ON August 6, I wrote a cheque for £30 for a parking ticket issued on July 31 and posted it in the envelope supplied. However, it would now appear that NCP Ltd carelessly mislaid this and I recently received a "Notice to Owner".

I have challenged this but submission of my cheque book counterfoils and the fact that several colleagues could verify that I signed and despatched the cheque are not deemed to be "proof of posting". Indeed I have been advised that, even if I can supply this, "it does not mean that this will be accepted" and so have been obliged to pay the exorbitant sum of £60. One wonders how often this happens?

I cannot let this matter rest without expressing my disgust at the despicable tactics of these agents of Bury MBC who skulk around empty car parks just before 6pm in a deliberate attempt to catch out the unwary who rarely park near the town centre and do not realise that parking charges are in force so late in the day.

It is just easy money, and yet another means of ripping-off the long-suffering residents of Bury.

We have to contend with concealed cameras to catch us committing minor traffic offences, watchful weasels waiting to punish trivial parking violations, and legalised mugging in the form of escalating council tax. It is regrettable that this ruthless efficiency does not extend to the area of service provision.

S. JOHNSON,

Old Doctors, Tottington.