Taxi drivers have been fined hundreds of pounds... just for dropping off passengers at a Southend retail park.
The stunned drivers have been fined £100 by ParkingEye after stopping for just seconds in the London Road Retail Park.
Angry - Simon Shepherd and Mark Springall
Some have been fined more than once, with ParkingEye insisting their camera shows they stopped for hours.
Simon Shepherd, from Leigh, was fined last month after the company claimed he had parked for nearly seven hours when in fact his cab data showed he had parked for just 14 seconds.
The 55-year-old AC driver, said: “It’s not just me, there have been a few other drivers. One has got two fines and another has one that I know of. The camera there has been shot for four months now and they do nothing about it.
“It doesn’t affect me because I have proof of where my car was but what about other people. What about an elderly lady who drops her son off or someone on benefits stops to let someone off for a few seconds? How can they prove it?
“It is nothing more than extortion.
"How many fines must they have issued wrongly that people have just had to pay? It’s not just £10 but £100 and you can bet they would send in the bailiffs if they don’t get it.”
Mr Shepherd added: “Everyone needs to know about this so they don’t risk parking there.” He also revealed a colleague had also been fined on two occasions, with the company insisting he had stopped for 13 hours and 53 minutes and nine hours. However, his cab data show the longest time he stopped at the retail park was one minute 20 seconds. One of these fines has since been cancelled by ParkingEye and the other appeal has been sent to the company.
While Mr Shepherd says he has also sent the company proof the fine he received was wrong, ParkingEye says it is yet to receive both appeals.
A ParkingEye spokesman encouraged motorists to appeal if they believe fines have been wrongly issued.
He added: “In these particular cases neither motorist has appealed, however ParkingEye are happy to review these on receipt of appeals.”
Perpetrators - the rogue cameras
Warning - the signs at London Road Retail Park
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