Man fined £100 by airport despite paying £5 drop-off fee

East Midlands Airport issued two £100 parking fines to Kevin Smith, a 68-year-old man, even though he had paid the £5 drop-off fee for both visits using the airport's official app. Smith had used the rapid drop-off zone to drop off and later collect his son, spending nine and six minutes respectively within the zone. He paid the £5 charge for each visit, as stays under 15 minutes are permitted for that fee. However, the fines were triggered because Smith completed the digital payment while his car was still inside the zone, violating a technical rule in the app's terms. The airport uses an ANPR system without barriers, requiring payment online or by phone before midnight the following day. APCOA, the parking operator, stated that customers are advised to leave the drop-off area before making a payment. An East Midlands Airport spokesperson added that signage has been improved. Following an appeal, APCOA has since cancelled one of the £100 penalty notices.

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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.