Fine for student parked in her own flats' complex

A NEWQUAY student says she has been left "stressed" and "massively harassed" after receiving a parking fine of £145 – while parked in a designated bay in her own apartment complex.

Jessica Adams was issued a ticket earlier this year while parked in a legitimate visitor bay at The Spinnakers, on Pentire Avenue – where she lives.

The 32-year-old expected the fine to be wiped after she proved she was a resident and sent pictures appealing the charge which showed her permit was displayed.

Jessica admitted that her permit had folded back slightly at the top due to the heat on the windscreen but argues it was still clearly visible. However, the parking company – MBC Parking Solutions – has refused to back down.

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She says the whole process is "unfair", is affecting her health and that she is prepared to fight her case through the courts.

"I am confused, distressed and feeling massively harassed with the whole situation to be honest," she told the Cornish Guardian.

"I do not agree with the charge. I am a resident and my permit was displayed on my vehicle windscreen, as it always is, which I sent evidence of. I want the harassment to stop."

Jessica appealed the initial £50 parking charge four days after receiving the fine, but was later informed this had been rejected. She re-appealed but later received a letter from a debt recovery service stating she now owed an increased fine of £145.

Jessica said she will be seeking legal advice if the charge is not dropped.

The managing director of MBC Parking Solutions, who wished not to be named, said his company had issued the parking ticket "lawfully" and that the photos Jessica took are "nothing like" those the company have.

"What I imagine has happened is it's (the permit) fallen on the floor and she's picked it up, put it back in and taken a photo of it," he said.

"The photo she took is nothing like the one we've got. We deal with this kind of thing every day. If she parks in there without displaying a permit she shouldn't be there."

He argued that it was irrelevant that Jessica had proved she lived at The Spinnakers as she could have lent the permit to non-residents to use and which would not have been permitted.