Widow hit with £100 fine in post after visiting terminally-ill husband | UK | News


A widow fined £100 by a car park operator after visiting her terminally-ill husband in hospital has had it overturned after taking the firm to court.

Barbara Rhodes parked in the Wigginton Road car park in York, North Yorkshire, so she could visit her husband Philip, who had been diagnosed with cancer the day before.

She said she didn’t have enough change to pay cash for her parking, so downloaded an app to pay using her mobile phone.

But Barbara claims the “site code” at the car park was a number short, meaning she was unable to complete the transaction.

Minster Baywatch, who manage the car park, disputed this, saying that “over 100 other users on the day in question successfully used the site and payment method”.

After the incident in March last year, Barbara received a letter stating she was to be fined £60 and that it would rise to £100 if she didn’t pay within two weeks.

She then appealed this to Minster Baywatch and POPLA an independent appeals service for parking charge notices but both were rejected.

Phillip died in August last year, aged 77, and despite receiving more letters from Minister Baywatch, Barbara refused to pay.

Barbara, who worked in the food industry before retiring, said: “I thought, ‘I’m not standing for this’. I wouldn’t stand for it all 5ft 1in of me. When I dig my heels in, I’m a proper Yorkshire Terrier.”

The case later went to court and was heard at the County Court at Leeds Combined Court Centre in West Yorks., on August 16.

A judge dismissed the claim and nobody from Minster Baywatch turned up, but Barbara, of Micklefield, West Yorks., says she is satisfied with the outcome.

She said: “Minster Baywatch have a license to go after people. Most people would just roll over and pay, which is my opinion

“They didn’t turn up at court which wasn’t really a surprise. If I can do it, anyone can. It’s a matter of standing up to them and not being intimidated.”

Minster Baywatch have been contacted for a comment.

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