Anger over car parking row

A St Andrews pensioner was astounded to be handed a £60 parking fine – even though he paid to park.

Peter McIntyre has since learned he was penalised by Smart Parking Ltd because of a minor mistyping of his car registration number in a town car park.

Lib Dem MSP Willie Rennie wrote to the company on Mr McIntyre’s behalf.

Smart Parking Ltd responded: “Having looked into the matter further I can confirm that the vehicle registration mark entered was NLO8YAK10 instead of NL08YAK. As the vehicle registration entered were incorrect, terms and conditions of the site were breached. By entering and remaining within the car park Mr McIntyre accepted the terms and conditions of the site, as such the parking charge notice remains outstanding.”

Mr Rennie is urging the firm to reconsider its “predatory behaviour”. He said it was unnaceptable that someone should be fined due to an “obscure loophole” and called on Smart Parking to apologise.

Mr McIntyre said: “Being on a pension, £60 is a lot of money for me and will be a real struggle to cover it. I paid for my parking in good faith and I am being asked for £60 for a minor mistake.

“When I tried to call them to sort it out I was on hold for over 45 minutes with no answer and there was no way for someone like me who doesn’t use the internet to appeal the charge.”