It was raining. I was late and so very sorry. "It won't happen again," I blurted out. "Next time, I promise, I will get a ticket."

The parking attendant, obviously pleased with my grovelling, let me go but not without an "If I catch you again, you will be fined" speech.

A couple of days later in Burgess Hill, I found once again the best place to park was in one of the many council-run pay-and-display car parks.

This time, I decided I wouldn't take any chances, even though I would only be a few minutes in the post office. But I had only a pound coin, so ended up with a ticket for something like four hours.

Not wanting to walk round Burgess Hill town centre for three hours and 45 minutes, I headed back to the car park, where an elderly lady was fiddling in her purse for change for the machine.

Being what I thought was helpful, I offered the old dear my ticket with its remaining hours.

She thanked me and I turned to get into my car with an enormous sense of well-being - which was quickly taken away by my old friend the car park attendant telling me I was breaking the law by giving away my ticket and could be fined.

The old dear, as shocked as I, handed the ticket to the officer, who promptly tore it up.

I was quite annoyed and asked for a refund on the hours not used but was told to get on my way or I could be prosecuted. The old lady subsequently had to pay for her own ticket.

My point is this: If I buy anything from a shop and I don't have the right money, I expect the change. If I go into McDonald's and order a Big Mac, I don't expect two just because I hand over a fiver - I expect the correct change.

So how can any council get away with not having change-giving machines? Wasn't the rule around when they were invented?

I go in to get a 30p ticket, I have a pound and I don't get change. Instead, I get an extra three or so hours I don't need. This can't be right, being robbed in broad daylight and by the council.

How much extra do these non-change-giving machines make in a year and how is the money spent? There isn't much between the price of the change-giving and the non-change-giving machines, just the amount of profit they make.

If anyone can explain why and how much they make, I would be very interested.

Maybe we can get all our overcharged tickets together and send them into the council for a refund on the difference.

After all, it's our money and it's about time we had more of a say where it goes. I have a whole stack of tickets in my glove box which cost £50 more than they needed to.

Any money the council returns I will donate to charity.

-N Duke, London Road, Burgess Hill