A fuming OAP says she has been threatened with bailiffs over an £170 cark parking fine on her trip to supermarket Iceland.
Mary Jones, 72, left her car in a space she thought belonged to the store at their Barnstaple branch, but in fact belonged to Excel Parking.
She tried to pay for her stay and put £1 in a machine – but after neither a ticket or the money came back out, Mary left her husband in the car and carried on into Iceland, who assured her it would be okay.
But weeks after her shop, the pensioner was stunned to receive a letter from the car park demanding £100 that later rose to £170.
Mary told Devon Live: “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. (My husband) is more concerned with the fact they're threatening bailiffs. They threaten county court proceedings, the potential impacts of having a CCJ, a negative impact on your credit rating effect your current employment, although we’re retired anyway, so that’s immaterial."
She fumed: “Where do you go? Do I just ignore it? I’m more concerned about my husband because he's not fit at the moment to be under this stress.
“This letter is just stupid really. The pound went in, they've got the pound which I couldn't claim back which I would have been able to if I’d got a ticket anyway… Somebody is at fault aren’t they?”
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After her appeal was rejected, Excel Parking told Mary: “We note your comment that you were unable to purchase a ticket because the machine was not working.
“In those circumstance if 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 staff on site are not authorised to allow motorists to park in contravention of the terms and conditions displayed at the car park.
"It is the motorist’s sole responsibility to ensure they park correctly. If you were unable to park correctly, you had the option to phone the helpline for advice or to find alternative parking.”
The Daily Star has contacted Excel Parking and Iceland for a comment.
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