MP Attacks Council for 'Hounding Motorists' with massive fine threats

12.00.00am GMT Tue 4th Feb 2003

Vincent Cable, MP, is to refer Richmond Council to the Local Government Ombudsman after two cases in which motorists who had committed minor parking offences, but appealed against them, were threatened by the council's debt collectors - which attempted to charge £800.

Vincent Cable said: "Most people including myself incur parking fines from time to time and, however galling it may be, we accept that the fine is legitimate. But if the grounds for the fine are dubious there has to be a due process of appeal."

"What is inexcusable and seems to have happened in the case of Mr Tyrer is that when appeal papers are misplaced - in this case by the council - the council's next recourse is the use of court summon,s bailiffs and massive charges."

"Telephone calls and letters are not answered; just more and more pressure from debt collectors who will add their fat percentage to the charge."

"The council has gone down the very dangerous path of using debt collectors as a first resort, not a last resort."

"I shall refer the matter to the Local Government Ombudsman as I have Ealing which employs the same intimidatory tactics".