05/11/2025
TAXI DRIVERS CRITICISE NCP OVER PARKING CHARGE ISSUES AT GATWICK AIRPORT
Brighton cabbies are “slamming” NCP for what they claim are wrongfully issued PCNs at Gatwick Airport. They allege that fines result from NCP’s “own system” and “terrible” camera recognition.
Mohammed Ahmed, chairman for the United Taxi Driver’s Association, stated the issue “discourages” drivers from taking trips to the airport: “We have a WhatsApp group of hundreds of drivers and every day without fail there’s a message saying they have been issued a PCN for entering and leaving Gatwick Airport.”
“We don’t have this issue at Heathrow, Luton or Stansted - so why can’t the NCP and the airport get it right?”
Drivers subscribe to the NCP AutoPay app, which is meant to automatically take payment when a vehicle’s registration is picked up by a camera upon entry and exit.
Mr. Ahmed called the number of times payment wasn’t taken as “astronomical” and questioned the system’s value: “What’s the point of us subscribing to the app if we’re getting fined for doing nothing wrong? These aren’t miniscule charges either, they could be worth the cost of a whole trip from Brighton to Gatwick.”
Andrew Peters of the Brighton and Hove Cab Trade Association also called the system “not fit for purpose” and said the PCNs “lack common sense.”
He advises that NCP “should stop sending out PCNs where they have failed to apply the parking fee to anyone subscribed to the AutoPay system.”
London Gatwick responded by saying it would be “working to upgrade” the camera systems and confirmed they are “working with our parking provider, NCP, to ensure vehicles are correctly recognised upon entry and exit from the airport.”
A spokesman added: “Any incorrectly issued PCNs will be cancelled directly through NCP.”
However, NCP said it “does not recognise any wider issues” with its camera systems and stated it was “confident” in its payment systems, despite being given examples of multiple parking charges related to vehicle recognition.
