A pregnant mum found herself in a tough spot after stopping at a McDonald’s car park in Ashford, Kent, when she felt faint and worried about passing out at the wheel. Kimberley Terry, who was 16 weeks pregnant, pulled over for safety with her mum, only to face a £100 fine from a parking firm. Despite providing receipts to prove they’d made purchases during their two-hour stay, exceeding the car park’s 90-minute limit, their appeal was turned down. Kimberley, who later experienced a heart-breaking stillbirth, was met with no compassion from Met Parking Services. Letters demanding payment of the fine kept coming, increasing stress during an already difficult time.
Her mum, Dawn Wicks, expressed frustration, recounting how they were there to ensure Kimberley was fit to drive again. The company insisted their terms were clear in the car park but showed no empathy even after learning about Kimberley’s tragic loss. Dawn shared that they hadn’t sought medical attention that day since rest usually alleviated Kimberley’s faintness, a recurring issue in previous pregnancies.
Dawn highlighted the inhumanity of the situation, stating, “We weren’t trying to dodge the fee; Kimberley genuinely needed time to recover. It’s not like we were out shopping – we were in McDonald’s the whole time.” Even when informed of the loss Kimberley suffered, the parking firm maintained its stance. The £60 fine eventually rose to £100, adding further strain. Simply put, compassion was sorely lacking in this situation.