The UK’s competition watchdog has fined Euro Car Parks almost half a million pounds after it failed to respond to a legal notice that required the company to provide information.
So-called information notices are often used to gather evidence as part of assessing whether the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) should open an investigation. It is a legal obligation to comply with such notices; they are not optional.
Euro Car Parks was issued with an information notice in July 2025. Despite seven separate attempts by the CMA to obtain a response, including delivery by registered post, by hand, and multiple emails to company directors, Euro Car Parks did not respond to the CMA for three months.
It was only after the competition watchdog told the company it was proposing to issue a fine did Euro Car Parks respond and begin to provide the necessary information.
Euro Car Parks said it thought that the CMA’s emails were fraudulent and attempts to scam the firm, so blocked them.
The CMA did not consider this a reasonable excuse and imposed the £473,000 penalty against Euro Car Parks in December 2025 – the first issued under its new fining powers.
Euro Car Parks also tried to stop the CMA from naming the company, including by applying to the High Court for an injunction.
Further information:
https://www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/euro-car-parks-hit-with-473k-fine-by-competition-watchdog