A man has branded a parking company an 'economic terrorist' after being slapped with a £100 penalty for a ticket he insists he paid for, during a poignant trip to buy slippers for his dying father.
A Distressing Trip to the Shops
Matt Browne, a 50-year-old engineer, visited the Waterfront Car Park in Walsall in February last year. His mission was to purchase special slippers for his terminally ill father, Philip, whose feet had become swollen due to treatment and limited mobility.
Mr Browne paid £1.50 for two hours of parking. However, the machine issued a ticket that only displayed the first letter 'P' of his vehicle's registration plate, rather than the full number. He claims this was a clear machine error, as a ticket should not print without valid details.
Months of 'Threatening' Letters and Grief
Weeks after the errand, Mr Browne received a Parking Charge Notice (PCN) from Euro Car Parks, which manages the private car park. The fine was initially £60, rising to £100 if disputed.
Despite explaining the apparent machine fault, he was pursued for months by the firm and an associated legal firm with what he described as "threatening" letters. This battle occurred during an intensely difficult period, as he was dedicating himself to caring for his father. Philip Browne passed away in September last year, but the demands for payment continued.
"I took ten months off work to care for my dad," Mr Browne said. "We had a really special relationship. This parking fine incident happened while I was trying to make his last months comfortable."
Fighting Back with a Counterclaim
Refusing to back down, Mr Browne has now applied for a counterclaim in the courts against Euro Car Parks. He is seeking damages for "stress, harassment and loss of earnings" incurred during the dispute.
"I'd rather go to court than pay something that I know I've already paid for," he stated. "I don't have it in me to bow down to these economic terrorists."
Intriguingly, after he filed his counterclaim and incurred further costs, the communication from Euro Car Parks and their lawyers ceased. "I don't know what's happening. I'm out of pocket. The case is supposed to be going through to court. But Euro Car Parks aren't responding to me," he added.
Walsall Council confirmed the car park is privately operated and therefore outside its direct jurisdiction. A spokesperson noted, however, that the authority would monitor for any wider patterns of concern. They added that if evidence of unfair practices—such as persistent machine faults—emerged, their Trading Standards team could investigate.
