I was slapped with a £70 parking fine while visiting my dying wife in hospital even though I had a valid permit

A HUSBAND was slapped with a £70 parking fine while visiting his dying wife in hospital even though he had a permit.

Brian Foote, 47, went to see Nahruma Ahmed, 46, after she collapsed while waiting for blood tests.

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As he attended Manchester Royal Infirmary in the evening, he was given a parking permit the next morning which covered him for the previous day’s parking.

Tragically, Nahruma, who had leukaemia, passed away just eight days later.

But nine days after his wife’s death, dad-of-one Brian began receiving letters from Parkingeye – saying he had been hit with a £35 fine for parking without permission.

Despite having a valid pass, Brian claims the parking company continued to demand payment – and even increased the fine.

Brian, a litigation executive, slammed Parkingeye and said “I feel completely corporately bullied”.

He added: “To treat me in such a way is despicable and terrible.

“I’m not looking for sympathy here – I haven’t done anything wrong.”

A former paratrooper, he attended the hospital on June 20 after his partner was admitted to A&E.

She had been sent to the outpatient unit for treatment but had taken a turn for the worse while at the hospital.

After arriving late, Brian was provided with a parking permit by the hospital the next day and it was validated by car parking staff on site.

He even took a picture of the pass after it had been validated – showing that he was covered for parking on the exact date.

Sadly, Nahruma passed away on June 28, leaving Brian and family heartbroken.

Brian received the first letter from Parkingeye on July 7, in which they said they were charging him £35 for parking without permission.

Still dealing with the fallout of his wife’s death and knowing that he had a valid permit, he didn’t respond to the letter at the time.

He said: “I had lost my partner on June 28 so I didn’t open or deal with it, I just left it in a pile of letters.”

But Brian then received another letter in August, demanding £70 – double the original fee.

This time he provided the parking management company with picture evidence of his valid parking permit, as well as explaining his circumstances.

Expecting the matter to be resolved, he put the issue to the back of his mind, only to receive yet another letter on September 21.

Brian claims Parkingeye said it had not accepted his permit as valid – and demanded a payment of £70 or potential legal action.

He said: “On September 21, I received a letter threatening court as they’ve declined the official car pass I sent to them which authorised me to park there – and they’ve failed on their obligation to provide me with reasons.”

‘ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATING’

The heartbroken dad told how Nahruma was “very suddenly and completely out of the blue” diagnosed with leukaemia on August 30 last year.

“It was absolutely devastating and tore our family apart,” said Brian.

And he explained how Nahruma had to spend “90 per cent” of her time in hospital – meaning frequent car trips for him.

Brian continued: “Because of the nature of her condition the hospital provided me with regular car passes.

“I was her main carer so I was there every single day in hospital.

“She was passed to A&E and she was on over 20 different types of medication three times a day, I had to go up that evening.

“By the time I left it was about 11.30pm. The next day I spoke to the haematology department and asked for an updated and backdated car pass which is completely normal.

“They did so and I took it straight to the car parking staff at the barrier.”

Brian said he then gave them the pass, and is it was signed by the hospital and backdated, they filled out the rest of it.

He added: “I have no part in the car parking pass, it’s all done by the hospital and the car park staff.

“I asked them to hold it up against the window and took a picture of it.”

Approached for comment, Parkingeye said it had decided to cancel Brian’s fine after a “review”.

A spokesperson said: “Parkingeye provides a modern consumer-facing car-park management system which has enhanced accessibility and made parking at the hospital easier and safer for staff, patients and visitors.

“The system is designed to ensure the efficiency and smooth operation of the hospital by ensuring that patients, visitors and staff park in their allocated car parks.

“Following a review of the case we have cancelled the charge and have written to the motorist to confirm this.

“We would add that Parkingeye operates a BPA (British Parking Association) audited appeals process, which motorists can use to appeal their parking charge.

“If anyone has mitigating circumstances then we would encourage them to appeal.”