A driver from Bromley says she will "fight for what is right" after receiving a parking ticket when her car had broken down.
Claudine White was fined by Gemini Parking Services after parking outside a white bay at Crystal Palace Park in November 2021.
The 51-year-old told the News Shopper she had no choice but to leave her car outside the bay after the hand braking system on her car failed so she couldn't move the car any further.
She said as she was going downhill towards Crystal Palace Sports Centre she pulled into the park where her car "completely" broke down.
Claudine explained: “I couldn’t park the car within the white bays as the car shut down after I pulled into the bay.
“I didn’t have anything on me, not even my phone so I couldn’t call for any help or indicate that my car was broken down.
“There were no signs where I left the car, and nothing indicated that it was a private parking space.
“So I thought it was okay as the spaces were all empty and I wasn’t obstructing anyone.”
Claudine was then slapped with a £100 fine which she said left her devastated as she wasn’t able to do anything to move her car.
She tried to call Gemini Parking Services to explain the situation but felt that she was getting "ignored" when she couldn’t talk to anyone.
When she did get through, she says she felt frustrated as “no one wanted to listen”.
Because Claudine didn’t pay the original fine, she received two more letters with her fine increasing to £170.
Claudine explained: “I even showed Gemini an invoice from Renault which proved that my car had been repaired for the hand brake system problem the following week.
“They just didn’t want to listen to me.
“All they kept on saying to me, when are you going to pay the fine?
“They were just interested in the money.”
Claudine says she still hasn’t paid the £170 fine as she wants her voice to be heard - even if it means going to court over fit.
She is also warning other drivers to “be careful” while parking at Crystal Palace Park.
The News Shopper has contacted Gemini Parking Services for a comment regarding Claudine's parking ticket.
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