How brave Linda won 5-year battle over a £1 parking ticket she couldn’t pay as the machine was broken

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My heroine for today is a lady called Linda Edwards. My villain, the management at Excel Parking Services.

Linda’s story started five years ago when she left her Range Rover in the Bury New Road, Manchester, car park.

When she tried to pay the £1 parking fee she couldn’t because it was broken. So she rang the tossers at Excel to report the fault and was told someone would come and repair it.

Linda, an artist who lives in Saddleworth, Oldham, returned to the car after dining with her mother and found an employee issuing her with £100 parking fee.

And so started a lengthy legal battle during which she suffered three bereavements including that of her mother.

First, she was told she would be fined just £60 if she settled in 14 days. However when she appealed and sent a cheque for £1 to cover the cost of the original two-hour ticket,  it was denied.

Next her fine was increased to £100 before several letters were sent increasing the fine to £250.

The matter was then passed on a debt collection company in November 2017 and Linda was then told earlier this that they would settle for £272. She told them to get stuffed.
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Finally she ended up in Manchester county court where the disgusting Excel company wanted £458.75 which included the fine, interest and legal fees.

The court correctly threw out the Excel case but it had taken years to get there.

Linda, 58 said after winning the case; ’’When it was nearing the court date I was having sleepless nights and doubts about it.

‘’At times I was brought to tears over it as they wouldn’t give up. But I don’t like to be taken advantage of. I kept reminding myself that justice has to be done.’’

Even allowing for the fact that they had been defeated by Linda, the dim spokesman for Excel continued to peddle their view that there had been a ‘’clear breach of the terms and conditions.’’

It is cases like this that give these car parking companies a bad name. The management at Excel should hang their heads in shame.
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PS: So just to mention again but if you plan to buy either car or home insurance I wonder if you might look at my small price comparison site A Spokesman Said as we earn a little commission from each sale which helps fund the research and editorial costs of running the site. It has the same offer as the big ones like Go Compare. Thank you.