A company notorious for issuing fines has just been hit with a massive one of its own! Euro Car Parks, a name many drivers are all too familiar with for their penalty notices, is now facing a hefty £473,000 penalty from a regulator. This significant fine comes as a direct result of their failure to cooperate and provide crucial information to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
But here's where it gets interesting... The CMA, which is the UK's primary competition and consumer authority, had to take this drastic step because Euro Car Parks completely ignored seven separate requests for information. These requests weren't just casual emails; they were sent through registered post, email, and even hand-delivered letters, all over a period of three months! This is the very first time the CMA has flexed its new fining powers, granted in 2024, to penalize a company for such non-compliance.
When a regulator like the CMA is considering whether to launch an investigation into a company's practices, they issue what are called 'information notices.' These are not optional requests; businesses have a legal obligation to respond. The CMA revealed that Euro Car Parks, a company involved in providing payment systems for car parks, only started to engage after the regulator hinted at the possibility of a substantial fine.
And this is the part most people miss... When asked for an explanation, Euro Car Parks claimed they had blocked the watchdog's emails because they believed they were part of a scam. A rather convenient excuse, wouldn't you say? The CMA, however, found this explanation “did not consider this a reasonable excuse” and proceeded to impose the penalty in December 2025.
Adding another layer to this saga, the CMA also disclosed that Euro Car Parks attempted to prevent their name from being published by seeking a high court injunction. However, this legal maneuver was refused earlier this week. It seems the company was quite determined to avoid public scrutiny!
Hayley Fletcher, the CMA’s senior director of consumer enforcement, emphasized the critical nature of these information requests. She stated that they are “essential tools that help us understand the facts and get to the bottom of potential infringements of the law.” She firmly reiterated, “It is a legal obligation to comply… they are not optional.” By stonewalling the regulator, Euro Car Parks forced the CMA to spend additional time and resources to gather the necessary information.
Fletcher further highlighted the significance of this action: “This is the first time we’ve used our new powers to fine a company for failing to respond to such a notice. It sends a clear message: firms that don’t reply to our requests or refuse to comply risk facing penalties like this one.”
The CMA decided to fine Euro Car Parks 75% of the maximum possible fixed charge, which amounts to £473,000. This is a substantial penalty, as the regulator has the power to issue fixed penalties of up to 1% of a company’s annual turnover for such breaches.
Now, it's worth noting that many drivers have voiced complaints about Euro Car Parks, accusing them of unfairly demanding money for alleged parking rule violations. However, the CMA was clear that no consumer enforcement case is currently open against the company, and “no assumption should be made that it has infringed consumer law.”
So, what do you think? Is it fair for a company that issues so many fines to be hit with such a massive one for not cooperating with a regulator? Or should companies always be expected to comply with official requests, regardless of their own practices? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
