Darlington, UK – April 5, 2025 — A car park operator that pursued a young woman for more than £11,000 in parking charges has lost a court case and been ordered to pay over £10,000 in legal costs to charity.
Excel Parking Services Ltd, a company already criticised for penalising drivers £100 for taking longer than five minutes to pay at car parks, attempted to recover £11,390 from 21-year-old Hannah Robinson after issuing 67 parking charge notices (PCNs).
But a judge has now dismissed the firm’s legal claim and condemned its conduct as “unreasonable and out of the norm.”
The charges originated at Feethams Leisure car park in Darlington, where Robinson regularly parked while working at a restaurant above the facility.
Although she paid each time, she often struggled with poor mobile signal and a glitchy payment app, causing delays beyond Excel’s strict five-minute grace period.
“I started getting a couple of fines, and I was young and had just started driving, so I would pay them because I was scared,” said Robinson, from Stockton-on-Tees.
Over time, she began receiving repeated letters and calls demanding payment, culminating in a shocking letter in February 2024 asking her to pay 67 charges, each consisting of a £100 penalty and a £70 debt collection fee.
“I feel relieved and a massive weight has lifted from my shoulders,” said Robinson following the hearing. “It has been extremely stressful and frustrating; I constantly worried what letters I was receiving or who was going to knock at the door after the threats.”
Supported by pro bono legal representation from the law firm Keidan Harrison, Robinson fought back. The court not only dismissed Excel’s claim for two PCNs but also denied the company’s attempt to amend the case to include 11 notices.
District Judge Janine Richards, presiding over the case on March 26, 2025, criticised Excel’s handling of the matter and awarded £10,240.10 in legal costs to the Access to Justice Foundation.
“I am happy that they are getting a taste of what it felt like for me,” Robinson said. “I’m upset with the way they’ve treated me and I hope this stops them going after innocent people.”
The case has drawn wider attention to Excel’s controversial practices. In Derby and elsewhere, the firm has been similarly accused of issuing harsh penalties for minor delays.
Robinson, who had kept using the Darlington car park for safety reasons due to its late-night access and proximity to work, said she repeatedly tried to contact the company to resolve the issue but received no meaningful response.
Her grandmother, Adrienne Atkin, who helped her manage the overwhelming correspondence, said the ordeal took a toll on Robinson’s mental health.
“At some point Hannah just stayed in her bedroom. When her phone rang she was on edge because she didn’t know if it was going to be them,” she said.
Excel Parking declined to comment on the ruling, stating it is appealing the decision.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
