LOUGHTON: Store cancels 'unfair' fine after Guardian steps in (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

LOUGHTON: Store cancels 'unfair' fine after Guardian steps in

8:00am Friday 3rd February 2012 in Epping Forest News By Clare Hardy

Des Taylor with the demand from G24

A DIY enthusiast had a fine he claimed was unfair written off, after the Guardian stepped in.

Des Taylor, 60, of Staples Road, Loughton, parked at Homebase in Church Hill at 8am for about half an hour while he picked up what he needed to do up his bathroom.

He returned to buy more decorating materials from the shop later in the day and left at about 4pm, but says the company that patrols the car park, G24, failed to record him leaving and he was sent a demand for a £70 fine.

Despite appealing to the company and being reassured by staff at Homebase that they would deal with it, he got another letter asking for the cash on Wednesday.

“I went to Homebase and gave them copies of my Nectar card receipts that show I was in the shop twice that day, but there was still no progress,” he said.

“I must have spent thousands of pounds on stuff in there over the years and the staff know my face.

“I only live in Staples Road – why would I want to leave my car in Homebase all day?”

After the Guardian called Homebase yesterday (Thursday), they told G24 to write off Mr Taylor’s fine.

A Homebase spokesman said: “After investigating Mr Taylor’s complaint Homebase has wavered the car parking fine.

“This was an administrative error by the car park cameras which only saw Mr Taylor’s car leave the car park after his second journey to store on the same day.

“Homebase always strives to provide the best possible service to our customers, and apologises for any distress this error has caused.”

The Guardian has asked G24 to comment.

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