£26,000 fine for parking firm

A parking firm has been fined more than £26,000 for misleading drivers at a Black Country shopping centre.

Observices Parking Consultancy, which controls parking at St John's Retail Park in Wolverhampton, was investigated by Trading Standards following complaints.

City magistrates heard how shoppers can leave their vehicles on the car park for two hours for free but are fined £100 if they stay longer.

They are also warned the bill could rise to £400 if the ticket is challenged.

But several drivers alleged that, after making two visits to the site, they received a fine despite never staying more than two hours.

The court was also told fines were not issued for months and company director Douglas Harris admitted taking more than the required 28 days to request vehicle details from the DVLA.

Prosecutor Mr Tony Watkins said yesterday the car park was monitored by cameras that took a timed photographs but there was confusion involving cars visiting twice in one day.

Mr Patrick Maggs, defending Harris and OPC, said a better camera system was now installed.

Harris, of New Road, Radley, Hertfordshire, earlier admitted 13 offences, including displaying 15 misleading signs at the site and sending letters from a debt recovery firm without revealing it was the same company as OPC.

OPC earlier pleaded guilty to 23 charges, including similar offences and further counts in which details of the "additional vehicle activity" of drivers were ignored. The admissions were made on the basis of neglect rather than connivance. Harris was fined £3,100 and ordered to pay £2,585 costs. His firm OPC was hit with a £26,750 fine and £5,000 costs.