A grandfather was wrongly fined £100 for brief parking at a Darlington store due to faulty camera system.
Two weeks later, Antoinette, 82, and Tony, 70, received a bill from NCP claiming they owed £100 for parking, which seemed wrong considering their short visit. Signs clearly stated that parking was free for ninety minutes for Barker and Stonehouse customers, indicating a problem.
After several emails back and forth, NCP apologized, explaining that a camera system had incorrectly issued tickets and wrongly fined many customers. Tony wonders how many others got caught in the error.
While Barker and Stonehouse does not directly manage the parking lot, they immediately helped affected shoppers. The store contacted NCP about the ongoing issue, working to ensure it stops completely. Tony recalled seeing a sign for free parking as well as one specifying ninety minutes max, after which they left within fifteen minutes.
Upon seeing the £100 fine, his wife was shocked, and Tony felt it unfair to lose that pension money, leading him back to the store. Staff confirmed that numerous customers had encountered the identical problem, and despite NCP initially upholding the charge, Tony posted about it on Facebook.
His Facebook post brought forth many similar and frustrating stories, prompting him to re-contact both the store and NCP quickly. Finally, this week, NCP sent Tony an apology, citing the improperly setup cameras as the cause for the incorrect fines and cancelling his fine promptly.
Tony is relieved his specific issue is resolved, but he still worries about others who may have already paid the fine. He believes all fines should be dismissed due to the errors. He also feels for the store manager, who has been trying to handle the situation and mitigate the negative impact on the store’s reputation.
These car parking troubles occurred near another lot with strict rules already in place which has previously sparked similar complaints from citizens. Barker and Stonehouse clarified that NCP independently runs that parking area.
The store swiftly acted upon learning of the errors, contacting impacted customers directly where possible to inform them that the issued tickets were incorrect and that confirmation letters would be sent soon. They also raised the issue directly with NCP, seeking assurance that it would not happen anymore, even The Northern Echo reached out to NCP quickly, but did not receive a response prior to publication.