Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
National
Keiran Fleming

Dying Glasgow pensioner with months to live chased by debt collector over parking fine

A Glasgow pensioner has been left worried sick after she was chased by a parking company and debt collector for over two months, even though she did nothing wrong.

On April 28 Isabel Gallagher drove to the Marks and Spencer at the Braehead Shopping Centre and parked in the disabled spot outside of the store.

The 80-year-old, who has only been given six months to live due to a heart condition, forgot to place her disabled parking badge on her dashboard and later received a fine from Premier Park, who operate the facility.

The pensioner appealed the ticket and the company agreed to cancel the ticket days later, however she was chased for two months by the company and debt collectors, Debt Recovery Plus.

READ MORE: First picture of Dunbartonshire teen who died in horror crash on holiday as girlfriend heartbroken

Isabel's daughter, Jan McGowan told Glasgow Live: "My mum was going to the Braehead shopping centre and she was parking at the disabled bay outside Marks and Spencers.

"She's had a disabled badge for 20 years.

"She also sometimes forgetting wee things, so she forgot to put her disabled badge up. She received a fine for £50 and I told her she wasn't paying it because she has a disabled badge.

"I appealed the decision and was told it could take 35 days to sort it out, but then a couple days after we received an email saying that it had been upheld. My mum then received a letter for £100, so I tried to contact them again but it was impossible.

"Later a debt collector sent her a letter and they tried to tell her it was a separate incident, but it wasn't. I was worried that this was all going to put her over the edge."

The pensioner enjoys going on trips from her home in Barrhead to the shopping centre, however, the battle with the companies chasing her for cash has truly shaken her.

As the dispute continued the fine increased to £100.

The caring daughter said: "My mum is frightened that every time she parks in the space she'll get a parking fine.

"Braehead is really the only place she goes during the day to get a few messages but this has really affected her.

"She is worried that they are doing this to other disabled people. I looked up the company on Trust Pilot and there was a lot of the same issues being brought up."

After 61 days of fighting the fine the case against Isabel was closed.

But the pensioner didn't find out that the ordeal was over until she called Debt Recovery Plus herself.

Debt Recovery Plus confirmed to Glasgow Live that the case was closed on July 5.

Premier Park have also been contacted for comment.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.