Bailiff threatened dad hits out over parking fine row

A WORRIED dad-of-two says he feels intimidated after receiving a letter threatening him with bailiffs, even though he made it clear he’d actually paid to park 18 months ago.

Herlas Cosmin says he has felt concerned about his family’s safety and all of their possessions after he received a letter from bailiffs demanding a payment of £170.

It stems from a dispute with Lancashire-based Car Parking Partnership which started on November 8, 2020, when he went to University Hospital Coventry to pick up his wife and their newborn baby. Mr Herlas says he parked for around 90 minutes and paid £3.90 when he left the site.

A few weeks later Mr Cosmin received a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) for the sum of £100 amid claims from CPP he had failed to pay. The 38-year-old protested his innocence and disclosed a copy of his bank statement, displaying the parking transaction, in a letter appealing the decision.

Many weeks later Mr Herlas, who lives in Rugby with his wife and their two children, received another letter from CPP. He ticked the ‘appeal box’ and sent the form back with another copy of the corresponding bank statement. “I thought that was the end of it,” Mr Herlas said. “But then, two weeks ago, I got sent a letter from the bailiffs asking for almost double the first amount.

“It has made me feel like I need to keep all the doors shut and keep my car away from the house because I don’t want them to clamp it or anything. I feel intimidated and threatened.”

In addition to the letters he has sent, the most recent as recorded post, Mr Herlas has attempted to contact CPP on numerous occasions, without success.

“I’ve been trying to resolve this for about 18 months now,” he added. “When you try to solve a problem and no one wants to help it is very annoying and frustrating. I have tried to solve it and I can’t. I contacted Citizens Advice because I didn’t know where else to turn. I believe it is unfair me having to pay a fine when I paid the car parking charges and I also have proof to show.”

Mr Herlas added: “The reason I went to the hospital was to pick up our second child. It should have been a happy experience, but all of this has happened. It’s a date I definitely can’t forget.”

Car Parking Partnership and Direct Collection Bailiffs Ltd were approached for comment.