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FRUSTRATION: Kinda Hajaj with the bailiffs letter

A WOMAN claims she has lost her car and irreplaceable possessions because of a mishandled parking ticket.

Kinda Hajaj, 24, of Station Road, Sidcup, says she thought her car had been stolen when bailiffs seized it from the driveway of her family home, and reported the loss to police.

But worse was to come. She notified Bexley Council of an appeal against the proceedings and says she was told it had contacted the bailiffs Chrichtons, to tell it not to proceed with sale of the car.

Nevertheless, the car was sold. So Miss Hajaj then began a battle to retrieve the contents of the car.

She said: “I was in the process of moving back home, so there were clothes, a box of CDs and books and a box with my most personal possessions, including all my diaries.

“Bexley Council kept telling me I could have all the things from my car. I telephoned and wrote asking where my stuff was. Then they told me it had been destroyed. I haven’t even had an apology.

“They have asked me to fax over details of what I have lost, but my diaries cannot be replaced.” The saga began in August 2001 when a penalty notice was issued against her N reg Ford Fiesta. Miss Hajaj, who was at university at the time, claims she never received any notification of the parking fine, nor any of the follow-up correspondence, including notice of the warrant granted to Chrichtons, of St Mary Cray, to seize the car.

She says the bailiffs failed to tell her they were taking the car, in March this year. After finding a piece of paper jammed at the bottom of the letterbox notifying her of the seizure, she started legal action to prevent the car being sold.

She added: “I am now left with no car and no possessions and in the meantime, I have paid the original parking fine.” Former Bexley Council leader Councillor Mike Slaughter, who has taken up the case on Miss Hajaj’s behalf, said: “I find the situation very disturbing.” He now wants to hear from anyone else who has had similar problems.

Stanley Chrichton a director of the bailiffs told the News Shopper he denied all Miss Hajaj’s allegations but said he was prevented from commenting further for legal reasons.

A Bexley Council spokesman said: “This case is currently being examined to ensure the correct processes have been carried out by the council and its enforcement agencies.” He added that the council sends three letters to the registered owner of a car before instructing bailiffs which would also send three letters before acting on a warrant to seize the car.

9:03am Tuesday 1st July 2003

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