Motorists who use pay and display car parks should keep their tickets for at least two months afterwards, a consumer website warned last night.
Some drivers have been wrongfully charged up to £100 in fines, but because the fines come in the post days or even weeks later, they do not have proof that they have paid because they have thrown the ticket away.
Most penalty ntices arrive within two months — but car park operators have up to six years to ask for the money under the statute of limitations.
Car parks often rely on security cameras, and if they do not pick up the numberplate properly on entering or exiting, an automatic charge notice may be sent out, the website MoneySavingExpert.com said.
One driver was fined £100 after parking legitimately at the Pleasureland amusement arcade in Morecambe.
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It turned out that she had made a single-digit error when entering her numberplate and, after intervention by MSE, the operator cancelled the fine.
MSE also advises taking photos of tickets as a permanent record.