A stroke victim and his cancer sufferer wife were “hounded” by a parking firm after forgetting to display their blue badge while shopping.
David and Christina Lawrence were given a penalty for using a disabled space at a supermarket in Elgin.
They returned to their Ford Fusion after getting their groceries in the town’s Asda store and discovered an attendant from Smart Parking putting a £40 ticket on the vehicle.
The couple – who are both aged 76 – showed the man Mrs Lawrence’s blue badge permit and pleaded with him to waive the fine.
The attendant ignored their request, and Smart Parking ultimately increased the penalty to £120 and enlisted the service of a debt recovery agency as it tried to force the Lawrences to pay up.
But, after the Press and Journal intervened, the firm has performed a U-turn.
The couple were granted a disability parking permit because Mrs Lawrence is in recovery from stomach cancer, but Mr Lawrence suffers from occasional memory loss and had forgotten to put it on the windscreen of their car.
Yesterday the relieved couple, who have been married for 53 years, criticised Smart Parking for they way it treated them.
Mr Lawrence said: “I showed the man that we had a blue badge, but he just did not want to know.
“He was just talking about paying a £40 fine straight away, even though I showed him that we were allowed to park there.
“I am guilty of not putting my blue badge up, but I have been forgetful since my stroke and they hounded us, it’s as simple as that.
“I was losing sleep, it was worrying me so much.”
When the Lawrences refused to pay the fine it was increased to £70, and then to £120.
A letter from the Debt Recovery Plus agency warned that court proceedings would commence unless it was paid, and that the couple would have to cover costs for Smart Parking’s legal representation if the firm was successful in forcing them to pay up.
Mr Lawrence said: “It was the fact that the attendant in the Asda car park just would not listen to our concerns, and would not revoke the penalty when we showed him the blue badge, that got to us.
“He said we could appeal, but he should have lifted it there and then.
“He should have just ripped it up at that point but they were intent on getting money off us.”
A Smart Parking spokesman said the group operated an appeals process, but when the company was contacted by the Press and Journal is admitted it was in the wrong in pursuing the Lawrences for payment.
The firm said: “In situations like this people should send in a picture of their blue badge, to prove they are entitled to use those spaces, and the appeal will go through.
“Mitigating circumstances are taken into account.
“But the fine has been cancelled now, and the couple should just ignore any further communication they receive.”
Mr and Mrs Lawrence have lived in Moray for the past 38 years.
Mrs Lawrence is from Huntly, and Mr Lawrence, who was raised in Wales, moved to the north-east to work offshore.