WHILE I sympathise with taxi driver Peter Coussons at the shock of finding bailiffs on his doorstep demanding £640 for an unpaid nine-month £30 parking ticket, (Parking Fine Fury, July 19), it still doesn't alter the fact that it serves him right.

I got a ticket. I paid the £30 and went through the appeal process. This way, I thought, if I win the appeal I will get my £30 back rather than pay £60 if I exceed the 14-day limit on paying in the first place.

I lost the appeal. It cost me £30; I learned my lesson.

Look at it another way. If I got into his taxi and did a runner owing him £30, would he be happy?

I am sure he would move heaven and earth to find out who I was and then report me to the police.

They would charge me and I would end up in court. I would get fined, get told to pay compensation to him and have court costs to pay.

If I had paid him in the first place all this would not be necessary. He is in the wrong and he will get nowhere moaning about it.

PR Willey, Burnholme Drive, Heworth, York.