A 68-year-old man was fined £200 for parking in the drop-off zone at East Midlands Airport in Castle Donington, Leicestershire, despite having paid the required fee on both occasions.
Kevin Smith used the zone twice: once to drop off his son and again days later to collect him. He said the payment app deducted £5 on each visit, which he took as confirmation that he had complied with the rules.
The airport charges £5 for a maximum of 15 minutes in the drop-off area. Smith said he spent nine minutes on the first visit and six on the second. He received two fines of £100 each, reduced to £60 each if paid within 14 days.
According to the Nottingham Post, the penalties were issued because Smith made his payments while his vehicle was still inside the drop-off zone. The payment app includes a warning stating that the vehicle must have left the area before the transaction is processed. Payment can be completed any time up to midnight the following day.
Smith said it was his first visit to the airport and that the procedure was very confusing. He argued he had followed all the instructions and that the money had left his account on both occasions. He added that the system was unfair, particularly for elderly people or those without a mobile phone, and said the issue went beyond his personal situation and that the process should be much clearer for visitors.
Airport and parking firm defend the system
A spokesperson for East Midlands Airport said clearer signage and an improved layout had been introduced the previous year to improve the user experience. Parking operator APCOA said the payment screen warns drivers that their vehicle must have exited the zone before payment is made, and that drivers have until midnight the following day to complete the transaction.
The first fine issued to Smith has been cancelled, while the second remains under review. Smith said he did not intend to pay it and was prepared to challenge it in court if necessary.
