Pensioner couple face bailiffs for £1 parking ticket

A WESTCOUNTRY pensioner faces being hounded by bailiffs for a parking fine over a £1 parking ticket she says she has paid.

Mary Jones, 72, and her husband, Mike, put the coin in a parking meter when they shopped at an Iceland store in Barnstaple, Devon. When the machine malfunctioned, keeping the £1 but not delivering a ticket, the couple were told by store staff it “should be OK”.

However, they did not realise that the car park belonged to Excel Parking and now they have had a letter demanding £170 – and warning if it is not paid they face a visit from bailiffs and a potential county court order.

Mrs Jones said she told her husband, who waited with the car, to “keep an eye out in case the chappie came along”. She added: “I had a word in Iceland to explain what had happened, and that I did not have a ticket. The lady doubled-checked and confirmed that should be OK.”

Mrs Jones appealed against the imposition of an original £100 fine, but the claim was rejected.

Excel Parking told her: “We are unable to accept your appeal. The signs at the car park make it clear that a valid ticket must be purchased for all vehicles which park or enter the park, giving clear notice that the land is private property and that a charge of £100 will be levied if vehicles park outside the terms and conditions displayed.

“Signs also state that when a ticket is purchased, the full and accurate vehicle registration number of the vehicle parked must be entered into the P&D ticket machine. The above detailed vehicle parked without payment of the parking tariff for the vehicle on site and you became liable for the charge advertised.

“We note your comment that you were unable to purchase a ticket because the machine was not working. In those circumstance you should have sought alternative parking or phoned the helpline. By failing to make payment for the period of parking question, you became liable for the charge notice issued.”

Iceland and Excel Parking have been contacted for comment.

Mrs Jones said the response has left her very angry. “I just cannot believe that, in all honesty,” she said. “They were told what had happened, that I wasn’t trying to con them out of a pound, and now I’ve been told to pay £170 with the threat that, if it’s not paid, the bailiffs are coming. I’m just furious.”

She said her pound went into the machine and did not come out, so the parking company have been paid. “Somebody is at fault,” she added.