Couple warn of airport car park 'scam' after forgetting to pay charge

A couple have issued a warning after claiming they were scammed after forgetting to pay a drop-off charge at Manchester Airport's car park.

Paul and Pam Walsh, both 62, discovered a phone number online when they realised their mistake, but were instructed to pay £170.

The pair dropped off their daughter at Terminal 3 on Saturday, July 5, around 3.45am for her Ryanair flight to Malta. The couple, from Widnes, confessed that they 'totally forgot' to pay the parking fee after returning home and falling asleep, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Knowing they hadn't paid within the stipulated time according to the car park rules, they anticipated a fine. However, when they called a number they found online, which they thought was for the parking enforcement company, they were told the fee was £170.

APCOA, the owner of the car park, has no record of the couple contacting them and confirmed the charge for an unpaid visit to Manchester Airport drop-off is £100, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days.

Manchester Airport's website also indicates that the penalty for not paying for parking in the drop-off or pick-up zones at the airport is £100, which can be reduced to £60 if paid within two weeks.

It has now increased signage around the car park to remind customers to pay before the deadline, to ensure people don't forget.

Paul and Pam are now warning others after they fell victim to what they believe was a scam. Paul told the ECHO: "We came back home after she [their daughter] was on her way and went back to bed, it was early in the morning.

"We forgot to pay for the parking, you used to have to pay on the way out and now you get up until midnight the next day, we totally forgot about it. It was an honest mistake."

Paul remembered to pay the following Thursday (July 10). Pam then phoned a number she found online (believed to have been for APCOA) straight away. She said a woman told her she would have to pay £170 because they hadn't paid in the allotted time.

Pam added: "I phoned up on Friday and a woman told me I'd have to pay £170 because we hadn't paid in the allotted time, I told her that it was ridiculous. I appreciate we haven't paid, but it was an honest mistake and we've phoned up immediately to pay it. We had no notification from the company to tell us to pay or anything.

"I don't mind paying a fine, we expected to pay a fine, but £170 is more than if we'd paid to park at the car park for a week, it's really not fair. We were there for no longer than five minutes and we've been scammed.

"It's totally unfair, I don't mind admitting we've done something wrong, I appreciate we didn't pay on time, it was a mistake, but that is just mean. It felt like a scam when I was on the phone and I didn't feel comfortable giving my credit card details over the phone to the company either, it didn't feel right, it worried me."

The couple are keen to alert other drivers about their experience before they use the car park. Paul stated: "We're at the time of year where everyone is going on their holidays, we worry about people who can't afford £170 getting stuck in this position.

"It wasn't like we had no intention of paying the parking either, we just forgot and as soon as we remembered we phoned up. People can't afford that kind of money, it's more than the flight to Malta was. It's not fair, it's easily forgotten."

A spokesperson for APCOA responded: "The telephone number that the customer called is not registered with APCOA and therefore the information provided was not given by us."

"It may be helpful for customers to know that we do not issue Parking Charges via text message, phone or email - genuine Parking Charges are only sent by post and contact information is provided within the letter in accordance with British Parking Association guidelines. The standard Parking Charge for an unpaid visit to Manchester Airport Drop Off is £100 reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days".

A spokesperson for Manchester Airport stated: "Our new barrier-less pick-up and drop off areas are reducing congestion around the airport by making sure that people no longer have to wait to exit the areas, which previously could cause traffic to back up.

"The feedback we've had from passengers tells us the new barrier-less system has made the airport experience more seamless and they're pleased that they no longer have to wait to leave the pick-up and drop-off areas. That means people aren't ending up having to pay more than they should as a result of waiting at the barriers.

"The vast majority of passengers do remember to pay before the deadline but we want to make sure that people don't forget so we've increased the signage around the areas to make sure nobody misses it."