Man says £500 parking charge disrupted his studies

Dan Garrett was charged over £500 for overstaying in car park, which he is disputing

A man said challenging a £500 parking charge has disrupted his studies.

Dan Garrett, from Burton Latimer, Northamptonshire, received two parking charge notices from Excel Parking Ltd after visiting the Energie Fitness car park in Kettering in May and June 2024.

He said he entered his car registration at the gym, which provides members four hours of free parking instead of the standard 90 minutes, and was charged £516.88 for overstaying.

The parking company said Mr Garrett failed to provide any evidence he was a member of the gym.

Mr Garrett said: "The process has stressed me out a lot. It's damaged my open university studies as I've been so drained by this.

"But I'm not willing to give up and pay because I've been treated unfairly."

Mr Garrett added he was unable to provide evidence or appeal immediately due to system errors at the gym, poor communication with Excel Parking, and being informed by the company that appeals would not be accepted until after a certain date.

Mr Garrett said the ordeal has caused him to stop going to the gym

Other customers have also raised concerns about Excel Parking in separate locations, such as a woman in Derby who was charged nearly £2,000 after she took longer than five minutes to pay for parking.

Mr Garrett, who would visit Energie Fitness three to four times a week, said the parking row has disrupted his routine.

"This ordeal has completely thrown me off," he said, adding he no longer attended the gym because of the stress of the situation.

After the BBC contacted Energie Fitness, the gym confirmed Mr Garrett had signed in on one of the disputed days.

Mr Garrett said he had a telephone mediation through the court where Excel Parking Ltd offered to remove £100 from the charge, which he declined.

Excel Parking said Mr Garrett has not provided any evidence that he is a member of the gym

A representative from Excel Parking Services said: "A maximum stay of 90 minutes is permitted at the Tanners Gate Retail Park; an exception is made for gym customers when their vehicle registration is entered into a touchscreen terminal.

"On the dates in question Mr Garrett's vehicle was observed on site beyond the maximum period permitted without his vehicle registration having been entered into the terminal.

"The terminal was in use throughout the day on both occasions.

"There was neither an increase in parking charge activity nor a decrease in the use of the terminal on the dates in questions.

"Mr Garrett failed to appeal either parking charge.

"The first contact he made was after the court claim had been issued.

"To date, he has failed to provide any evidence of him being a member of the gym on site."

A court date for the case has not yet been announced.