Excel Parking: Firm announces free parking at Iceland in Sheffield after pay meter stolen

Iceland announced a partnership with Excel on May 29 and it introduced a charge of £1 for up to an hour at the site.

The machine was reported missing on a local Facebook group on Saturday, June 15.

One person wrote: “I parked in the car park by Iceland on Bradfield Road and couldn’t find anywhere to pay! There was no machine and they didn’t provide any details on how to pay by phone. I suspect I’ll be receiving a fine but I wonder if anyone had any knowledge about what I should have done?”

An Excel sign states if there is a problem with the machine to use the pay-by-phone or online options - and to use the instructions ‘on the pay meter’, which is missing.

It also gives a 24-hour helpline number. The Star rang it four times at 11am on Wednesday, June 19. On every occasion it rang but cut off after less than a minute.

Drivers normally have 10 minutes after arrival to park and pay, or receive a £100 Parking Charge Notice.

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We asked Excel Parking and Iceland to clarify the payment rules while there was no machine. And we asked if Excel would suspend issuing PCNs until a new one is installed. 

After four days, including two working days, the companies responded.

An Iceland spokesperson said they would look into any “wrongly served” penalties.

They said: “Excel Parking Services, who manage the car park on behalf of Iceland, are aware that the payment machine at our store in Hillsborough has been stolen and have ordered a replacement.

 “There is no payment required for people using the car park currently, which is stated on the signage onsite. PCN notices are however being issued to anyone who stays in the car park past the maximum one-hour stay period.

 “If a customer feels they have been wrongly served a PCN notice, we advise them to contact our customer care team who will be able to look into this further.”

A representative for Excel Parking Services Ltd said: “The signage at the car park has been updated to advise motorists that payment of the parking tariff is not currently required and that all other terms and conditions still apply.”

£100 penalties are issued for mis-typing your registration number, not displaying a ticket, not parking fully in a bay and staying more than an hour.

The government has announced a crackdown on private parking companies with a new code of practice. Motoring organisations expect it to come into force later in the year.