William Eichler 19 November 2015

Woman charged £6,500 for one hour of parking

An accountant was charged over £6,000 for one hour of parking while she paid a visit to her financial advisor.

Ruth Ritchie, 60, used a mobile phone app called PayByPhone to pay for her parking in Granville Street car park, Swindon.

She believed she was paying £1.20 but, it turns out, she paid £6,500 for 4,000 hours of parking.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Ms Ritchie highlighted the irony of the situation: 'I was going to see a mortgage broker as I'm buying a property. I would need a mortgage to pay for that parking.'

Insisting to the Daily Mail that she didn't type in the wrong information, Ms Ritchie blamed the payment system and asked: 'How can someone even pay for 4000 hours of parking upfront?'

In a statement the council said: 'Unfortunately, the customer made an error in keying in her details and asked for over 4,000 hours of parking instead of 1 hour. The system always asks drivers if they want to authorise any payment before money is taken, and approval was given.'

'This does happen from time to time, although seldom for such large amounts', they added.

The company that deals with the parking fees told the council that the money has been refunded

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Principal Transport Planner (Strategy)

North Northamptonshire Council
£46,731-£49,764
We are looking for an experienced professional to join North Northamptonshire Council as a Principal Transport Planner (Strategy). Sheerness House, 41 Meadow Road, Kettering moving to Haylock House, Kettering Parkway, Kettering NN15 6EY, United Kingdom
Recuriter: North Northamptonshire Council

Highways Capital Delivery Manager

South Wales Trunk Road Agent
£50,788 - £52,805
To be responsible for the implementation of Welsh Government’s Renewal and Upgrade programme. Baglan, Port Talbot
Recuriter: South Wales Trunk Road Agent

Senior Engineer x 2

Hounslow London Borough Council
£47,532 –£55,620 per annum
Our people are deeply committed to providing excellent services to our residents, doing all we can to make lives as good as they can be. Hounslow (City/Town), London (Greater)
Recuriter: Hounslow London Borough Council

Part Time Prison Library Assistant - HMP/YOI Chelmsford

Essex County Council
£25081.00 - £27653.00 per annum + Pro Rata
Part Time Prison Library Assistant - HMP/YOI ChelmsfordFixed Term, Part Time£25,081 to £27,653 Per Annum, Full Time EquivalentLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Head of SEN Assessment & Resolution

The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council
£77136 - £88230 per annum
Shape a fairer future for children with special educational needs.As Head of SEN Assessment and Resolution at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chel England, London
Recuriter: The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council
Linkedin Banner