Motorists have been issued a stark warning to double-check their receipts after a local resident was hit with an eye-watering £1,405 charge for station parking. The train passenger paid for a one-day stay at Watford Junction’s car park in Hertfordshire via chip and pin, expecting the cost to be a mere £10.
However, when they left the car park later that day in mid-July, they were blissfully unaware that the company credit card used had actually been charged more than 140 times the expected amount.
The astronomical charge was eventually spotted by the anonymous local’s employer on the company credit card statement, which showed the payment had gone to West Midlands Trains, the parent company of London Northwestern Railway. After requesting a refund via email, the overcharge was promptly repaid.
Nascot councillor Mark Hofman was alerted to the issue and has since warned car park users to meticulously check their receipts and statements. The Liberal Democrat expressed his shock at the level of overcharging at the Watford Junction car park, stating: “I think the level of overcharging seen here at the Watford Junction car park is truly shocking.”
He added: “London Northwestern railway should be urgently reviewing how this has been allowed to happen and apologise to any commuters who have been impacted by their error.”
A spokesperson for London Northwestern Railway responded to the incident, saying: “We are sorry that this error occurred. The customer has been refunded and an investigation into how the charge came about is underway to prevent it from happening again.”
The news comes a week after the Express reported how a driver finally triumphed in his David and Goliath legal battle with a major parking firm following a bizarre FIVE year row – over a £1 parking ticket.
Nigel Richardson took on Euro Car Parks after he was relentlessly pursued over the £1 debt – which he didn’t even owe as he had paid for his parking.
A court eventually ruled in his favour earlier this summer, although he eventually made off with just £20 for his troubles.