Excel Parking

Lacman

Thank you to all who have posted information regarding the unscrupulous operation of their parking.  I have managed to glean a great deal of information that would suggest that I have a reasonable case to contend.  Mine is a case of "Minor Keying Error" where it would have been obvious that the registered number entered although a letter out related to my vehicle.  I now have the defence template and details of the relevant court judgements and await further correspondence from Excel regarding their next move.
I have been in touch with the relevant district council planning department and there are no submissions for planning permission for poles on which to mount cameras or advertising signage. Excel parking are therefore committing an offence from which they "obtain" (as defined by the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002) financial gain.  I am trying to persuade the planning department to prosecute as a conviction would invoke the powers of the PoCA and leaves potential for a substantial confiscation order as the provisions of s. 75 of the Act apply. 

ChirpyChicken

Don't go down that rabbit hole.

Fruitcake

You can ask the council to act because failure to obtain advertising consent for signs greater than 0.3 m² is a criminal offence, but only the council can prosecute.
Once you have brought it to the attention of the council, there is little else you can do.

This could, and should in my opinion, be a defence point, but it should not be your main point.

Have you enacted Plan A, a complaint to the landowner and your MP?

What stage are you at? Have you received a court claim, in which case you should be acting and not waiting for Excel's correspondence.

Coupon-mad

Just ignore Excel unless you get a court claim which is the only fair dispute resolution and far easier than you may think.

Sit tight. Do nothing except the below.

By going confidently into the 'ignore' stance, the only steps to take (because you MUST check every letter) are:

- Always try PLAN A (landowner complaint) which is a good fightback even if it is refused, because complaints mark Excel's card.

- Tell them if you move house within 6 years.

- Ignore the tedious £170 threatograms shown in pictures in the 4th post of the NEWBIES thread.

- Come back if you get a solicitor's LBC as per the 2nd post of the NEWBIES thread.

Nobody pays a penny and no hearing is even needed in most cases. Search the forum and read a few cases as they are easy to beat by waiting for a claim form - it is easier than appealing. And with IPC firms there is no impartial appeal stage. So don't bother.

There is no risk AT ALL in defending a court claim. No CCJ. No bailiffs.