Widow hit with nearly $8,000 bill for 45 minutes of hospital parking in California; here’s what happened

A woman in California was charged around $8,000 in parking fees after she visited a hospital for 45 minutes. Responding to the exorbitant parking bill, the exorbitant bill was the result of a computer glitch. According to PEOPLE, the woman received a full refund almost a week later.

The woman, who parked her vehicle for 45 minutes at a hospital last week, said that she was shocked to return to a nearly $8,000 fee. Cate Daniels went to Glendale Memorial Hospital for a medical appointment on Friday, July 25, 2025, only to get a charge of $7,829 as she was leaving the lot, local stations KCAL and KABC reported.

The ordeal felt extra stressful for Daniels because her husband had passed away from cancer about a year earlier (2024). Speaking to KCAL, she said that the ticket said she’d been parked since July 3, 2022, rather than less than an hour. When she questioned an attendant for assistance, she was accused of being in the lot for three weeks, she stated.

Charge shouldn't have happened, garage operator says

According to KCAL, the operator of the garage, Parking Company of America, said that the charge shouldn't have happened. According to the hospital, the erroneous charge was a result of a computer glitch.

"On Monday, we were made aware of a billing error by the parking company that resulted in an overcharge for one guest," a hospital spokesperson tells PEOPLE in a statement. "Once notified, the parking company promptly acknowledged the mistake and began processing a refund."

Committed to ensuring positive experience: Hospital spokesperson

The spokesperson said that the hospital is "committed to ensuring a positive experience for everyone who comes to our facility." On the request for comment, Parking Company of America did not immediately respond.

Nearly a week later, on Thursday, July 31, Daniels got a full refund check from the parking company, reports KABC.
"I remember what it feels like to be in this state of crisis with health and with my husband," she told the outlet. "Nobody needs something like that to have to contend with in the midst of all of that."