THOUSANDS of drivers have been wrongly charged for parking at night in a blunder that lasted for nearly two weeks.

Evening parking charges started on November 1 and around 12,000 charges were paid until November 12 when Southampton City Council realised it had no basis to charge drivers as a new legal order had not been sealed.

Charges vary but based on the smallest charge possible - 50p - the council could have wrongly charged drivers at least £6,000.

The authority has displayed notices around the city's car parks in a bid to refund the money that was wrongly taken.

Most fees are set to be automatically refunded - but 2,500 need drivers to apply for their cash back.

READ MORE: Evening parking charges in Southampton to on November 1

Transport cabinet member Councillor Eamonn Keogh said: “We’re naturally sorry that this has occurred. 

"We ensured that an investigation took place to establish how this happened with relevant measures put in place to avoid a repeat of any such errors in the future.

"We have also endeavoured to ensure that, where feasible, appropriate actions have been taken to remedy the mistake.”

No penalty charge notices were issued for failing to display a ticket during this period.

Around 9,500 pay and display and transactions made on the PayByPhone app are now in the process of being refunded. 

The refund process may take up to two weeks to complete, the council said.

READ MORE: Southampton City Council brings back evening parking charges

A council spokesperson added: "The council formally apologises to all affected customers for the error, which was the result of officer oversight.

"The council has reviewed the processes in question to ensure that this does not occur again."

This does not relate to any evening charges at The Quays car parks, or Mayflower Park that are taken before the park closes, as the relevant order was already in place.

Card payments taken at barrier-controlled car parks in Bedford Place, Eastgate Street, Grosvenor Square and Marlands have not been able to be automatically refunded. 

Some customers would have also made payment by cash at either pay and display locations or barrier-controlled car parks - and these are not automatically refunds.

Anyone needing to ask for a refund can apply at southampton.gov.uk/eveningparking

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