Liverpool serviceman fined £90 for stopping at John Lennon Airport barrier for 30 seconds

A Liverpool serviceman was fined £90 at John Lennon Airport after he was stuck behind a barrier for just 30 seconds.

Paul Carroll, who is serving in Cyprus, lashed out at the “disgraceful tactics” of the VCS parking company, which controls the area on behalf of the airport.

Dad-of-one Paul, 40, had returned to Liverpool at Christmas to visit family and get some “much-needed rest and recuperation”, he told the ECHO.

He and wife Emma had hired a car from Budget car hire at JLA and were trying to return it when the barrier to the car park would not open.

He said: “Upon returning the car the barrier refused to open for the lady in front and caused a four-car queue while she got the attendant to come and open it.

“During this time the VCS employee in the van at the end of the road snapped us for stopping.”

The couple were sent a £60 invoice from VCS for stopping on a public highway.

Furious Paul, from Old Swan , said: “We never stopped to pick up or drop off. We stopped because the Budget barrier made us. What do they expect? Are we all meant to drive around aimlessly hoping the barrier would be miraculously fixed?

“To add insult to injury Budget added on a £30 administration fee for paying an invoice on my behalf, saying it is in their terms and conditions.”

Documents seen by the ECHO show that the first picture taken of the car by the VCS parking vehicle was at 16:23:00 on December 23.

The third picture, showing the front wheels of their car turned towards the entrance as they move into the Budget car park, was taken at 16:23:30 - just 30 seconds later.

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It happened to me, just ignore all the letters they send you they cannot make you pay, have a little read on google.

But honestly just ignore it, I did and thy was over 8 months ago.

According to the report, it's already been paid by Budget, which makes things a bit more difficult.

sounds like a nice little earner between budget and VCS. £10 for budget and slip a £5 to VCS driver..... . Might be worth a no win no fee solicitor taking it up.

Echo story says its been refunded

The charges were overturned after Paul complained, but not before the money was automatically taken out of his account.

It comes weeks after a family were fined for stopping on a road outside the airport for just 13 seconds. They were fined £100 for pulling over briefly to pick up Jaki Gregory’s 70-year-old father.

A spokesman for the airport said they are satisfied Paul’s charge should be withdrawn.

The spokesman said: “Now that VCS are aware of the circumstances they have agreed to refund the cost of the PCN to the car hire company and we will liaise with them to ensure that Mr Carroll is not out of pocket.

“Having only recently received Mr Carroll’s appeal, it was still going through VCS’s internal appeals system. VCS do not pursue motorists who offer genuine mitigating circumstances.

“This demonstrates that drivers have the opportunity to explain their particular circumstances and if valid, their PCN will be withdrawn.”

So he did pick someone up and was trying his luck to some extent. I wouldn't have given in mainly on the grounds he was trying to mislead.

Different case.

If its a public highway, then I don't understand how a private company can charge.

Nearly all public highway parking tickets are issued by private companies these days.