A parking row has engulfed a man after he was slapped with a whopping £250 fine over a £2.70 hospital parking ticket.
Gordon Clark has insisted that he "won't back down" from the situation "as a matter of principle".
Accompanied by his wife, Clark dropped into QE hospital in Gateshead in August 2022 to visit a friend, parking a Renault Captur for just over an hour.
When the man tried to pay the initial parking ticket, the machine flashed up with a message reading: "No payment required."
Just a fortnight later, a fixed penalty notice was bestowed upon the man for around £40 from the private company which oversees the hospital's parking, ParkingEye.
"I checked the registration with my wife and I inputted the number again and received the same message," Clark told the Daily Mail.
"We left the car park and returned home only to receive a parking charge notice through the post two weeks later.
"I have disputed this with ParkingEye however, their blind faith in the infallibility of their equipment has kept them pursuing me since, questioning my honesty and integrity.
"My wife and I are both retired and have always paid our dues."
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
The motorist, 72, explained that he was receiving treatment for chemotherapy, while his wife is in the recovery process after major surgery.
Clark has also confirmed that he has written to the private management firm to demand an explanation from their supplier as to how the event played out as it did - both for him and other users of the car park who have also been afflicted with the same fine.
However, the motorist lamented that he has "never" received a response.
He explained: "I have never received a response but have instead received many letters stating they maintain their position, followed by threatening letters from a third-party debt collection agency and a court letter for over £250 for a less than £3 parking fee."
He claimed that the agency's language was becoming increasingly "threatening", suggesting that "most people have caved" since "they can't be bothered with the hassle".
Adding that he was "absolutely incensed", he said: "As far as we were concerned, there was no charge. As a matter of principle, I do not want to pay it."
A spokesman for Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust said: "While we do not have the full details of Mr Clark's case and so cannot comment on his situation, we are sorry for any distress caused by this issue.
"ParkingEye is an independent contractor which manages the car parking payment and penalty notice system on our behalf.
"If patients or visitors speak to us about parking issues, we will always try to assist, particularly where people have had problems with the payment system or exemptions.
"Although Gateshead Health is not involved in the operational management or the enforcement of ParkingEye's policies, nor in the issuance of fines, we will offer advice and assistance where possible."
GB News has approached ParkingEye and Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust for comment.
Find Out More...
Gordon Clark has insisted that he "won't back down" from the situation "as a matter of principle".
Accompanied by his wife, Clark dropped into QE hospital in Gateshead in August 2022 to visit a friend, parking a Renault Captur for just over an hour.
When the man tried to pay the initial parking ticket, the machine flashed up with a message reading: "No payment required."
Just a fortnight later, a fixed penalty notice was bestowed upon the man for around £40 from the private company which oversees the hospital's parking, ParkingEye.
"I checked the registration with my wife and I inputted the number again and received the same message," Clark told the Daily Mail.
"We left the car park and returned home only to receive a parking charge notice through the post two weeks later.
"I have disputed this with ParkingEye however, their blind faith in the infallibility of their equipment has kept them pursuing me since, questioning my honesty and integrity.
"My wife and I are both retired and have always paid our dues."
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
- 'There's work if you want it!' Residents in left-behind town urge locals to stop claiming benefits
- Dad-of-four dies five days after he was brutally attacked outside Wetherspoons pub
- Trans sex offender who took 800 'voyeuristic' pictures of men in Aldi toilets jailed
The motorist, 72, explained that he was receiving treatment for chemotherapy, while his wife is in the recovery process after major surgery.
Clark has also confirmed that he has written to the private management firm to demand an explanation from their supplier as to how the event played out as it did - both for him and other users of the car park who have also been afflicted with the same fine.
However, the motorist lamented that he has "never" received a response.
He explained: "I have never received a response but have instead received many letters stating they maintain their position, followed by threatening letters from a third-party debt collection agency and a court letter for over £250 for a less than £3 parking fee."
He claimed that the agency's language was becoming increasingly "threatening", suggesting that "most people have caved" since "they can't be bothered with the hassle".
Adding that he was "absolutely incensed", he said: "As far as we were concerned, there was no charge. As a matter of principle, I do not want to pay it."
A spokesman for Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust said: "While we do not have the full details of Mr Clark's case and so cannot comment on his situation, we are sorry for any distress caused by this issue.
"ParkingEye is an independent contractor which manages the car parking payment and penalty notice system on our behalf.
"If patients or visitors speak to us about parking issues, we will always try to assist, particularly where people have had problems with the payment system or exemptions.
"Although Gateshead Health is not involved in the operational management or the enforcement of ParkingEye's policies, nor in the issuance of fines, we will offer advice and assistance where possible."
GB News has approached ParkingEye and Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust for comment.
Find Out More...