A FORMER soldier has hit out at a parking company after he was fined £100 for arriving at his pre-booked space just one minute early.
Tim Spearing and his wife Leanne drove for four hours from Lowestoft, Surrey into Central London to see the late-Queen lying in state, only to be slapped with the fine.
The couple had booked the space through JustPark for 8pm on September 17 but were told by Parkingeye that they had arrived fractionally early and so would have to pay up.
Tim told The Sun Online that they had even driven around a nearby roundabout until his Audi's digital clock ticked over to 8pm to make sure they weren't parking outside there slot.
He said: "It's just so mean. I didn't know I was in the wrong. It's so black and white"
The company maintain that the fine was due to improper booking through a third party site and say they have cancelled it.
READ MORE UK NEWS
Moment monster says ‘I’ve murdered 4 people’ after killing mum & 3 kids
Nurse is SACKED for taking two tablets to treat her headaches while she worked
Tim and Leanne apparently made a "spur of the moment" decision to join the queue, which saw them stand in line for 14 hours to pay their respects to Her Majesty, who Tim had met several times during his time in the Household Division.
They also added a touching personal element as they brought with them a walking stick that belonged to Tim's nan, who sadly passed away this year at the same age as the Queen.
Leanne held the stick up as she walked past the late monarch's coffin in a lovely and meaningful moment for the family.
Tim fumed: "It was worth it until these people…I'm glad we went but this has ruined it."
Most read in The Sun
Dad of children killed by monster at sleepover with pal says 'my life's empty'
Vernon Kay’s pantomime is cancelled – leaving devastated kids in tears
I bought my son £12 Christmas jumper from Peacocks but I didn't notice huge mistake
Molly Mae ‘mum shamed’ by fans fearing for her safety over latest huge purchase
The Army veteran added that it hurt the couple all the more given that they had both served their country, including his service in Bosnia in 2001-02 and Leanne's work as a frontline ICU nurse during the pandemic.
He said: "You can't say we haven't done our bit…this is such a kick in the teeth.
"I know it's only £100 but it's the principle of it."
Tim sent a letter to Parkingeye appealing the fine and says he was told to contact the independent ombudsman to take the complaint further.
However, the ombudsman rejected his appeal with what he called a "cut and paste response" telling him it was his responsibility to pay for extra time spent in a private car park.
A dejected Tim said: "I don't see the point in an ombudsman. There's no human element…it was just a cut and paste response."
A spokesperson for Parkingeye said: "The car park at the Redbridge Lodge Hotel in London is monitored by ANPR camera systems and has prominent and highly-visible signs throughout providing guidance on how to use the car park responsibly.
"The hotel also has an agreement with JustPark to generate additional income from its parking spaces.
Read More on The Sun
Vernon Kay’s pantomime is cancelled – leaving devastated kids in tears
Angry father slams flight attendant for not letting his baby sit in empty seat
"The motorist paid for his parking space through JustPark however he failed to register his details in the terminal within the hotel to validate his booking."
However, they went on to confirm that they had cancelled the fine, adding: "We would urge all motorists when appealing to provide full details and any mitigating circumstances to ensure we can fully investigate and give the appeal full consideration."
Source: Read Full Article
