Could Only Happen in the UK

BMT (RIP) · 07-12-2009, 18:48

FROM THE LONDON TIMES
Outside the Bristol Zoo, in England, there is a parking lot for 150 cars and 8 coaches, or buses. It was manned by a very pleasant attendant carrying a ticket machine charging cars 1 (about $1.40) and coaches 5 (about $7). This parking attendant worked there solid for all of 25 years. Then, one day, he just didn't turn up for work.
"Oh well", said Bristol Zoo Management, "we'd better phone up the City Council and get them to send a new parking attendant."
"Err ... no", said the Council, "that parking lot is your responsibility."
"Err ... no", said Bristol Zoo Management, "the attendant was employed by the City Council, wasn't he?"
"Err ... NO!" insisted the Council.
Sitting in his villa somewhere on the coast of Spain, is a bloke who had been taking the parking lot fees, estimated at 400 (about $560) per day at Bristol Zoo for the last 25 years. Assuming 7 days a week, this amounts to just over 3.6 million ($7 million)!
And no one even knows his name!

BMT

**Pete** · 07-12-2009, 19:54

Sigh - too good to be true, wish it were. Sounds like fun.

http://www.snopes.com/crime/clever/carpark.asp

Utah Bob · 07-13-2009, 07:01

Could only happen on the Internet.

Saoirse · 07-13-2009, 08:47

Funny story!
Unfortunately, not too far off the mark.
When I lived in NY, I would shop at Walbaum's. To get a cart, you needed a quarter to place into a slot to remove the chain that chained the carts together (you get the quarter back when you replace the cart). There was always a little, old guy (shabbily dressed and looking rather impoverished) who would offer to help you with your groceries or to take the cart back (thus relieving you of the duty of having to walk all the way back up to the store). Really, what's a quarter, right? Well, this guy was later found out..... he had a nice shiney, red Cadillac. He lived in a really nice house and wasn't so impoverished. Apparantly, much like a woman in Harlem (who begged on the streets of NYC and owned a really nice brownstone), he was found out because somebody took the time to follow him home one day and look into his "life".

I am embarassed to admit that I fell for his "act" and gave up many a quarter and tipped him on occasion when he helped me with my groceries (small town girl in the big city syndrome!)!

**Pete** · 07-13-2009, 09:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saoirse

.....I am embarassed to admit that I fell for his "act" and gave up many a quarter and tipped him on occasion when he helped me with my groceries (small town girl in the big city syndrome!)!

Act or not he provided a "service". While the act may have reaped a bigger tip at times it was not sure thing.

Biggest complaint I would have was he was not paying taxes on his haul.