Man's anger after getting Colchester Hospital parking fine

Andy Garner, 52, paid for his parking after an hour at the hospital in Turner Road on October 9 at 3pm where he was visiting a friend.  

But days later he was in for a nasty surprise when a parking fine from company Parkingeye landed on his doorstep. 

The letter said Mr Garner, who works in data protection, had failed to pay the correct fee for his stay in the car park. 

He believes he has been caught out as the time is calculated from the moment you enter the car park and not when you find a space. 

Mr Garner, from Colchester, said: “Parkingeye manages Colchester hospital’s car park and calculated the parking duration from the time my vehicle entered the car park, rather than from the time I purchased the ticket.

“This practice effectively reduces the paid parking period, leading to unfair charges.

“Parkingeye's signage does not clearly state that the parking session begins upon entry, and not at the time of payment.

“Given the high demand for parking at the hospital, many visitors may spend considerable time finding a space, unknowingly reducing their paid parking time.”

Packed - Colchester Hospital car park as seen in February (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Garner has reported his experience to the Information Commissioner’s office at Parkingeye.

He added: “This practice raises concerns about transparency and fairness.

“The principle established through other legal cases holds that a parking contract begins at the time of payment, not upon entry.

“The app used for purchasing parking displays a countdown starting from the time of purchase, conflicting with the ANPR-monitored entry time.

“I have reported this issue to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), which oversees data protection laws, including requirements for transparency.

“It is concerning that both staff and visitors are experiencing difficulties related to parking management.”

A Parkingeye spokesman said: “Parkingeye has partnered with East Suffolk & North Essex NHS Trust for six years to significantly improve how its car parks operate.

“Colchester Hospital has more than 80 prominent and highly-visible signs that give motorists clear guidance on how to use the car park responsibly.

"This includes guidance that motorists must pay for the full duration of their stay before exiting the car park. 

 "The motorist correctly received a parking charge as they did not pay the correct tariff to cover their full stay. 

“We would add that Parkingeye operates a BPA (British Parking Association) audited appeals process, which motorists can use to appeal their parking charge.

"If anyone has mitigating circumstances then we would encourage them to appeal. All motorists are also entitled to a further appeal via POPLA, the independent body which reviews all cases.”