Aggressive parking attendant

On wednesday November 16 I parked my car in the parking area just before the Public Lending Library in Floriana at 8 a.m. There was no parking attendant. I only had to run a short errand and returned to my car at 8.20.

A parking attendant asked me if I was leaving and after I got into the car he suddenly came to the window and asked for "something for parking". I told him he had not been there when I parked. He said he had just arrived.

I asked him why I owed him money and he replied that he was going to be there for the whole day! I enquired politely if he expected me to tip him for leaving my car in a practically empty car park for 20 minutes during which he had been there for the last five.

He suddenly opened my car door and demanded I give him money. I told him I was going to call the police and he told me to go ahead as he was not going to move. By now I was shaken, but reiterated I was not going to give him anything since I did not owe him money. He finally slammed my car door shut, shouting at me to leave, warning me not to "dare park your car here again!"

This behaviour is utterly reprehensible and unacceptable. Many times most parking attendants around Malta behave impolitely and arrogantly, to say the least. I have only met one parking attendant so far whose behaviour was commendable: the friendly gentleman at Wied iz-Zurrieq car park.

Can something be done about parking attendants expecting tips as if by right? Do all parking attendants have permits?