Excel Parking firm pays £10,240 after losing court appeal
BBC News, East Midlands
Hannah Robinson‘Ruthless’ Requests
Ms. Robinson, 18 years old when she first started to demand money from Excel Park, hopes that her case will encourage others to stand up for them.
Mrs. Robinson, who initially paid some charges but returned to support Nan after being asked for £ 11.390, said, “I’m very happy to be stuck in it and stop dealing with him alone.”
The Law Office Keidan Harrison then offered to help Mrs Robinson free of charge.
“The support around me was incredible and I can’t thank the lawyers enough for the patience and advice of everyone.” He said.
“I hope this helps others not let Excel win and surrender to them.”
Miss Robinson’a also helping the parking accusations of the campaignist Lynda Eagan, Excel’s money requests were “relentless”, he said.
Eagan, “They thought that they could do a young man, and they continued to continue it at the beginning of their 20s, but even if they paid unfair charges until they did not have the parking fee and then they did not have money.” He said.
Why was Ms. Robinson was taken to court?
While Mrs. Robinson was working at the restaurant above, she began parking in the Feethams Leisure car park in Darlington in June 2021.
It was one of the many Excel parking lots to determine that drivers should pay for the parking space to park within five minutes as a part of the conditions and conditions.
Mrs. Robinson paid every time, but she said she sometimes lasts more than five minutes due to problems with the bad telephone signal and payment application.
Initially paid within 14 days, he paid parking fees notifications (PCNs) from £ 100 to £ 60, and at night he felt the most safe as a young woman on his own.
He decided to appeal towards the end of 2022 against PCNs, but Excel still insisted that he had to pay.
Finally, in February 2024, he received a letter that asked for 67 unpaid fees.
Each was 100 £, plus 70 £ 70 was a debt collection fee, so it was a total of 11.390 £.
When Ms. Robinson did not pay, a court claimed that two of the 100 £ PCN asked for a 70 £ 70 debt collection and other costs for each.
Excel car park has applied to change this claim to follow 11 different PCNs.
Why did Excel Park need to pay instead?
In March, a hearing was held at the Middlesbrough district court, defended by Mrs. Robinson Barrister Seth Kitson.
Mr. Kitson argued that Excel had not had a legitimate interest in forcing users to pay in five minutes.
In addition, the five -minute payment rule, the lack of a telephone signal in the parking lot and the time to be paid by phone in accordance with the 2015 Consumer Rights Law, “naturally irrational” and an unfair contract period, he said.
Regional Judge Janine Richards rejected the original claim of Excel Park for two PCNs and the application to change the claim to follow 11 PCN.
He found that Excel’s “behavior of this case is both unreasonable and out of the norm” and therefore ordered the payment of the winner to pay 10,240.10 £.
Ms. Robinson had a free legal representation, so the dominant pro Bond gave a cost order, so it was forced to pay the money of Excel Park to a charity called access to the Justice Foundation.
Why didn’t Excel pay?
Excel was implemented for permission to object to the costs, and another court hearing was held, but the permission was rejected by Judge David Robinson.
BBC asked Excel Park why he objected.
In a statement, he said: “The relevant individual has repeatedly violated the provisions and conditions of the fair contract, which has been clearly shown in more than 100 separate situations.
He continued: “We are based on our position where parking conditions are legal, reasonable and open. This permanent violations of this quality cannot be justified.
He continued: “We are determined to ensure that those who are deliberately and overlooked the parking rules are held responsible.”
Access to the Justice Foundation confirmed that Excel paid to the BBC.
Are other people still affected?
The five -minute payment rule has been banned by two trade associations for private parking operators as of February 17th.
This is a new application code introduced, Promotion on the Rosey Hudson case The concerns expressed by Derby and MPs.
However, Excel Park is still doing legal proceedings against drivers who foul the five -minute payment rule before February 17th.
Park Campaign Lynda Eagan, To help others fight charges through a Facebook pageHe said: “Although Excel Parking Services are subjected to humiliation of this defeat, they continue to bring similar cases to the court to force other innocent victims of five -minute rules to pay for a court hearing.”
After the introduction of various Excel Park cases, the government Introduce your own application codeWhich private parking operators will have to follow.
Miss Eagan encouraged drivers Join the consultation About the application code, before closing on September 5.
