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Eastbourne pensioner in bailiff threat even though fine was paid
A PENSIONER who paid his parking fine the day after the ticket was issued has been threatened with bailiffs and legal action.
Philip Marshall, of Devonshire Place, Eastbourne, parked in Eastbourne Railway Station's pay and display car park late in the evening on May 21 and thought he would not have to pay because of the time of day.
When he returned to his car he found a ticket from Meteor, the company which runs the car park, ordering him to pay a fine.
The 72-year-old said, "I held my hands up to it, wrote a cheque for 50 and sent it to the address on the ticket by Recorded Delivery."
The cheque cleared from Mr Marshall's bank account and he heard nothing from Meteor until a letter from debt collectors arrived around a month later ordering him to pay 125.
He wrote to the debt collectors and Meteor explaining he had paid the 50 fine promptly but didn't receive a response until another letter demanding 125 came through the post.
This was shortly followed by a solicitor's letter headed 'notice of intended legal action' which threatened to send bailiffs to his home address.
Mr Marshall said, "It really was very strongly-worded. I am the sort of person who will fight these things but others may cough up the money to get them off their backs."
When Mr Marshall contacted the solicitors he was told he needed to provide proof for his 50 payment but says Meteor ignored his requests for a receipt on numerous occasions.
After months of correspondence, Mr Marshall has recently received an apology from Meteor and has been told the account is now closed.
A spokesperson from Southern said, "Mr Marshall's account was closed within 30 minutes of the him contacting Meteor and they have since apologised to Mr Marshall in writing.
"Meteor says that they have checked all other outstanding cases and have discovered that this was an isolated incident."
Mr Marshall is now warning other residents that the station car park is not free during the evening and is advising those who have been issued with a ticket to keep good records, such as Post Office receipts, to safeguard themselves.
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Weather for Eastbourne
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 13 C to 23 C
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