This is another illustration of how a sense of humour can be very useful.

In 2000 we went to London to my cousin Ruth’s daughter’s wedding. We flew daytime from Toronto to London, arriving around 10pm.

The next day, half-awake because of the 5 hour time difference, I drove into Gants Hill, a few miles away from where we were staying, to rent my tux. I parked at the parking meter, which had a few minutes still left on the clock and ran into the tux rental shop to get some change. When I got into the shop the clerk was on the phone and when he put the phone down I started to order my tux completely forgetting about the meter.

After a while I remembered about the meter, got some change from the clerk and rushed out of the store to find a parking meter guy shoving a ticket under the windshield wiper. I was pissed, but I thought, what the hey, it’s all part of the expense of the trip. That’s what I thought until I saw the cost of the ticket.

When I saw the fine on the parking ticket I lost my cool and started imploring the parking meter guy to have some pity on a poor traveler. That got me nowhere. Back in 2000 that ₤60 ticket was equal to $120. Prior to coming to the wedding I was considering buying a tux. But due to finances at the time I decided to rent instead. So what really made me mad at the time was the fact that, for not much more than the cost of the rental and the parking ticket, I could have bought my own tux. Unfortunately the wedding was called off the next day. Fortunately, I was able to return the tux to Losner’s for a credit slip for the whole amount.

I wasn’t going to pay the ticket. I figured let them find me, I’m in Canada. But then it occurred to me that the car hire people had our credit card on file and that eventually we would be charged, not only for the ticket, but also a handling fee. So I thought to myself WWED “What Would Eta (my mother) Do” in this situation. And that’s how I came up with the letter and the last paragraph which I hoped would give them all a good laugh.

Dear Sirs;
Enclosed is my parking ticket and a copy of my airline ticket. Please note that I arrived at noon on the 28th June 2000 for a wedding on 2nd July 2000. The next morning I went to rent my tuxedo at Losner’s in Gants Hill. At noon I parked at a meter which had 13 minutes to spare. I had no change and no prior knowledge of parking meter costs. I went to Losner’s essentially to get change first and then return to rent my Tux! Unfortunately, probably due to time change and lack of sleep, I forgot about the meter and started to rent the tuxedo. Suddenly I remembered and ran out to the meter as the attendant was leaving this ticket. I cannot tell you how shocked I was at getting a 30 pound fine for a small infraction. The amount of 30 pounds is 3 times what would be charged in Toronto. It is worth noting that income in London is twice that of Toronto. I enclose what I can afford which is $30. 1 hope that this clears up the debt. I do not use charge cards.
Just to add insult to injury, the tuxedo cost me 37 pounds, the wedding was cancelled the next day and the sun never shone the whole time I was there. If that isn’t grounds for leniency on your part, I don’t know what is.
Yours truly
Russell Ross

A few weeks after I sent the letter I got this reply. It reads;
From Deborah Holmes, Chief Legal Council.
Please find returned your cheque. Sorry to hear that your visit was not a happy one. Regards, Deborah Holmes.

It was very nice of the Borough of Redbridge to return my money.

Two years later I came for another family wedding and returned to Losner’s with my credit slip in hand. By then the credit slip was crumpled and dog-eared, to say the least. As I gave the slip to the salesman I gingerly asked if he remembered me. He looked at the slip looked back at me and then announced “Yeh, sure I remember you, You ‘ere for anuvver wedding?” I replied that I was and he then said, laughingly,  “’ere if this bleedin’ wedding is called off, you ain’t gettin’ no more credit slips.”

Not only did he honour the credit slip, but he gave me a few more extras and upgrades.