Motorist fined £170 for parking in Cardinal Park in Ipswich

Rosie Howe, from Ipswich, parked her car in Cardinal Park in November 2023, and used the ticket machine to pay, run by Euro Car Parks.

When entering her registration plate, the machine only registered the first initial, with the ticket being printed with just 'E'.

She said: "In what world would I enter the first initial of my number plate and leave it, so it must be a machine error.

Rosie Howe (Image: Submitted)

"I posted on social media and lots of other people have had the same issue as me with the machine not registering the number plate properly.

"I appealed this ticket, and Euro Car Parks denied this first appeal. Third party company POPLA denied my second appeal on the grounds of a major keying error, suggesting I am accountable.

"I'm fuming, it really irritates me.

The printed ticket that Rosie had (Image: Submitted)

"Euro Car Parks seem to deny all appeals because I received another fine from them, and POPLA did overturn this fine on appeal after ECP didn't.

"It's outrageous that companies like this think they can do that and take people to court when clearly their machines are at fault.

"I haven't parked in an ECP car park since and I won't do it again."

This issue is being looked at once again, after MP Dan Poulter contacted the car parking company over the situation.

The situation happened in Cardinal Park (Image: Google Maps)

Rosie was given the ticket after the machine error (Image: Submitted)

Miss Howe continued: "This whole process has caused me a lot of emotional stress and taken up so much of my time.

"I have tried but not been able to get on the phone with anyone from any of the companies mentioned who will discuss my case with me.

"I will continue to fight in my defence against this because it's not fair. I am being told to just pay the £170 and the appeal process is over."

Euro Car Parks has been approached for comment.