Mum slams ‘bullying’ fine
Requests for new permit ‘ignored’
A MOTHER has hit out at a ‘bullying’ parking company that has caused her needless stress and frustration.
Charlie Day, who lives at Cooperage Green in Weevil Lane, Gosport, saw her parking permit transferred from Horizon Parking to CPM earlier this year.
When she switched her Vauxhall Agilia to a Kia Picanto, she tried contacting CPM to get a new permit – but her phone calls and emails all went unanswered.
Now, she has been slapped with a £100 fine for not having a permit, despite the company’s previous radio silence.
Charlie, 33, said: ‘It wasn’t until I phoned Horizon to ask for a new permit that I found out things had been moved to CPM. They didn’t send any letters out to residents.
‘Hyde Housing gave me an email address so I immediately got in touch with them, but never heard anything back. I tried calling as well but their phones just rang out.
‘Then last month they send me a letter fining me £100 for parking on private property – my private property.’
The mother-of-two appealed the decision, sending evidence of her ignored correspondence with the company.
But her appeal has been dismissed, and she now has 14 days to pay the fine, or face going to court.
She said: ‘The whole situation has been so stressful, but I'm up for the fight.
‘I’ve contacted the council and the ombudsman as well, because I just don’t see how they can get away with this.
‘They ignored me for months on end, then fined me because they couldn’t be bothered to contact me. It’s a real kick in the teeth.
‘These bullying tactics won’t work on me though – I’ll happily take them to court, I’ve got plenty of evidence that I did everything I can to get that permit.’
One of Charlie’s neighbours also bought a new car this year and was also fined by CPM, but has paid up.
Charlie believes that because the old permits were transferred, they have been targeted by what she describes as ‘disgraceful’ money-making tactics.
CPM was approached by The News for comment but did not respond.