Euro Car Parks Fined £475,000 for Ignoring Regulator Requests | CMA Action
- Euro Car Parks, a company well-known for aggressively pursuing parking fines, has itself been penalized February 13, 2026, by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) with a fine...
- The CMA issued an information notice to Euro Car Parks in July 2025, requesting data relevant to a yet-undisclosed inquiry.
- Euro Car Parks’ defense, as relayed to the CMA, centered on the claim that the regulator’s emails were blocked due to a belief they were fraudulent attempts to...
Euro Car Parks, a company well-known for aggressively pursuing parking fines, has itself been penalized , by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) with a fine of £473,000. The penalty stems from the company’s failure to provide information requested by the regulator as part of a potential investigation, marking the first time the CMA has levied a fine under its newly expanded powers granted in .
The CMA issued an information notice to Euro Car Parks in , requesting data relevant to a yet-undisclosed inquiry. Despite seven attempts to secure a response – including registered mail, hand delivery, and multiple emails to company directors – Euro Car Parks remained silent for three months. It wasn’t until the CMA threatened a fine that the company finally began to cooperate, providing the requested information.
Euro Car Parks’ defense, as relayed to the CMA, centered on the claim that the regulator’s emails were blocked due to a belief they were fraudulent attempts to scam the firm. The CMA rejected this explanation as unreasonable, ultimately imposing the £473,000 penalty in . The fine represents 75% of the maximum fixed penalty the CMA can impose for such a breach, which is capped at 1% of annual turnover.
The company further attempted to prevent the CMA from publicly naming it in connection with the fine, filing an injunction with the High Court. However, the court dismissed the application earlier this week, clearing the way for the CMA to disclose the penalty.
Hayley Fletcher, the CMA’s senior director of consumer enforcement, emphasized the importance of responding to information notices. “These requests are essential tools that help us understand the facts and get to the bottom of potential infringements of the law. It is a legal obligation to comply… they are not optional,” she stated. Fletcher also highlighted the additional time and resources the CMA was forced to expend due to Euro Car Parks’ non-compliance.
“This is the first time we’ve used our new powers to fine a company for failing to respond to such a notice,” Fletcher added. “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’s action underscores a growing trend of increased regulatory scrutiny of private parking companies in the UK. While Euro Car Parks is frequently the subject of complaints from drivers alleging unfair practices – with numerous accusations of aggressively pursuing fines for minor or questionable infringements – the CMA clarified that it currently does not have an open consumer enforcement case against the company. The regulator also stated that the imposition of the fine should not be interpreted as an admission of guilt regarding consumer protection law violations.
The information notice requested that the data be provided via email to parking@cma.gov.uk and through the CMA’s Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP), indicating the regulator was prepared to handle potentially sensitive information securely. The CMA’s willingness to utilize its new fining powers signals a more assertive approach to enforcing compliance with information requests, potentially deterring other companies from similar obstructive tactics.
The case raises questions about the internal processes at Euro Car Parks and the rationale behind blocking communications from a government regulator. While the company’s claim of suspecting fraudulent activity may appear plausible in an era of increasing cyber threats, the CMA’s dismissal of this explanation suggests a lack of due diligence in verifying the legitimacy of the communications. The incident also highlights the importance of robust internal communication protocols to ensure that legitimate regulatory requests are not inadvertently ignored or dismissed.
The £473,000 fine, while significant, represents a relatively small fraction of Euro Car Parks’ overall revenue. However, the reputational damage and the precedent set by the CMA’s action could have a more substantial long-term impact. The company now faces increased scrutiny from both regulators and consumers, and may be compelled to review its internal compliance procedures to avoid future penalties.
The CMA’s enforcement action is likely to be closely watched by other companies operating in sectors subject to similar regulatory oversight. It serves as a clear warning that failing to comply with information requests can result in substantial financial penalties and damage to corporate reputation. The case also reinforces the CMA’s commitment to utilizing its expanded powers to ensure fair competition and protect consumer interests.