Kevin Smith paid £5 after dropping off his son and another £5 when picking him up, but East Midlands Airport still sent him two £100 parking fines. The 68-year-old from Clifton was confused when the penalty notices arrived, even though the money for both visits had already been taken from his bank account.According to the Nottingham Post, the fines were issued because Mr Smith completed the digital payment while his car was still inside the airport’s drop-off zone.
Fine issued despite app payment
Mr Smith first visited the airport on 30 June to drop his son off for a flight, spending nine minutes in the rapid drop-off zone. He later returned to collect him and stayed for six minutes.On both visits, Mr Smith and his son used the official parking app to pay the standard £5 fee for stays of up to 15 minutes.Even though he paid the £5 charge both times, he later received two £100 penalty notices in the post. Each fine could be reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days.“They took the money on both occasions for the rapid drop-off. We paid on the app, we followed the rules, the money left the account and then they had the cheek to give me £60 fines,” Mr Smith told the Nottingham Post.“This isn’t just about me, but about people who might not have a phone or who are just stuck in a bit of a bubble. I think it’s so unfair. It was my first time going to East Midlands Airport and it was very confusing. I think they need to make it a lot simpler for people.”
Technical rule triggered the fines
The rapid drop-off zone at East Midlands Airport uses Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras instead of entry or exit barriers. Drivers can drop off passengers outside the main terminal without paying cash at the site.The system charges £5 for the first 15 minutes, with an extra £1 for every additional minute, up to a maximum stay of 30 minutes. There are no payment barriers or cash machines. Drivers must pay online or by phone before midnight on the day after their airport visit.The Nottingham Post reported that Mr Smith broke a specific rule in the app’s payment terms. The parking app requires drivers to leave the drop-off area before completing the payment. Because Mr Smith made the payments on his phone while his car was still in the zone, the system recorded the visits as unpaid.
Operators defend the system
In statements given to the Nottingham Post, both the airport and parking operator defended the rules and the signage.An APCOA spokesperson said: “Customers are advised on the payment screen that vehicles must have left the drop off area before a payment is made. Customers then have until midnight the following day to pay for their visit.”An East Midlands Airport spokesperson added: “We introduced an improved layout and clear signage last year which we’re satisfied provides a better customer experience.”APCOA has since cancelled the first £100 penalty notice after Mr Smith appealed. He is still waiting for a decision on the second fine, but said he is prepared to continue challenging it if necessary.“I will not pay and I will fight it in court if I have to,” he said.
Alternative parking options and appeals process
Mr Smith’s case has also drawn attention to how confusing airport drop-off systems can be for drivers. According to APCOA, motorists cannot pay for the rapid drop-off area before arriving. Payment must be made only after the vehicle has left the drop-off zone, unless the driver has already signed up for the operator’s AutoPay service, which charges the fee automatically.Drivers who want to avoid the drop-off charge altogether can use East Midlands Airport’s Long Stay car park, where parking is free for up to one hour. A shuttle bus runs regularly between the car park and the terminal.Motorists who believe they have been wrongly issued with a parking charge also have options to challenge it. If APCOA rejects an initial appeal, drivers can take their case to POPLA (Parking on Private Land Appeals), an independent body that reviews private parking disputes.Consumer groups also recommend keeping bank statements, payment confirmations and app receipts if a parking fee has been paid. These records can help support an appeal by showing that the driver made a genuine attempt to pay the required charge.
