Woman slapped with £100 parking fine after donating blood to save lives
30.06.2022 - 21:19
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A woman was hit with a parking fine while donating blood at a Worsley hotel - and then had her penalty ramped up to £100 after her appeal was rejected.
Caroline McKee, from Monton, said she was 'just doing a good deed' when she decided to give blood at the Novotel, Manchester West site, for the fifth time on May 23. However, just a few days after parking up and spending an hour donating her blood, she says she received a letter ordering her to pay £60.
She appealed the fine with Parkingeye, and says she even provided evidence that she had legitimately visited the site to give blood via a health appointment letter. But, this was then rejected, and her fine was initially increased to £100.
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Caroline said: "I went to the hotel to give blood for the fifth time. It has always been free, but unbeknown to me, Parkingeye have taken over and I didn't realise as I have never had to put any details in before.
"I parked up, was there for around an hour, and then got the fine. I thought it would be fine because I had proof that I had been there giving blood, so I sent off my appointment letter but the appeal was rejected.
"I cannot be the only person that has gotten caught out with this. It feels morally wrong. When you are trying to give blood, you are there doing a good deed, so it seems unfair to uphold the fine."
Caroline was told to pay £60 initially - but after she appealed it, the two week discount period had passed, meaning her fine had increased to £100. After the Manchester Evening News contacted the parking firm, they said they would reduce the charge to £20 as a 'gesture of goodwill'.
She added: "I didn't realise anything had changed, or saw any