Greedy parking firms are set for a Christmas cash bonanza as they chase shoppers for hefty fines. Hundreds of thousands more drivers could end up with parking tickets this year compared with last Christmas. The warning follows a 35% jump in the number of drivers’ addresses sold to private car parking firms by the DVLA. The firms – which have faced criticism for overzealous practices – run thousands of car parks at retail parks and supermarkets. The DVLA charges £2.50 per vehicle record which is used to pursue owners for penalties of up to £100. The RAC Foundation, which has analysed the figures, says firms are set to cash in as motorists come out in force to do their shopping. The motoring research charity is warning drivers to be wary about using shopping centre car parks during the festive period. Spokesman Philip Gomm said: “Festive shoppers need to keep one eye on the bargains and one on the clock, otherwise they are likely to find themselves receving an unwelcome present. “The danger for big stores is that their customers get so fed up with over-keen parking operators they decide to do their shopping online.” In the first half of the latest financial year, parking firms bought 4,324,522 records from the DVLA - up 35 per cent from 3,192,626 over the same period the previous year. In October, November and December last year, firms bought 1,781,347 records. If the number bought this year rises by the same proportion, the RAC Foundation says this would total 2,404,350 - meaning 623,000 more drivers could get a ticket. Parking firms have been accused of treating motorists as “cash cows” by MPs who have called for new laws to regulate the industry. Drivers have complained about being fined for returning to their cars a few minutes late, or after being unable to buy a ticket because of a faulty machine. Ministers have promised to enforce a statutory code of practice that companies must follow to obtain motorists’ addresses - but this is not expected to happen until next year. One of the biggest firms, Parking Eye, manages more than 800 store car parks across the UK. Last year it made nearly £13.6million in profits, up by 39 per cent from the previous 12 months.
Greedy parking firms are set for a Christmas cash bonanza as they chase shoppers for hefty fines. Hundreds of thousands more drivers could end up with parking tickets this year compared with last Christmas. The warning follows a 35% jump in the number of drivers’ addresses sold to private car parking firms by the DVLA. The firms – which have faced criticism for overzealous practices – run thousands of car parks at retail parks and supermarkets. The DVLA charges £2.50 per vehicle record which is used to pursue owners for penalties of up to £100. The RAC Foundation, which has analysed the figures, says firms are set to cash in as motorists come out in force to do their shopping. The motoring research charity is warning drivers to be wary about using shopping centre car parks during the festive period. Spokesman Philip Gomm said: “Festive shoppers need to keep one eye on the bargains and one on the clock, otherwise they are likely to find themselves receving an unwelcome present. “The danger for big stores is that their customers get so fed up with over-keen parking operators they decide to do their shopping online.” In the first half of the latest financial year, parking firms bought 4,324,522 records from the DVLA - up 35 per cent from 3,192,626 over the same period the previous year. In October, November and December last year, firms bought 1,781,347 records. If the number bought this year rises by the same proportion, the RAC Foundation says this would total 2,404,350 - meaning 623,000 more drivers could get a ticket. Parking firms have been accused of treating motorists as “cash cows” by MPs who have called for new laws to regulate the industry. Drivers have complained about being fined for returning to their cars a few minutes late, or after being unable to buy a ticket because of a faulty machine. Ministers have promised to enforce a statutory code of practice that companies must follow to obtain motorists’ addresses - but this is not expected to happen until next year. One of the biggest firms, Parking Eye, manages more than 800 store car parks across the UK. Last year it made nearly £13.6million in profits, up by 39 per cent from the previous 12 months.
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