Editor’s Note: Before Drumheller Mail staff interviewed the victims in this story, they had asked for anonymity, citing not wanting to provide the ticket issuers with any more information than they already had obtained. This happens on a rare occasion, hence their identity is withheld for this story.
A Drumheller couple was left dumbfounded recently after receiving an overdue notice for a parking ticket apparently received when visiting Calgary on January 17.
However, the couple, who did not wish to be named, claim they were not even in Calgary that day, or for the whole month of January for that matter.
The late notice, received on February 26, was sent from Diamond Parking, a parking company operating in Canada out of Surrey and Edmonton. The notice claims the couple received a ticket while parked at 104 street and 80 avenue northwest in Calgary on January 17. It also states they owe $105.
The couple did recently go to Calgary, but on February 21, over a month after the parking ticket was dated. It was then, they suspect, someone took their licence plate number and later found their mailing address.
After receiving the notice, they headed online and found similar stories.
“We didn’t even get a ticket, we got a letter saying we were late paying for a ticket,” said one of the couple. “I had a bad, gut feeling that something wasn’t right. I went on the internet and that’s where I found other stories.”
What they found recommended to keep an eye on your credit rating, if necessary, only contact them by letter, ask them to physically prove you were there, and, most importantly, do not pay.
CBC in British Columbia reported similar occurrences to motorists in Vancouver in September of 2012.
Diamond Parking Regional Vice President, David Potter, admits mistakes do happen, but is willing to work to resolve any issues.
“It happens infrequently and, when we do, we immediately correct it. Sometimes it can be as simple as someone writing down a zero instead of an ‘O’,” said Potter. “People can go to our website and call me and we can straighten things out. They can also send an email, fax, or phone our parking services offices in Surrey. We are very open to listen to and settle any issues as fast as possible.”
Diamond Parking operates parking lots in Edmonton and is contracted to patrol the lots of various businesses who only allow customers to use their parking. They find a few common mistakes.
“It’s usually people who are surprised they are not allowed to park some place. For example, they didn’t see the signs. For pay parking lots, people decide to not pay or overstay their time,” said Potter.
For the Drumheller couple in question, they received their ticket in Calgary. However, Potter admits they do not operate in that city.
“No, we are not in Calgary,” said Potter.
The Drumheller couple hope other residents who have had the same experience come forward and contact the RCMP and be skeptical of similar notices appearing in their mail.
“There are a lot of people from Drumheller who go into Calgary to see a doctor or just shop,” said one of the couple. “It’s better to get it out there, so if anyone else runs across this, they know it’s not just them.”
If anyone has a similar experience, contact the Drumheller RCMP at 403-823-7590.
