A WOMAN was ‘baffled’ after being slapped with a massive parking bill from a popular airport.
A quick stop at an airport garage turned into a nightmare after she was charged $2,310 for less than a day’s parking.
A woman was left shocked after discovering a $2,310 parking bill[/caption]
She was issued the massive bill at a popular US airport[/caption]
What should have cost just a few dollars ended up leaving her bank account thousands lighter, all because of a glitch at one of the country’s busiest travel hubs.
Cheryl McConnell, who runs a small business inside Denver International Airport, normally pays $35 a day to park in the West Terminal garage.
But after a 14-hour shift, she swiped her card on the way out without double-checking the screen.
Later, she logged into her account and realized she had been billed a staggering $2,310.
“At first I thought it said $23, then I grabbed my reading glasses. I was like, what? $2,310?”, Cheryl told Next 9News.
A receipt claimed her car had been parked there since June, which is more than 94,000 minutes, or 65 days.
In reality, she had been there for less than a day.
Trying to get her money back was no easier.
Cheryl said she was bounced between departments, told to contact different companies, and warned it could take up to 14 days to process.
Cheryl’s husband questioned ‘how on earth‘ the process could take that long. He was simply told the size of the complaint list was “confidential.”
Eventually, after local reporters stepped in, the airport admitted the issue was down to a glitch in its system.
Officials confirmed an “unclosed ticket” dating back months had triggered the sky-high bill and promised Cheryl an immediate refund.
The airport insisted it wasn’t a widespread issue, but Cheryl is skeptical.
She says her husband has been shown incorrect charges before, including figures as high as $1,600, and has started taking screenshots for proof.
Denver International Airport now urges drivers to always check the exit screen before paying and to press the help button if the numbers don’t look right.
Driving nightmares
Drivers were recently stunned by an apparent parking loophole that sees penalty tickets cost less than paying for parking meters during special events in a major US city.
However, officials have since warned motorists that the trick can lead to hidden costs – or even the possibility of having their vehicle towed.
Elsewhere in San Diego, a driver was recently forced to pay a $2,000 repair bill after a thief stole the gas from his vehicle.
Speaking to reporters, Marco revealed that he immediately discovered a bizarre issue with his truck’s gas tank after he attempted to take his children to school.
It’s since been revealed he’s one of many residents in the same neighbourhood who have been forced to foot the bill on fixing their cars – after crooks drilled holes in the fuel tanks.
Recounting the moment he discovered the issue, Marco told Fox 5: “My computer dashboard said zero miles to empty, which is strange.”
He then looked under his truck to find drill shavings on the ground, before smelling gas and noticing the hole.
He added that the cost of replacing the damaged plastic gas tank is expected to be over $2,000 – as newer polyethylene tanks can’t be patched due to their expanding and contracting properties.
He said: “It’s infuriating and frustrating. I work in South County, my spouse works in North County, our kids go to school in the middle.
“It’s just not easy to live on one car.”
How to fight a parking ticket
You can avoid being ticketed by following all posted laws and ordinances, but sometimes mistakes are made
Like any form of citation, parking tickets are preventable by reading and obeying posted signage. However, when visiting a new city, or state, or in a hurry, things can be missed and mistakes are made.
Suddenly there’s a ticket you weren’t prepared to pay for. If the ticket is a surprise to you, there are a few things you can do to help your case when appealing a parking ticket.
- Carefully read the ticket. Look for errors like incorrect street names, license plate numbers, vehicle make and model, time and date, etc. Errors would then make the ticket invalid.
- Take photos. Of the vehicle in the parking space, lack of signage, or other vehicles that weren’t cited for performing the same parking job. If the ticket involves parking too close to something like a fire hydrant, a photo showing a reasonable distance would help your case. Make sure metadata with the time and date are accessible. Signs that are obstructed by trees, or are on bent posts, or aren’t “obvious” are great things to photograph, too.
- Make sure the statute that was violated is listed on the ticket. If not listed, the ticket is not valid.
- Promptly follow the appeal instructions on the ticket. All legitimate tickets will have directions for appeal. Waiting until the very last moment weakens your argument and can result in late fees.
- When in court, avoid these phrases as they reduce your credibility and weaken your argument: I didn’t know the law; I was on my way to move my car; I can’t afford this ticket; I’ve been doing this for years; or I checked with the parking officer, who said it was OK.
- Contact a lawyer. If you’re running into roadblocks and feel stuck, it may be best to reach out to a traffic lawyer in your area. Many have free case consultations.
Source: Reader’s Digest
