Euro Car Parks: consumer protection enforcement case
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating suspected infringements of consumer law in relation to Euro Car Parks Limited’s (ECP) practices at petrol stations and their appeals processes.
Case timetable
| Date | Action |
| July 2026 to Spring 2027 | Initial investigation: information gathering, including issuing formal information requests and analysing the party’s responses |
| 15 July 2026 | Investigation opened |
Case opening
15 July 2026: The CMA has opened an investigation into suspected infringements of consumer law by ECP.
The CMA is investigating whether ECP’s practices at petrol stations and its handling of appeals may breach consumer protection law and, in particular whether:
- it’s fair for some drivers to receive parking charges while queuing for, or using, petrol pumps and other forecourt services such as car washes
- ECP’s wider appeals processes – relating to both petrol stations and car parks – breach consumer protection law
The CMA will now gather and analyse further evidence to determine whether the company has infringed consumer protection law.
At this initial stage, it should not be assumed that ECP has infringed consumer protection law and no finding has been made.
- Press release: Parking charges: CMA takes action to drive improvements for motorists (16.7.26)
Contacts
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Debbie Kitcher-Jones, Assistant Director
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Louise Strong, Director
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Sorcha O’Carroll, Senior Responsible Officer
Personal information
The CMA may collect, use and share personal data for its investigations. This includes processing personal data for the purposes of the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018.
For more information about how the CMA handles personal information, please read our personal information charter.