In November last year, I parked in Elmfield Road, Bromley, and duly paid and displayed.

Upon my return about fifteen minutes later I was amazed to find a fixed penalty notice affixed to my windscreen.

I opened it to find it was endorsed: "Parked without clearly displaying a valid pay and display ticket or voucher". But, there on the top of my dashboard and in full view was my ticket, easily readable.

That same afternoon I visited the Parking Shop in the Civic Centre to protest at this violation of the system.

I was told I would have to appeal. I was incensed.

It was like talking to a brick wall.

So, I filled up the appeal form and left it with them.

Just before Christmas I received notice that my appeal had been rejected on the grounds that records made by the parking attendant indicated the expiry time and date were not clearly visible, preventing the attendant from checking the ticket was valid.

Without quoting the contents in full the letter went on to say: "Pay forty pounds now or one hundred and twenty pounds later".

There was an offer of a further appeal but the downside of this was the penalty charge was clicking upwards and a rejection of a further appeal would mean payment in full.

So I paid the forty pounds. I consider this system disgraceful.

On the word of a parking attendant we can be fleeced.

Consider this too; however much one appeals, the council has the full resources of the council tax payer to take court proceedings with the final threat of the bailiffs.

The final words of the council's letter are breathtaking: "Due to the number of letters we receive, it will not be possible to enter into further correspondence until the formal Notice to Owner is issued to the registered keeper".

One can only wonder why that is.

Alan Cater
Willersley Avenue
Orpington