Nairn driver fights back in Inverness parking dispute
A WOMAN pursued by debt collectors for a parking fine is concerned her “distressing” experience might be repeated for vulnerable motorists.
Alison Barson, from Nairn, used the controversial Inverness city centre Strothers Lane car park on May 8.
She claims she paid for a two-hour ticket and returned to her car within the allocated time but two weeks later received a demand for £100 from Smart Parking, who told her she had overstayed.
This was despite the firm’s own photographic evidence showing she had parked for just over an hour and the nursery teacher claims she lodged an online appeal.
She heard nothing more until returning from holiday on July 26 when she opened a debt recovery letter demanding £170.
Contacting the firm again Smart Parking said they had no record of Mrs Barson’s appeal, but offered to recall the case from debt collectors and charge her £100.
By now, Mrs Barson said, Smart Parking had changed its story, claiming the penalty was actually levelled for her typing in the wrong
vehicle registration number at the ticket machine.
Mrs Barson was ultimately cleared of any wrong-doing and had her “fine” refunded, but despite this remains concerned.
“There are clearly flaws in how they operate,” she said. “I had to go to great lengths to prove there had been a mistake.
“With debt recovery letters, it really is distressing. I worry about others, particularly the elderly and vulnerable.”
Smart Parking defended its methods, which it said were designed to “stop parking abuse” at Strothers Lane.
“To achieve this, we use a highly-efficient automatic number plate recognition parking management system which treats all motorists equally,” a spokesman said. “Numerous signs across the site clearly explain terms and conditions of use, including the need to correctly enter your registration number. Mrs Barson did not do this and so naturally received a charge.
“Although we did not immediately receive the associated appeal, once we did we cancelled the charge as an act of goodwill and returned the associated payment.”
