Competition regulator investigates Euro Car Parks over unfair parking charges
The competition regulator has launched an investigation into Euro Car Parks over allegations of unfair parking charges, focusing on potential breaches of consumer protection law.
How it was covered
- BBC One was the only channel found covering it.
- Channel 5, BBC News, BBC Two, Channel 4, GB News, ITV and Sky News: not found in tracked broadcasts.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story. Facts only one channel reported are attributed to it.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched an investigation into Euro Car Parks, one of the UK's largest private parking firms, over concerns that drivers are being unfairly charged while queuing at petrol forecourts. The probe is part of a wider crackdown on potentially unfair practices by private parking operators.
The regulator said it had received complaints from drivers who believed they had been issued parking tickets unfairly, for example because of poor signage or because an app or ticket machine was not working. The CMA also raised its own concerns about how some private parking operators handle complaints and appeals, and about attempts to recover additional fees on top of a parking charge.
As part of the investigation, the CMA is specifically looking at whether Euro Car Parks should be issuing charges to drivers waiting in queues at petrol stations, and is also examining the company's appeals process. The regulator has written to other private parking operators about their appeals procedures and has asked the sector as a whole to review whether it is complying with consumer law.
In addition, the CMA is making recommendations to the government on a new code of practice for the industry. Euro Car Parks and the main trade bodies have been contacted for comment but have not yet responded.
Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, grouped by how many channels reported each one. Select a dot to see the source excerpt.
| Claim |  |
|---|---|
| Only on one channel | |
| The Competition and Markets Authority is investigating Euro Car Parks over parking charges for drivers queuing at petrol forecourts, has concerns about complaint handling and fee recovery, and is recommending a new code of practice to the government. | |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The BBC focused on the details of the CMA investigation, including the specific issue of charges at petrol forecourts and the regulator's broader concerns about appeals and additional fees. The report also highlighted the lack of response from Euro Car Parks and trade bodies, and noted the CMA's recommendations for a new code of practice. The tone was factual and explanatory, with a transport correspondent providing context.
- “the regulator says that some drivers have been complaining because they think they've been issued with parking tickets unfairly”
- “the regulator is also writing to other private parking operators about their appeals processes”
- “We've heard nothing yet, but we'll keep asking.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.