A woman in Derby has been hit with a hefty £1,906 parking fine after taking longer than five minutes to pay for parking at an Excel Parking Ltd site. Despite paying the full tariff every time, Rosey Hudson faced a barrage of 10 Parking Charge Notices (PCNs) for exceeding the time limit to purchase the ticket at Copeland Street.
Miss Hudson explained that she faced connectivity issues and the parking machine was out of order, leading her to pay via the phone app using the wifi at a nearby store. Initially asked to pay £100 within 28 days for the first PCN, she ended up with nine more fines of the same amount, each with added charges for debt recovery, interest, court fees, and legal representative costs.
She expressed her frustration at the situation, calling the five-minute rule “totally unreasonable” and highlighting the stress it has caused her over the past year. Despite attempts to resolve the issue through telephone mediation, a settlement has not been reached, and a court hearing is pending in six months.
Excel Parking defended its actions, stating that the terms and conditions clearly specify a five-minute window to purchase the parking tariff upon entry. The company emphasized that it is the driver’s responsibility to understand and adhere to these rules, implying that Miss Hudson is responsible for her predicament.
While Miss Hudson remains hopeful for a favorable outcome in court, two MPs have previously raised concerns about Excel Parking’s practices, suggesting that fines may be unfairly imposed. The company, on the other hand, maintains that the five-minute rule is in place to prevent abuse of the car park for drop-off and pick-up purposes.
As the legal battle continues, Miss Hudson hopes that her case will not only benefit her but also potentially help others facing similar situations. She is counting on the judge to understand her perspective and rule in her favor, setting a precedent that could protect others from excessive parking fines in the future.
