A DRIVER took his car to a repair garage only for it to be returned with two parking tickets.

Fabian McQueen, 21, dropped off his Fiat Punto at Jay’s Auto in Bromley, to get the gearbox fixed.

The Kingston University student says he was told to park it in front of a small garage in Homesdale Road.

However, two weeks after collecting the car in May he received a letter from the council demanding payment for two parking penalty tickets totaling £260.

According to Bromley Council, the vehicle incurred the fine for being parked in nearby Havelock Road.

Mr McQueen's appeal against the fine was unsuccessful and his mother, Rosemarie, agreed to pay off the tickets to prevent the penalty from increasing.

Mr McQueen said: "It’s appalling service. I feel really used.

"I couldn’t believe it when I got the letters in the post about the tickets.

"I feel really bad that my mum had to pay.

He added: "She doesn’t have a lot of money so it feels unfair.

After numerous phone calls and a trip to the garage itself, News Shopper finally tracked down Jay’s Autos' manager.

The man, who would only identify himself as 'James', claims the incident occurred under a previous owner.
He said:"I've said I'm not going to accept liability and I'm not going to deny responsibility."

"I can't pay it because I've got a young child and it's taken me a bit of time to get sorted here."

He claimed he had taken over the business after the previous owner had been "moved on because of other problems".

The manager also claimed he had put up notices inside the garage declining any responsibility for parking tickets.

Deputy council leader Councillor Colin Smith said, "It is a harsh lesson, but hopefully this publicity will serve as a warning to other motorists to be cautious of the service provider they select to avoid finding themselves in a similarly upsetting situation in the future.”

Cllr Smith also suggested that Mr McQueen could pursue the issue in the small claims court.