Driver handed £300 parking fine for "mistake" entering number plate

A driver has been ordered to pay £300 in parking fines for only entering part of his registration plate.

Timothy Diep parked at Crompton Street car park in Derby city centre three times while visiting banks - but only entered the last three letters of his reg when logging the stays.

The 55-year-old decided to park his Toyota Aygo at the £1.50-an-hour car park, which is managed by Parking Eye, after finding out that it was cheaper than his usual space.

Mr Diep parked at the site on November 10, November 13, and November 17 last year, but received three separate letters ordering him to pay £60 for failure to pay.

Mr Diep said:

The grocery worker said he was “shocked” to receive the initial letters, which did not indicate the reason why he had been fined.

He also had no idea that he had to enter the full registration plate.

Days later, a friend wrote to the Parking Eye appeals department asking the company to drop the fines, giving proof of Mr Diep's receipts.

But a week later, Mr Diep received three “final notice” forms, warning him to pay £100 per fine, making the total £300 for three separate occasions.

Mr Diep claims the company "ignored" his letter.

Parking Eye warned him to pay the fines within 14 days or it could mean that he would be taken to court. His deadline to pay is January 7.

A spokesperson from Parking Eye confirmed that Mr Diep had been fined for the parking offences and pointed out that he had been charged because he had only entered the last three letters of the registration plate.

The spokesperson added that he could re-appeal the decision and he had to follow the appeal process on the back of the fines.

It also added there was no record of any letter being sent to the company.

Mr Diep said that he "didn't know" that the car park required him to enter the full registration and accepted he made a "mistake" but has hit out at the company for not replying to him.

Mr Diep said: