Parking stories in the News/media

Whatever2023

Coupon-mad said:

A good news story from a consumer inspired by MSE forum:

https://twitter.com/Kazza_belle/status/1765488165031178461

Reporter is none other than your friend and mine, David Walsh of the Daily Star (who I'm sure Excel would no doubt like to gag, along with us lot!):

https://authory.com/DavidWalsh/Excel-Parking-Victorious-driver-slams-Sheffield-firm-after-year-of-hell-af469b23b9f4f4258aa2e147317298b54?c=c6486ed676f8f461ca30f31e153f19932

Karen Bennett was taken to court by Excel Parking after a making a keying error while paying £3.20 on its payment app. Finally, in a last ditch attempt to avoid a trial, the firm said it would accept £200 as settlement. But if she refused it would 'bring this letter to the court’s attention and seek further costs of £220' - a total of £500.

Karen was delighted when a judge at Bradford County Court dismissed the case and denied Excel’s request for costs stating they were disproportionate and it had failed to justify them.

Karen, who lives in Bradford, also noted the car park gives drivers just five minutes to pay, or receive a demand for £100. But it took her 11 minutes to download and pay on the app. That was after she "found the machine out of order".

Karen said it had been a year of "hell" but she was glad she stuck to her guns. She added: "I would say to other people in my situation - don't be bullied by these companies. If you have paid for your parking, don't pay them off. Let them take you to court because if you have evidence of payment the judge will hopefully side with you.

"It was totally worth it! It's been a year of hell of course.  All those letters and threats make you feel like a criminal and it gave me many sleepless nights..."

Excel are appealing according to another post.

patient_dream

Whatever2023 said:

Coupon-mad said:

A good news story from a consumer inspired by MSE forum:

https://twitter.com/Kazza_belle/status/1765488165031178461

Reporter is none other than your friend and mine, David Walsh of the Daily Star (who I'm sure Excel would no doubt like to gag, along with us lot!):

https://authory.com/DavidWalsh/Excel-Parking-Victorious-driver-slams-Sheffield-firm-after-year-of-hell-af469b23b9f4f4258aa2e147317298b54?c=c6486ed676f8f461ca30f31e153f19932

Karen Bennett was taken to court by Excel Parking after a making a keying error while paying £3.20 on its payment app. Finally, in a last ditch attempt to avoid a trial, the firm said it would accept £200 as settlement. But if she refused it would 'bring this letter to the court’s attention and seek further costs of £220' - a total of £500.

Karen was delighted when a judge at Bradford County Court dismissed the case and denied Excel’s request for costs stating they were disproportionate and it had failed to justify them.

Karen, who lives in Bradford, also noted the car park gives drivers just five minutes to pay, or receive a demand for £100. But it took her 11 minutes to download and pay on the app. That was after she "found the machine out of order".

Karen said it had been a year of "hell" but she was glad she stuck to her guns. She added: "I would say to other people in my situation - don't be bullied by these companies. If you have paid for your parking, don't pay them off. Let them take you to court because if you have evidence of payment the judge will hopefully side with you.

"It was totally worth it! It's been a year of hell of course.  All those letters and threats make you feel like a criminal and it gave me many sleepless nights..."

Excel are appealing according to another post.

Is that a fact ???    Sounds like paranoid has started or even already set in

Well done to Karen

Coupon-mad

Whatever2023 said:

Coupon-mad said:

A good news story from a consumer inspired by MSE forum.

Reporter is none other than your friend and mine, David Walsh of the Daily Star (who I'm sure Excel would no doubt like to gag, along with us lot!):

https://authory.com/DavidWalsh/Excel-Parking-Victorious-driver-slams-Sheffield-firm-after-year-of-hell-af469b23b9f4f4258aa2e147317298b54?c=c6486ed676f8f461ca30f31e153f19932

Karen Bennett was taken to court by Excel Parking after a making a keying error while paying £3.20 on its payment app. Finally, in a last ditch attempt to avoid a trial, the firm said it would accept £200 as settlement. But if she refused it would 'bring this letter to the court’s attention and seek further costs of £220' - a total of £500.

Karen was delighted when a judge at Bradford County Court dismissed the case and denied Excel’s request for costs stating they were disproportionate and it had failed to justify them.

Karen, who lives in Bradford, also noted the car park gives drivers just five minutes to pay, or receive a demand for £100. But it took her 11 minutes to download and pay on the app. That was after she "found the machine out of order".

Karen said it had been a year of "hell" but she was glad she stuck to her guns. She added: "I would say to other people in my situation - don't be bullied by these companies. If you have paid for your parking, don't pay them off. Let them take you to court because if you have evidence of payment the judge will hopefully side with you.

"It was totally worth it! It's been a year of hell of course.  All those letters and threats make you feel like a criminal and it gave me many sleepless nights..."

Excel are appealing according to another post.

I'd worked that out.

In fact they are seeking leave to appeal.  Not quite the same.  No doubt they are hoping for HHJ Saffman again as he seems easily impressed by parking rubbish arguments.  Like HHJ Simpkiss he lost a lot of credibility here, due to the assumptions and mistakes in his fairly recent fudgment (VCS v Percy).

Are you connected to Excel?  Didn't think they had any permanent legal staff left, according to Linked In.  So depleted that they are bringing old staff back for 3 weeks, I heard.

None of us would describe Excel as 'appealing'.

Coupon-mad

Can anyone see this article?

Looks like Britannia Parking.

https://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/inverness-man-left-feeling-terrorised-after-receiving-park-342765/

The BPA must be so proud.

Coupon-mad

What could possibly go wrong?!

https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/people/new-anpr-parking-system-to-launch-at-northampton-general-hospital-next-week-4545011

New ANPR parking system to launch at Northampton General Hospital next week

Visitors will no longer need to pay in advance or display a ticket. An NGH spokesman said: “The new ANPR system will improve the car parking experience for patients and visitors on site. The process will mean patients and visitors only pay for the time they have been at the hospital and won’t have to worry about car parking tickets running out.

“As well as this we hope the new system will improve vehicle movement on site and provide a quicker entrance and exit to our car parks.”

Oh good ... not.

Coupon-mad

Oh what a shame:


January:

"Parking charges to begin at Harrogate reservoirs next week

by Lauren Ryan. Jan 18, 2024"



March:

https://thestrayferret.co.uk/new-car-park-cameras-stolen-at-swinsty-and-fewston/

"Newly installed automatic number plate recognition cameras at two reservoirs near Harrogate have been stolen."

Here's an idea.  How about NOT using a Scummy PPC and ANPR?

Nellymoser

Excel Parking 'takes away' vital parking permits from town businesses

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/supermarket-takes-away-vital-parking-050000022.html?

Several businesses say they have been left without parking after Excel gave them two days' notice cancelling their parking permits.

Residents and staff at businesses on Royal Wootton Bassett's High Street have been parking in Iceland's empty car park for more than 10 years as many don't have car parks large enough for all of their vehicles.

Excel who manage the space for Iceland have said the supermarket had given out too many parking permits...for an empty car park !!!!

Looks like Excel's apparent effective car park management has damaged this community's good working relationships.

Nellymoser

Coupon-mad said:

Can anyone see this article?

Looks like Britannia Parking.

https://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/inverness-man-left-feeling-terrorised-after-receiving-park-342765/

The BPA must be so proud.

I managed with that link

Coupon-mad

Lightweight rubbish and they completely miss "Plan A" (always the easiest way to cancel any private PCN) but at least it's a piece about the difference between PCNs and fake PCNs, that might educate some:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0hhg8ll

And at least Angela says "DO NOT PAY!"

Coupon-mad

Coupon-mad said:

Next one: named & shamed: G24

https://www.kidderminstershuttle.co.uk/news/24140781.kidderminster-mums-anger-unfair-100-parking-fine/

"A TEACHER is outraged after being hit with an "unfair" £100 parking fine after getting stuck in a "gridlocked" car park. Natalie Minaker drove to Crossley Retail Park in Kidderminster just before Christmas to buy a bulky child's car seat, when she would have ordinarily walked to the shops.

On December 22, she parked at the car park, which offers three hours of free parking, at 11.12am in the morning. Ms Minaker and her two daughters, Edith, 4 and Verity, 8, visited the shops and then returned to the car at 11.50am.

She said at this time, the queue to get out was "nose-to-tail" and after 20 minutes of sitting in a stationary queue and being unable to leave the car park, she made the decision to leave the car, walk fifteen minutes to her home to get her children some lunch, and try again later.  

However, she said she was stuck in the car park for an hour due to the "obscene level of traffic." She says was sitting in a queue and unable to leave the car park, resulting in "overstaying" by 12 minutes."

This is parking management by ANPR is it?

The IPC must be so proud of G24.

Yet again:

https://www.kidderminstershuttle.co.uk/news/24172301.crossley-retail-park-woman-hit-totally-unfair-fine/

Crossley Retail Park: Woman hit with 'totally unfair' fine

Sue Armour appealed the "totally unfair" fine after getting trapped in "nose to tail" traffic at Crossley Retail Park in Kidderminster for almost two hours on December 22, but was unsuccessful. 

She added: "I also appealed the fine and lost, and agree it is totally unfair. How many more people have been affected? It certainly means I will never visit this retail park again at peak times".

G24 has yet to respond to the Shuttle's request for comment.

Know what, IPC?  Hang your heads in shame.

This isn't parking management.