By Graeme Strachan

NURSES HAVE been warned they could be stripped of their possessions if they do not pay parking fines incurred at Ninewells Hospital, it has been claimed.

It is the latest twist in a long-running drama surrounding the hospital car parks, run by private operator Vinci Park Ltd.

Senior staff nurse Celia Findlay claimed she reported the harassment to the police after being warned action could be taken to seize her goods for sale at public auction to pay off the “debt.”

Nurses have been receiving debt collection letters, solicitors’ letters, court summonses and “menacing” phone calls from agencies for failing to pay parking tickets they say they never received.

In some cases the nurses say they were not even at work at the time the alleged parking took place.

They have been receiving notices for almost a year from debt firms acting on behalf of the car park operator.

In September, Vinci Park admitted employees incorrectly received the letters due to a “technical error,” but the letters have continued—along with phone calls.

“Usually I just look at them and bin them, but the latest one (solicitors’ letter) threatened to send round the heavies if I didn’t pay up,” said staff nurse Findlay.

“I decided to report the matter to the police. I’ve been continuing to receive letters and it’s harassment.”

The letter demands she pay £117 or legal proceedings will begin.

The fine is £20 but the solicitors firm has added on a claim issue fee, judgment costs, a warrant issue fee and its own costs.

For the past year, she has been receiving notices for two parking fines of £20 each on two dates, although she claims she was not at work at the time of both and did not receive a ticket.

“I’ve been told to pay within seven days or bailiffs will turn up at my door,” she said.

“I’ve got a young child and it’s frightening to think of people turning up on the doorstep.”

One nurse, who did not wish to be named, said she had been the victim of “menacing” phone calls from debt agency companies demanding she pay up—despite her number being ex-directory.

“Where is it all going to end?” she said. “It is becoming increasingly invasive on my private life.

“It is turning quite nasty. I had about three phone calls just before Christmas from a debt collection agency harassing me and I asked them where they got the phone number from, which is ex-directory.

“They said they got it from the DVLA, but I don’t know if that’s possible.

“I feel that this is harassment. They have been quite menacing in the way they’ve spoken.”

She also received four letters in two days for alleged parking offences, demanding £200 in fines.

A spokesman for the car park operator said, “Vinci Park is more than happy to look into the individual nature of each inquiry.

“Should anyone dispute the charges, they should contact the contract manager on site who should be able to resolve the matter.”

Anyone affected should call 01382 668182.