A mum from Catford says she has been left feeling “targeted and victimised” after being slapped with 13 parking fines despite having a valid permit.
Ashleigh Gordon, 30, lives alone with her 11-month-old baby on Bowness Road and says she has been left “sick and tired” of fighting the tickets.
She told the News Shopper: “It’s really trivial to other people but it’s getting me down now."
Ashleigh changed her vehicle last year after saying she could no longer afford her previous car.
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Because she was not in a position to be accepted for finance, the vehicle had to initially be put in her mum’s name.
But Ashleigh lives on a resident permit road and contacted Lewisham Council to explain the situation.
She said: “We was told from the dealership that we couldn’t change the logbook into my name because it was in my mums name.
“I contacted Lewisham council and explained I am a resident.
“They said they wouldn’t give me a resident permit because they couldn’t confirm it was mine, although I provided my insurance details."
The vehicle was eventually changed into Ashleigh’s name in March this year after her mum contacted the finance company.
She said: “That was all changed over and even though Lewisham Council said it had to be in my name, they didn’t want to see it and just approved it straight away.”
Ashleigh pays monthly for her resident parking permit and says all of her payments are up to date and the permit remains active.
However, at the beginning of July, she started receiving parking notices claiming she did not have a permit.
She said: “From the beginning of July I was receiving parking notices saying that I don’t have a permit.”
“I have contacted Lewisham Council and they said there’s nothing on their system saying why I’ve got notices.”
A spokesperson for Lewisham Council said the PCNs issued to Ashleigh appear to have been caused by a “technical issue” affecting the recognition of her valid parking permit.
The spokesperson added: “We are working to establish the cause as quickly as possible.”
Ashleigh claims the parking warden's system was also showing that she did not have a valid permit.
She has complained to the council and is appealing every ticket.
Ashleigh received four tickets between July 2 and July 8, before the notices stopped for several weeks.
She then started receiving them again from July 26.
She has now received 13 tickets in total, with further notices issued on August 6 and August 7.
Ashleigh said: “Every day I am getting a ticket. I am paying for my permit. I’ve proved I am a resident, logbook is in my name and am paying for my permit.”
She said the situation has become increasingly stressful and that she has even complained to her MP.
She said: “I am sick and tired of it - I have complained and I'm appealing every single ticket. I know it takes 10 minutes, but it’s getting me down.
“I am finding myself going to the front window and checking if I’m getting a ticket.”
Ashleigh said she has received little information about the problem and has not heard back about all of her appeals.
The mum explained that four of the initial tickets were cancelled, but she continues to receive new ones. “I’ve got nothing back I feel like I am being targeted and victimised,” she said.
“Why me? I feel like a hamster in a wheel going round and round not getting anywhere".
A Lewisham Council spokesperson said: "We understand the concern and frustration this situation has caused the resident.
"We are actively investigating a technical issue that appears to have affected the recognition of this valid parking permit and are working to establish the cause as quickly as possible.
"Any Penalty Charge Notices issued in error will be reviewed and addressed accordingly. We will contact Ms Gordon and provide a further update once our enquiries are complete."
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