I have just been 'done' by Excel in Lincoln - seems they are popping up all over the place. The transgression was parking a car in a car-park!!!!! As the car-park was very busy my wife and I had to park at the end of a row - just beyond the last white line - but with plenty of space around the car and without blocking or impeding any other vehicles. Having parked safely and responsibly and bought a voucher for the correct amount I was seriously p**ssed when I found a penalty notice on the windscreen and thought someone was playing a practical joke. They were not.
I took independent legal advice and was told that because there were warning signs (one line at the bottom of a notice next to the ticket machine) that I had not read, they were entitled to issue the fines under contract law. The fact that there were no double yellow lines, hatching, bollards or other indications that I should not park where I did, and therefore I believe the ticket was issued unfairly, is apparently irrelevant under contract law. If I did not pay the fine it would increase from £60 to £100 and they could take me to a county court for recovery action. I did not fancy the bailiffs calling.
Reluctantly I have paid the penalty but have appealed to Excel and the land-owner and to the Toys 'R' Us store which the car-park serves.
I consider that Excel are extorting money from unsuspecting members of the public and am considering approaching the local media to publicise what is going on and warn others about these sharp practices. I have indicated to Toys 'R' Us that I will not be visiting their store ever again and would encourage every ppruner to put their complaints in writing and lobby as many organisations as possible. If enough companies start losing customers by p**ssing them off with unfair parking enforcement then they might start to rein in the likes of Excel.