his wife Jennifer visited the Queen Elizabeth Hospita l in Gateshead on August 12, 2022 to see a friend and stayed for an hour and 13 minutes.
They arrived at 6.09pm and left at 7.22pm, but when they entered the registration details of the Renault Captur in the machine Mr Clark said the message displayed on the parking machine read: 'No payment required'.
He said he was shocked weeks later to receive a fixed penalty notice charge for £40 from ParkingEye, the company that manages the hospital's car parks using number plate recognition technology.
He said: 'I checked the registration with my wife and I inputted the number again and received the same message.
'We left the car park and returned home only to receive a parking charge notice through the post two weeks later.
'I have disputed this with ParkingEye. However, their blind faith in the infallibility of their equipment has kept them pursuing me since, questioning my honesty and integrity.
'My wife and I are both retired and have always paid our dues.'
Mr Clark, who worked as a construction consultant, lives in Medburn near Ponteland.
He said: 'I have asked ParkingEye to request an explanation from their equipment supplier as to how this has happened and also how many other motorists have experienced the same issue.
I am absolutely incensed
'I have never received a response but have instead received many letters stating they maintain their position followed by threatening letters from a third-party debt collection agency and a court letter for over £250 for a less than £3 parking fee.
'As far as we were concerned there was no charge. As a matter of principle, I do not want to pay it. I am absolutely incensed.'
Mr Clark said he intends to fight the matter in court if necessary.
He said: 'The debt collection agency's language is getting more and more threatening. We don't believe we are alone, there will be other people like us out there.
'I think most people have caved in because they can't be bothered with the hassle. This has caused me a lot of aggro. I am having chemotherapy at the minute and my wife is recovering from major surgery. It is something we don't flaming need. It is so frustrating. I just wish I had taken a picture of the damn thing.'
We are sorry for any distress
Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, said ParkingEye was an independent contractor responsible for managing the parking arrangements on the site.
A spokesperson for the trust said: 'While we do not have the full details of Mr Clark's case and so cannot comment on his situation, we are sorry for any distress caused by this issue. ParkingEye is an independent contractor which manages the car parking payment and penalty notice system on our behalf.
'If patients or visitors speak to us about parking issues, we will always try to assist, particularly where people have had problems with the payment system or exemptions.
'Although Gateshead Health is not involved in the operational management or the enforcement of ParkingEye's policies, nor in the issuance of fines, we will offer advice and assistance where possible.'