DRIVERS are being urged to report private car park operators suspected of overcharging and misleading people in new a clampdown against bad practice.
The charity Citizens' Advice Scotland is calling on people to put their worst experiences of private parking firms online in an effort to bring better regulation of the system that it is claimed is allowing some operators to charge what they choose.
Car parking operators including those working on behalf of major supermarkets and shopping centres are being targeted by citizens' champion CAS in the campaign, called It's Not Fine, launched today as part of a "consumer fightback".
The push comes in the wake of a 50 per cent increase in the number of Scots asking for CAB advice about private car parks in the last year, taking the number of queries to more than 3,600.
Customers are being charged up to £200 for overstaying allotted time slots by as little as half an hour.
A CAS report details problems advisers have seen including unclear signs which means in many cases drivers do not know how long they can park and how much they will be charged, if at all.
It said parking tickets can also be misleading, using terminology similar to statutory charges by local authorities.
It is also claimed some private car parks do not follow industry charging guidelines.
CAS said it will take its report and recommendations to major retailers and car park operators, and also the Scottish Government, asking it to regulate the industry in a similar way to south of the Border.
Margaret Lynch, chief executive of Citizens Advice Scotland, urged drivers to come forward.
She said: "The evidence we are presenting today will strike a chord with many drivers. This is an issue that has affected thousands of people across Scotland.
"To the parking companies we say clean up your industry and offer a fair deal to your customers.
"To the Scottish Government we say introduce regulations so that Scottish drivers have the same protections as those in England and Wales.
"And to drivers themselves we say make sure you know your rights and that you stand up for them."
She added: "I want to be very clear that we are not telling people not to pay parking tickets.
"We have no problem with charges which are levied fairly, with clear terms and conditions, appropriate signage and robust appeal mechanisms. What we are talking about is those parking companies who don't use proper signage, charge inflated fees and then fail to respond properly to people who appeal."
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