The private operator of car parks in the city and Woden will refund fines issued to Canberra drivers and donate $10,000 to charity, after breaching consumer laws.
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ACT Attorney-General Simon Corbell said Wilson Parking Australia will refund some paid fines and waive unpaid notices issued between February and April this year at the Woden Green car park in Easty Street and the London Circuit Section 63 car park, near University Avenue.
The decision follows an agreement with the Commissioner for Fair Trading over car park signage and fine notices.
The ACT's parking authority, the Office of Regulatory Services (ORS), received complaints about possible breaches of consumer law involving pay stations which could not be distinguished from ACT government ticket machines and a lack of signage indicating drivers had to pay for parking on weekends.
One driver complained that a "parking breach notice" issued by the company could be mistaken for an offical ACT government parking fine.
Wilson took over parking enforcement operations at the two car parks on February 1.
The commissioner found Wilson had conducted its operations "in a manner which was misleading or deceptive, and made representations which were false or misleading".
Mr Corbell said the breaches related to parking fines which were described as being enforceable "under local council by-laws", which was not the case.
"The Australian Consumer Law prohibits a business from making false or misleading representations or engaging in misleading or deceptive conduct," Mr Corbell said.
"When made aware of the ORS concerns Wilson accepted there were issues with its signage at the car parks between February 1 and April 9 2014 and voluntarily ceased enforcement activities whilst engaging with the ORS about the matter."
The company has agreed to make changes to parking fine notices issued to drivers and to signs in the car parks areas, and will attempt to refund drivers who paid fines during the nine-week period.
Any outstanding parking notices will also be waived and changes will be made to the wording of terms and conditions.
"Wilson has also agreed to make a donation of $10,000 to Snowy Hydro South Care, and to undertake a six-month review of its policies and procedures," Mr Corbell said.
The order is enforceable for one year, and requires the company to make some changes within a month.
Wilson will also be required to ensure car park operators are compliant with regulations, including when establishing new car parks or taking over facilities previously controlled by the government.
The London Circuit car park was bought by Leighton and Mirvac for a record $92 million in 2008, and the site has been slated for redevelopment but no tenant has yet been secured.
