A British mother has described her frustration after a missed £5 airport drop-off payment at Manchester Airport ballooned into a £170 fine, accompanied by threats of court action. Josie Eccles, 32, and her family were dropped off by her husband at Terminal Two on May 30. The couple forgot to pay the initial drop-off charge within the required 24-hour period. Eccles stated that they expected a penalty but found no record of a fine when checking the airport's payment portal shortly after.
Approximately two months later, a letter arrived from a debt collection firm, informing Eccles that the charge had risen to £170 and warning of further increases and potential court proceedings. Eccles expressed bafflement, as she had not received any prior correspondence, including the original parking charge notice. She claimed that when she attempted to appeal through the airport's car parking operator, APCOA, she was informed the appeal window had closed and the matter was already with debt collectors.
Eccles contacted the debt recovery firm, which she stated claimed Manchester Airport had evidence of a letter sent on June 5, but admitted it was not sent via tracked delivery. She emphasized that she had no intention of avoiding payment and only wished to pay the initial fine, which would have been £60 if settled within 14 days. She said she had no way of knowing about the escalating penalty without the initial notification.
According to Eccles, she received further letters threatening court action and a potential increase of the fine to £235. She stated that she was told by the debt firm that they would not investigate disputes and that her only options were to pay the £170 or face court, with Manchester Airport allegedly responsible for any legal action. Eccles also recounted attempting to resolve the issue through an online inquiry with Manchester Airport, which she claimed resulted in an automated response directing her back to the debt recovery company.
An APCOA spokesperson confirmed that the company had been in contact with the customer and offered the original charge of £60. The spokesperson stated that the customer has since made the £60 payment, and the matter is now resolved. The Daily Mail has approached Manchester Airport for comment.