An elderly couple has branded a parking firm as "unethical" after being fined £60 despite paying for a ticket.
Jean Hills, 72, and her husband Peter, 75, were on a day trip to the seaside when they were hit with the £60 fine from the Spanish City car park.
The married couple parked in a disabled bay, displaying their blue bade and Jean displayed their parking ticket on the dashboard.
But days later, she was stunned to receive a letter informing her that they had incurred a £60 charge from their visit on July 5, reports the Chronicle Live.
Jean said: "We decided to have a day out at Whitley Bay and I wanted a disabled parking slot as my husband Peter is disabled.
"I thought it would be easier to get him in and out of the car. There was an extremely complicated machine and system to get a ticket but I bought one and displayed it.
"We then had a couple of hours in Whitley Bay and thought no more about it."
Jean contacted HX Car Park Management Ltd, who operate the car park, to appeal the fine but she eventually paid the money after her case was rejected.
The pensioner, of Backworth, North Tyneside, said the company was "unscrupulous" with parking machines that are "deliberately complicated".
"In the letter, it's not clear what I've done wrong," she said.
"I've either not validated it or it hasn't registered that I've paid. But why would it issue me with a ticket if I'd missed something off?
"It seems the machines are deliberately complicated to catch people out. This company is unscrupulous to say the least."
Jean's fine was set to go up to £100 if she did not pay within 28 days.
"I appealed and explained that I've done nothing wrong but they rejected the appeal, no more explanation," she said.
"So I just paid the money because it just made me nervous. It totally took me by surprise. Ethically, it's not right.
"They're thieving £60 off me for absolutely no good reason whatsoever. I paid for my parking and displayed the badge.
"I've got no choice but to pay it. I can't let it get any more expensive, it's like throwing money down the drain.
"I'll not use that car park again, I bet a lot of people are getting caught out."
After Jean's case attracted further attention, the parking firm acknowledged that they had "overlooked" her appeal and apologised for the fine.
She will now be fully reimbursed by the company.
A spokesperson said: "Ms Hills entered the incorrect registration when paying for the parking. As the site is managed by ANPR cameras, the full and correct vehicle registration is required to validate the payment.
"We do state this on signage throughout the car park as well as the pay and display machine.
"Despite this, we do allow a two digit error margin. Ms Hills only entered one digit incorrectly and our appeals team have overlooked this.
"We should have therefore accepted the appeal, however this was declined in error. We will be sending Ms Hills an email to advise that the PCN has been cancelled, to apologise for the error and reimburse the £60 she has paid."
