A motorist who paid to park in Glasgow using a new online system was issued with a £30 penalty charge because a traffic warden was unable to make checks on a handheld device, it has been claimed.

A mobile phone application allows drivers to pay upfront instead of putting cash in meters and displaying a ticket.

But one motorist who used the system returned to his car in St Vincent Street to find a ticket.

Businessman Peter Samson said: “I paid via the app for two hours and half an hour before my parking period was due to expire a parking warden comes along and slaps a ticket on my car.

“When I returned to find the ticket I was confused and angry. I knew I’d paid for the parking and had both text and an email receipt.”

Mr Samson was told by council staff that he’d have to appeal the fine even though he had paid upfront but when the Evening Times contacted the council the ticket was cancelled.

He said the customer service team later admitted there are problems with the new system in a phone call but Mr Samson insists they should have ironed out any issues before it was launched.

He said: “I went to the parking headquarters in John Street and was initially told that I was the first to have a problem like this.

“However, when I spoke to a warden he revealed that I’m certainly not unique and that he’s aware of one driver who parks in Rose Street who’s had four tickets slapped on his vehicle when he’s used the app to cover his parking, and he said he was aware of many more unhappy drivers.”

Mr Samson was told that equipment issued to parking attendants doesn’t always allow them to go online.

He said: “The reason appears to be because of the signal not being strong enough to allow the wardens to check their machines - so if they can’t check, you just get a parking fine.

“The warden said the council told them move one way for a few feet, then the other way, and see if that helps.

“You’d think the system would have been properly tested to save wardens the indignity of doing a ridiculous dance in the street so that they can get a signal – and to save drivers from going through a lengthy appeals process.”

A spokeswoman for Glasgow City Council said: “We are aware of some signalling problems affecting certain parts of the city centre.

“In these circumstances parking attendants have been advised to contact their base to allow a supervisor to check the validity of any vehicle which is parked on-street without a ticket before issuing a penalty charge notice.”