Excel Parking Fine

bootneckshuffle

Hi all

I know there’s been plenty posts about Excel Parking but this is my situation. 

Parked in Iceland car park for 15 mins whilst picking up my daughter, genuinely didn’t know this was a P&D car park. 

Two weeks later there’s an NTK through the door, although I didn’t get this for a bit after that due to working offshore. 

Contacted EP and appealed saying this is a genuine human error, of course they’ve refused my appeal and demanding 100 pounds. 

They now know I was the driver. 

Where do I go from here? I’ve read the newbie thread etc and from what I can see there isn’t a part that deals with those who have admitted being the driver? 

Do I pay these scammers or not? Also, I contacted Iceland as the land owner and they are absolutely not interested at all. Told them the situation and they don’t care. 

fisherjim

Excel are members of the IPC who support their scamming members pointless appeal to them.

If you genuinely didn't see any signs that would suggest that the car park was as usual very poorly covered with signage a good point to note and get photographic dated evidence.

Admitting to being he driver isn't the end of the world.

Of course Iceland would be unsympathetic, you admitted parking on their land for you own convenience not as a bona fide customer, and didn't pay and display.

There is no where to go from here, you could pay but we don't like that you are just filling the coffers of greedy scammers, or you can sit out the silly debt collectors rubbish letters and see what happens.

Come back here if you get genuine court papers though, it's up to you, but a study of the newbies thread is the best advice.

Coupon-mad

Next time pick up or drop off your daughter on double or single yellow lines, on street.  It's what they are there for.

So many drivers don't know this is one of the reasons for yellow lines: to facilitate passenger drop off and pick up.  And loading/unloading (as long as there are no yellow kerb blips too).

I would never seek out a car park in the circs you describe. Not to pick someone up.

bootneckshuffle

Never knew that about double yellows, thanks. 

So ref the PCN, no choice but to pay it? 

KeithP

bootneckshuffle said:

So ref the PCN, no choice but to pay it? 

Well @fisherjim pointed out...

fisherjim said:
If you genuinely didn't see any signs that would suggest that the car park was as usual very poorly covered with signage a good point to note and get photographic dated evidence.

UncleThomasCobley

bootneckshuffle said:

So ref the PCN, no choice but to pay it? 

Not necessarily. It depends on how bad the signage is at the site. If there was no obvious or prominent signage to indicate how payment for parking is to be made, that is a defence. How hard did you daughter try to find a method of payment? Is the barrier system supposed to work by retrieving a ticket on entry?

There are many options for defending. Also, if the ever went as far as a claim, depending on which intellectually malnourished legals there use, it could get thrown out before it ever gets near a court room.

Have a good read of the Newbie's/FAQ thread and decide how you want to go forward.

fisherjim

bootneckshuffle said:

So ref the PCN, no choice but to pay it? 

No one has suggested that!

bootneckshuffle

car park car park not barriered. Used to be free last time I used it. Rarely do the pick up as I’m normally away, just happened that Sunday I was home. Drove into the car park which is straight opposite my daughter’s theatre school, sat in the car until 5 mins before she comes out, then went over the road to pick her up. 15 mins total. Didn’t see signs but not looking for them either to be honest and that’s the truth. 

I know it’s a faux pas on my part and I’m not denying that. Am I wrong for not getting a quid ticket to park? Yes of course. Does it warrant a 100 quid charge? No it doesn’t. 

1505grandad

" Used to be free last time I used it."

What sort of period is involved  -  could be that the following IPC CoP requirement is valid:-

" Changes in Operator’s Terms and Conditions

Where there is any change to any pre-existing terms and conditions that would not be

immediately apparent to a person visiting the Car Park and which materially affects

the Motorist the Operator should place additional (temporary) notices at the entrance

making it clear that new terms and conditions/charges apply, such that regular visitors

who may be familiar with the old terms do not inadvertently incur Parking Charges.

Notices should be in addition to the signage ordinarily required and left in place for an

appropriate period."

Coupon-mad

bootneckshuffle said:

car park car park not barriered. Used to be free last time I used it. Rarely do the pick up as I’m normally away, just happened that Sunday I was home. Drove into the car park which is straight opposite my daughter’s theatre school, sat in the car until 5 mins before she comes out, then went over the road to pick her up. 15 mins total. Didn’t see signs but not looking for them either to be honest and that’s the truth. 

I know it’s a faux pas on my part and I’m not denying that. Am I wrong for not getting a quid ticket to park? Yes of course. Does it warrant a 100 quid charge? No it doesn’t. 

No-one has told you to pay it.

DON'T!  We do not pay these scam PCNs.

But you are picking up a passenger in the evening or on a Sunday, I'd be willing to bet almost every nearby street kerb is free.  Every single yellow, and most bays on street are unrestricted on Sundays.

I am reiterating this to stop you looking to use car parks on Sundays or evenings (or at all). Parking sharks are everywhere these days.
It constantly amazes me that people drive along free-to-park streets and past perfectly good yellow lines, looking for a private car park.  Avoid them like the plague.

bootneckshuffle

Coupon-mad said:

bootneckshuffle said:

car park car park not barriered. Used to be free last time I used it. Rarely do the pick up as I’m normally away, just happened that Sunday I was home. Drove into the car park which is straight opposite my daughter’s theatre school, sat in the car until 5 mins before she comes out, then went over the road to pick her up. 15 mins total. Didn’t see signs but not looking for them either to be honest and that’s the truth. 

I know it’s a faux pas on my part and I’m not denying that. Am I wrong for not getting a quid ticket to park? Yes of course. Does it warrant a 100 quid charge? No it doesn’t. 

No-one has told you to pay it.

DON'T!  We do not pay these scam PCNs.

But you are picking up a passenger in the evening or on a Sunday, I'd be willing to bet almost every nearby street kerb is free.  Every single yellow, and most bays on street are unrestricted on Sundays.

I am reiterating this to stop you looking to use car parks on Sundays or evenings (or at all). Parking sharks are everywhere these days.
It constantly amazes me that people drive along free-to-park streets and past perfectly good yellow lines, looking for a private car park.  Avoid them like the plague.

The road is there with kerbside as you mention. The theatre school owners put cones out and told parents not to park there as they think it’s a safety hazard for the kids. Hence the car park on this occasion.