Ticket trap Britain: don’t get hit with fines over confusing parking signs

· Read every sign carefully before leaving your vehicle

· 14 million-plus parking charge notices1 issued by private operators in 2024/25

· Watch out for fake QR codes targeting unsuspecting drivers

We are urging drivers to stay alert when parking this summer, as unfamiliar locations, complex restrictions and rising scams increase the risk of costly mistakes.

With millions of parking charge notices issued each year by private parking firms and local authorities, it’s easy to see how small oversights can quickly escalate into significant sums, says GEM.

Check the signs

That’s why GEM is urging drivers to check car park signage in full. Restrictions often vary by time of day, with bays shared between residents and pay-and-display users, alongside loading only periods, school street controls and bank holiday exceptions.

It’s important to understand the difference between local authority Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), which offer access to an independent adjudicator, and private parking charges, where appeal processes can be inconsistent and lack independent oversight.

QR code warning

There is also growing concern about QR code scams. Criminals are placing fake QR stickers over legitimate parking notices, directing users to cloned payment sites designed to capture card details.

GEM is advising motorists to avoid scanning codes that appear tampered with and instead use official apps, websites or payment machines. Also, check the vehicle registration carefully when entering it into a parking app or machine. A single wrong letter or number can mean your parking session is not linked to your vehicle correctly, which may lead to a charge or penalty. GEM’s advice is to double-check before you confirm.

See you in court?

GEM says that appealing private parking charges can carry risks, including loss of early payment discounts or persistent follow-up. Drivers are encouraged to gather evidence promptly and seek advice before deciding whether to challenge or pay up.

A GEM spokesperson said: “Our members frequently tell us they feel trapped and confused by today’s parking rules, and how quickly an honest mistake can snowball into a serious dispute.

“We’re on the driver’s side, but you have to play by the rules, so read every sign, beware of fake QR codes and, if you’re hit with a ticket, get good advice fast so you can decide whether to pay up or fight it.

“If you are ever in doubt, save yourself a great deal of time and trouble at a later stage and simply don’t park there - take a few minutes more to seek parking elsewhere.”

Case study: how a pensioner beat the system and exposed Britain’s ticket trap

An 85-year-old Buckinghamshire pensioner, Stanley Luckhurst, successfully challenged a court claim brought by Excel Parking after an 18-month dispute over a short stay in an unlit bay meant for electric vehicles.

Luckhurst had left his car in the reserved bay for around 20 minutes while visiting nearby shops, triggering a Parking Charge Notice and subsequent legal action from the Sheffield based private parking company.

The judge ultimately dismissed Excel’s case, criticising the firm’s conduct and agreeing that the circumstances did not justify the level of pursuit against the motorist. Following his victory, Luckhurst launched a public petition calling for tougher regulation of private parking firms and implementation of the long delayed government Code of Practice, which is intended to cap charges, curb aggressive debt collection and improve the fairness and independence of appeals.

His case has attracted media attention as an example of how ordinary drivers can be caught out by complex private parking rules and then face disproportionate enforcement, particularly when stopping briefly or in unclear circumstances.

Had Stanley been able to see that the bay was reserved for electric vehicles, he would have avoided parking there; and the later dispute, entirely.

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