A controversy has emerged over a parking firm that demanded an exorbitant amount of money from a driver, leading to a court case in which the firm has now been instructed to pay substantial costs. Excel Parking, known for imposing fines on drivers who took longer than five minutes to pay at their car parks, faced a similar issue in Darlington. Hannah Robinson, a 21-year-old who fell victim to the situation, received numerous demands for payment as well as unwelcome phone calls.
Following Excel Parking’s decision to take her to court regarding some of the parking charge notices, a judge ruled against the firm and ordered them to pay £10,240.10 in costs, which will be donated to charity. Miss Robinson expressed relief after the court hearing, stating that the stress and anxiety caused by the situation had weighed heavily on her. She shared her frustration with constantly receiving threatening letters and worrying about potential consequences.
Miss Robinson’s ordeal began in June 2021 when she started parking at the Feethams Leisure car park in Darlington due to working at a nearby restaurant. Despite encountering difficulties with phone signal and the payment app, leading to occasional fines, she continued to use the car park for safety reasons, especially when working late shifts. Her repeated attempts to address the charges with Excel Parking went unanswered until she was suddenly asked to pay a substantial sum for unpaid charges.
The young woman’s grandmother, Adrienne Atkin, was shocked by the situation and began assisting her granddaughter in navigating the ordeal. The family’s efforts eventually led to a court claim, with Excel Parking seeking payment for multiple parking charge notices. However, the judge overseeing the case dismissed Excel’s claims, highlighting the firm’s unreasonable behavior throughout the litigation. Miss Robinson expressed gratitude for the support she received and hoped that her experience would prevent innocent individuals from being unfairly targeted in the future
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