A routine visit to the doctor turned into a costly nightmare for a Southern California woman who was charged nearly $8,000 for just 45 minutes of parking at a Glendale hospital.
Cate Daniels had parked her car at Glendale Memorial Hospital last week for a short medical appointment. But when she paid at the parking machine, she was stunned to receive a receipt stating she had been parked there since July 3, 2022—over three years ago. The bill? A staggering $7,829, according to ABC Eyewitness News.
At first, Daniels assumed it was a machine glitch and drove off. But the situation became serious when her credit card was actually charged the full amount.
Shocked, she returned to the hospital to report the error—but says staff did not treat her concerns with urgency. “He looked at the ticket and said, ‘You’ve been parked here for three weeks,’” Daniels recalled. “I said, ‘I’ve been parked here for 45 minutes. Can I speak to someone about this?’ He refused to give me a name.”
Daniels, who lost her husband to cancer last year, said the experience felt especially overwhelming. “I remember what it feels like to be in a state of health crisis. Nobody needs something like that added on top of it.”
Eyewitness News reporters also noticed potential issues with the hospital’s parking system. At least one machine appeared faulty, and drivers were seen struggling to exit—some giving up and switching lanes due to pressure from cars behind them.
In a statement, Glendale Memorial Hospital acknowledged the incident and explained that it contracts with a third-party provider, Parking Company of America, for its parking services. A hospital spokesperson said:
“We were made aware of a billing error by the parking company that resulted in an overcharge for one guest. Once notified, the parking company promptly acknowledged the mistake and began processing a refund.”
Daniels is now awaiting the refund, but said the experience left her shaken—and determined to raise awareness so others don’t face a similar ordeal.
