Woman wins fight to cancel parking ticket
A WOMAN who won an eight-week battle to get a parking ticket overturned has warned that vulnerable people could be put off from attending vital medical appointments.
Creina Mansfield, 69, was hit with a £70 fine following a visit to Waters Green Medical Centre, Sunderland Street, in central Macclesfield.
She left her vehicle in the nearby car park and logged its registration at the centre, which means she did not need to pay.
But within a week she had received a fine from ParkingEye, to be discounted to £42 if paid within 14 days.
Although the penalty charge has been rescinded in the last week, Creina says she faced a lengthy battle to get it overturned, receiving a number of letters from the company.
ParkingEye says the fine was overturned as soon as Creina, from Tytherington, responded to the letters.
She disputes this and said: “Anyone going to that medical centre is not going to be feeling 100 per cent.
“They may be distressed and this could put them off going to a necessary appointment.”
Creina said she was sent a total of four letters before the fine was cancelled.
“ParkingEye ignored the letters I sent providing evidence I parked legitimately and they said they were going to take me to court.
“Dozens of people could have gone through this, it is appalling. Even when the fine was cancelled ParkingEye said it was a ‘gesture of goodwill’ and never acknowledged they had done anything wrong.”
The car park is monitored by CCTV that has automatic numberplate recognition.
Visitors log their car registration with the health centre upon arrival so it tallies with camera records. Creina, who is married with two sons and two grandchildren, had gone to the centre in November and eventually had her penalty notice overturned last week.
A spokesman for ParkingEye said people should respond to its letters immediately.
He added: “ParkingEye is a member of the British Parking Association and operates an audited appeals process. Motorists are encouraged to appeal if they feel there are mitigating circumstances.
“In this case, once ParkingEye had processed the appeal the charge was cancelled.”