I wish to record my serious concern regarding a Parking Charge Notice issued by APCOA Parking (UK) Ltd following a brief drop-off at Manchester Airport Terminal 2. The circumstances and the subsequent handling of my appeal raise legitimate questions about the fairness, proportionality, and transparency of APCOA’s operating practices at this site.The alleged contravention occurred at night on 17 October 2025, during hours of darkness and light rain. The vehicle entered the Terminal 2 forecourt directly from a roundabout exit, where signage is minimal, unilluminated, and positioned in such a way that drivers cannot safely read or process the information without compromising road safety. Google Street View imagery (May 2025) confirms that there was no dedicated lighting for the tariff boards at this entry point at the time of capture. Even if lighting has since been installed, this does not alter the fundamental issue, drivers approaching from a roundabout cannot possibly read, process, and understand detailed payment instructions in the few seconds available while maintaining safe control of their vehicles, particularly during hours of darkness or poor weather.The problem is therefore not merely one of illumination, but of unsafe and impractical sign placement.APCOA claims that the site is “clearly signed” and that the driver should have been aware of the charge. This assertion is simply untenable. Under the British Parking Association (BPA) Code of Practice, Clauses 19.3–19.4, operators must ensure that signage is “conspicuous, legible, and visible at all times, including during the hours of darkness.” That requirement was plainly not met in this case. It is unreasonable to expect a driver to read small print about online payment while navigating a roundabout exit at night.According to APCOA’s own photographic evidence, the vehicle was present for less than three minutes, entirely consistent with a legitimate drop-off and with no intent to park or evade payment. Such a brief stop cannot reasonably constitute a breach of contract when the driver had no practical opportunity to understand or accept the terms in question.Furthermore, the tariff structure at this forecourt is wholly disproportionate. The airport’s Short-Stay Car Park (T2 Multi-Storey West / P3) charges £6.40 for up to 15 minutes, yet the forecourt demands £25 for just over 10 minutes, and imposes a £100 penalty for any non-payment, even in cases of clear confusion or first-time use. This discrepancy undermines any claim that the system exists to manage traffic flow, it appears instead to function as a revenue-generating mechanism targeted at unsuspecting visitors.APCOA’s rejection of my appeal failed to engage with these substantive issues and merely repeated standardised text about “cashless systems” and “clear signage”. This kind of response, devoid of factual analysis, does not reflect the conduct expected of an AOS-approved operator under the BPA Code.In my view, APCOA’s current operation at Manchester Airport T2 constitutes a misleading and unfair commercial practice, contrary to the spirit of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, particularly Schedule 2, paragraph 6, which identifies disproportionate financial penalties as an unfair term.I strongly suggest other drivers to avoid the Terminal 2 drop-off zone altogether and instead use the short-stay car park, which offers clearer signage, better lighting, and more transparent pricing.
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APCOA Parking AG is Europe's longest-established full service parking management company.
