A motorist whose parking permit slipped from her dashboard was slapped with a £100 fine for parking in her own space in a private underground parking complex ant her apartment block.
Laura Armstrong, 32, from Worcester said that once she saw the fine she thought there would be no problem getting it revoked as she is the owner of the parking space.
But Laura, a marketing copywriter, was left fuming when the firm responsible for the fine "wasn't interested" in her pleas, and she now says she'll take it all the way to court.
The company responsible for managing the car park has refused to back down and insisted Laura pays up as the permit was not displayed at the time on July 19.
She says she is now prepared to take the legal battle with Parking Control Management (PCM) Ltd to court as she firmly believes they are in the wrong.
Laura, who works in marketing as a copywriter, said: "My permit accidentally slipped from my dashboard and I went down to my car the next morning to find a £100 charge.
"I thought that once I explained I was the owner of the apartment that the parking space is attached to, the charge would be revoked – but I was wrong.
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"They came back and said no, it wouldn't be cancelled. I got in touch with the firm that manages the apartment and they weren't interested either.
"It doesn't matter to them if you can prove you have a legal right to park there – which just seems like madness.
"I was occupying the space which had been allocated to me and I wasn't causing an obstruction or anything like that.
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"It's like they are out to punish residents rather than look after our interests and protect genuine permit holders. It just isn't right.
"The permit had just slipped off the dashboard – I thought they would be understanding as it was the first time it has ever happened, I thought they would have a heart."
She added: "The more I have talked to other residents about it, they say 'this is what happens'. A friend of mine who also lives at the apartments says this has happened to her twice.
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"Some people have said to me why don't I just pay, and let it go. But I don't want to give them any money.
"Most people back down when these companies start talking about bailiffs and things like that but I'm not going to.
"I'll go to court if it goes that far. I'm really angry this is allowed and I will be seeking legal advice from a solicitor if they refuse to back down."
Parking Control Management (UK) Ltd has been contacted for comment.
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