I was fined £60 for using disabled car park even though we displayed blue badge – it’s unethical

A PARKING company has been slammed as "unethical" after an elderly couple were slapped with a fine after enjoying a day on the beach.

Jean Hills, 72, and her partner Peter, 75, were shocked to receive the fine despite displaying a blue badge and paying for a parking spot.

The elderly couple decided to use the Spanish City car park during a day trip to Whitley Bay, Tyneside, on July 5.

After parking in a disabled bay and using their blue badge, Jean also paid for a parking ticket and displayed that on the dashboard too.

But the married couple were dismayed when days later they were handed a fine from parking firm HX Car Park Management Ltd.

After failing to appeal the £60 fine, Jean said she paid it out of worry as the company threatened to increase the penalty to £100 if she didn't.

She has since slammed the company as "unethical" and says the parking machines are "deliberately complicated".

Jean told : "We decided to have a day out at Whitley Bay and I wanted a disabled parking slot as my husband, Peter, is disabled and I thought it would be easier to get him in and out of the car.

"There was an extremely complicated machine and system to get a ticket, but I bought one and displayed it.

"We then had a couple of hours in Whitley Bay and thought no more about it."

The pensioner added that she felt she had followed all the instructions, and still was unsure what she had been fined for.

"Why would it issue me with a ticket if I'd missed something off?" she said.

"It seems the machines are deliberately complicated to catch people out. This company is unscrupulous to say the least.

"It totally took me by surprise - ethically, it's not right."

Jean added: "They might be able to say 'you didn't press the last button' or something on the machine, but I think, they might technically be in the right, but morally they're not.

"They're thieving £60 off me for absolutely no good reason whatsoever. I paid for my parking and displayed the badge.

"I've got no choice but to pay it, I can't let it get any more expensive, it's like throwing money down the drain."

Tyneside's Spanish City car park was also criticised last month when a professor was slapped with a fine after using a disabled bay - despite displaying a blue badge just like Jean.

Thankfully, the parking firm has since reimbursed Jean after acknowledging they "overlooked" Jean's initial appeal.

A spokeswoman said: "Ms Hills entered the incorrect registration when paying for the parking.

"As the site is managed by ANPR cameras, the full and correct vehicle registration is required to validate the payment.

"We do state this on signage throughout the car park as well as the pay and display machine.

"Despite this, we do allow a two digit error margin. Ms Hills only entered one digit incorrectly and our appeals team have overlooked this.

"We should have therefore accepted the appeal, however this was declined in error.

"We will be sending Ms Hills an email to advise that the PCN has been cancelled, to apologise for the error and reimburse the £60 she has paid."