Parks for the curse

Last year I stayed 17 minutes longer than the free two hours at a shopping complex car park in Kidderminster. I duly received notice of a £40 fine from Excel Parking of Sheffield to which I replied with a £10 cheque and a letter of apology containing the words you recommended "in reasonable full and final settlement" etc.

I also sent them a copy of a shopping receipt from a nearby shop (Currys) proving that I was using the car park for its intended purpose. There then followed three exchanges in each of which they returned the cheque and I re-sent it; the last document I received from them threatened me with a £100 fine and court action if I didn't pay it by 26 November.

I replied on 19 November by sending them the cheque for the forth time and since then I have heard nothing. Neither have they cashed the cheque. Can I relax now?

Asked on 21 January 2010 by JD, via email

Answered by Honest John
Probably. They were trying it on. They won’t spend £70 taking you to court for £40 or even for £100.

See: www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/parking-fines

Some supermarkets employ rather nasty get-rich-quick parking enforcement outfits. Others, like Tesco in Hexham Northumberland (that reasonably limits parking to 3 hours), contribute all profits from parking penalties to charity.
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