Thanks,

I wish I'd seen the info about not contacting them before my first reply. I felt it extremely unlikely they would take me to court, but I wanted some further opinions.

Hi there,

I've been following a couple of threads on this forum regarding the very well noted Excel Parking Services, and I'd just like to ask for some input from you guys in the know.


Way back in early July, I received a "PCN" from Excel asking for £60 for overstaying in a car park in North Shields by 10 minutes. It was a free car park outside of "Netto" The max stay was 1 hour.

On receiving the notice I immediately appealed stating that my reason for late return was that I suffer badly with asthma and had had an asthma attack, and at that time was receiving treatment for a chest infection which meant that walking fast was an issue and I would become ill, therefore I had had to sit down on my way bak to my car as my asthma was bad and I was struggling to breathe.

As expected their reply was that they needed evidence of this.

I sent a letter obtained from our local health authority stating that I did have asthma, and that I had visited the health centre and received a week long course of tablets and a nebuliser. I was ill and on various medication which would clearly affect my ability to walk.

Excel replied saying this letter was invalid as I had visited the health centre 3 days prior to the "contravention" and I must pay the £60.

I immediately replied explaining that if they read the document I sent, it clearly stated that I was given a WEEK LONG course of medication and so on the day in question, I was in the middle of the course of tablets, aswell as my usual inhalers.

They replied saying that my case had been "formally reviewed and rejected" (By what monkeys I do not know)

At this point I called up and spoke to a line manager who proceeded to threaten me, shout at me and tell me he "looked forward to seeing me in court" then refused to give me any name, details or id no.

I wrote an email, explaining that I would not be paying as I had provided sufficient evidence, within the alloted time and my reason was valid and therefore I should expect to hear no more from them.


After around 2 weeks I recieved a reply stating that:

" You should have called Excel immediately when you got back to your car. As you did not contact us on this day, the charge still stands. You have now lost the right to appeal and any further letter will not be responded to" Yada yada.


I was furious and wrote again, telling them that just because I had actually provided valid evidence in the first place and they couldnt get £60 out of me that way, they were now changing their demands. There was no mention of this phonecall in any previous correspondance until they reveived the evidence they asked for and realised they couldn't get the money from me that way, so they'd try another scare tactic. I wasn't going to pay the charge. I had a valid medical reason and proof.

This has now gone on until the end of November, with me simply ignoring their payment demands for what is now £100.

I just received a "Final Demand Notice Prior to Court Action" for £100

Does anyone have any suggestions of what to do, and whether you agree that I was in the right, provided all the evidence asked for within time and that basically Excel would get shot to hell if they did take me to court.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Many Thanks.