Car towed away day before man set to leave for new job

AFTER months of job-hunting former pharmaceutical manager Grant Paterson thought his luck had finally changed when he landed a plum job in England – only to see his plans thrown into chaos when his car was towed away with all his belongings in it.

The 46-year-old was hours from leaving for Lincolnshire to take up a management post with a drugs firm when he found his car had been lifted from Scotland Street in the New Town by parking attendants.

The move was a second blow for the 46-year-old, who along with his neighbours had the statutory notice bill for a weakened external wall soar from £1000 to £30,000 in recent months.

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Mr Paterson had let his parking permit expire as he prepared for the move and he left the MG saloon on the next street from his even though he knew he would face a £30 fine.

He said having taken out loans so that he did not lose his home he wasn’t sure how he would be able to pay the £180 to get the car back. He was told his car was taken away rather than just ticketed because a tow truck was at hand. Mr Paterson said: “I turned up yesterday morning and found it was gone. Because they don’t have to notify you I thought it had been stolen.

“It’s exceptional circumstance because I’ve finally got a new job and have come off benefits and I could have lost that job.

“It’s very difficult to explain to your new employer what has happened, and that all you’re belongings and equipment are in a car that you cannot afford to get back.

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“I tried to reason with the parking firm and explain that I could not miss my start date for work and would be coming into a good wage, but they would not budge. I hope by highlighting this perhaps something could be done to bring some flexibility.

“I’m trying to find a way to pay this. It’s very difficult because I’ve had to borrow so much money and it’s put me in a very difficult position.”

Mr Paterson said he was let go from his job as a team leader at a Livingston drugs firm after a lengthy period of ill health and after recovering spent much of this year unemployed.

He said although he will have to leave Edinburgh to take up the management position, he will have a job again.

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He said: “My new employers have been understanding and pushed back the start date by a day, but it shows a lack of flexibility in the system. Being unemployed, it’s very difficult to get back to work again and there’s a lot stacked against people.”