Driver Wins Court Case Over £268 Fine After Parking Fee Dispute
A driver successfully contests a £268 fine after a lengthy parking fee dispute in Sheffield
Sheffield, UK, Parking Fine, Court Case, Excel Parking, David Lockett
Sheffield: So, there’s this guy named David Lockett, right? He’s 53 and recently had a bit of a hassle with Excel Parking. They hit him with a £100 fine after he took 24 minutes to park his Citroen C4 Grand Picasso at Broomhill Rooftop Parking.
Now, you might wonder why it took so long. Well, David initially parked in a spot that was way too small. Then, he had to set up an online account and enter his bank details to pay. Talk about a hassle!
He appealed the fine, but they shot him down twice. Instead, he got letters from DCB Legal demanding more money—first £100, then £200, and finally £268, which they said would be reduced if he paid quickly.
Things got a bit tense when the case went to mediation. David offered to pay £85, but Excel Parking wasn’t having it. They just wanted their full amount.
Finally, it went to Huddersfield County Court. The judge, Ranjit Uppal, pointed out that Excel Parking seemed confused about how long David had to pay. Plus, he noted that the company didn’t actually lose any money since David had overpaid for his parking. So, he dismissed the case on January 2.
David felt a huge weight lift off his shoulders when the judge ruled in his favor. He said it was annoying at first, but he couldn’t see why he should pay for something he didn’t owe.
He mentioned that there was no human touch in the process. It felt like they just wanted more money without any consideration for his situation. He decided to stand his ground.
As a senior manager in the NHS, David visited that car park in December 2023. He tried to park next to a Range Rover but couldn’t get out, so he moved to another space. After that, he downloaded a payment app, registered, and entered his bank details—all of which took 24 minutes.
He was shocked when he got the fine. David found support from a Facebook page where others shared similar experiences. He admitted it was stressful not knowing how it would turn out.
Excel Parking did say they’re reviewing the judge’s comments and considering their next steps. They still believe the fine was justified since David didn’t pay until 24 minutes after entering the car park. They suggested he could’ve called their helpline or used one of their pay machines if he had trouble with the app.
DCB Legal has been contacted for a comment, but it seems like this parking saga isn’t over just yet!