A Sheffield mum has vowed to fight a £170 bill from a Sheffield car park that is ‘set up to fail’ drivers.

Sophie Culf received the demand after a visit to the Carla Hackett hair salon on Ecclesall Road in Banner Cross.

Customers park free if business owners input their registration number into a website, run by Vehicle Control Services, and obtain an ‘e-permit’.

Sophie Culf has vowed to fight a £170 demand from a car park 'set up to fail' drivers. | sophie culf

placeholder image — Sophie Culf has vowed to fight a £170 demand from a car park 'set up to fail' drivers. | sophie culf

But on the day, Carla was unable to operate the system and Sophie later received a £100 Parking Charge Notice letter for ‘not being a valid permit holder’.

Sophie, of Lowedges, says she provided evidence of what happened and insists she is not liable for the parking charge.

But she has now been contacted by DBL Solicitors, acting for VCS, demanding £170. A letter also warns of debt collectors, legal action and a County Court Judgement.

The VCS car park off Ecclesall Road, Banner Cross, works on an e-permit system which relies on business owners inputting customers' registration numbers. | nw

placeholder image — The VCS car park off Ecclesall Road, Banner Cross, works on an e-permit system which relies on business owners inputting customers' registration numbers. | nw

Sophie said: “I have done everything in my power to show them I am not liable for this parking charge.

“It is stressful, I have a little girl and I don’t want anyone coming to my house over something that is not my fault.

“But I’m putting my foot down and not paying. This company is awful and needs to be accountable for their errors and unnecessary stress on the general public.”

Sophie said she had not visited the salon since the incident.

Hairdresser Carla Hackett said many customers had received PCNs.

She said on the day Sophie visited she was locked out of the system so she emailed the firm but was told they could not deal with her because she wasn’t the landowner.

Carla said: “We have paid loads of fines for clients, but the system was set up to fail. I’m now advising clients not to park there at all.”

Her salon is above Fellas hairdressers.

Paul Hood, owner of Fellas, said the website was a “shambles” and he had paid PCNs worth more than £1,000 on behalf of customers to maintain good relations with them.

The business had a ‘permanent list’ of staff and regular clients whose registration numbers were supplied to VCS, allowing them to park without repeatedly inputting details, he added.

But six months ago it was removed without warning. One worker received five £100 PCNs in a week.

Excel Parking boss, Simon Renshaw-Smith, and wife Karen Gillott, company secretary. | National World

placeholder image — Excel Parking boss, Simon Renshaw-Smith, and wife Karen Gillott, company secretary. | National World

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But when he contacted VCS they denied it, he said.

He also said when he rang the VCS number about a problem he was told they “can’t do it over the phone.”

He said: “Why don’t they put a pay machine in the car park? They’ve already got cameras, it’s not that hard.”

Nine local businesses pay £150 annually for the use of the car park and its ‘e-permits’, it is understood.

Customers have no involvement in inputting information yet are solely responsible for PCNs.

Paul Hood added: “What if a customer comes and for some reason we’re not here?”

Vehicle Control Services is part of Excel Parking based in Tinsley.

The firm was approached for comment.

In 2023, Excel Parking was replaced as operator of a car park at Berkeley Centre on Ecclesall Road after years of complaints.

Private parking firms send Parking Charge Notices, which sound similar to Penalty Charge Notices issued by councils and police, they also have the same initials: PCN.

But many argue they are effectively letters demanding money for alleged breaches of terms and conditions written by a parking company.

David Walsh

Excel Parking: Sheffield mum slams car park 'set up to fail' drivers after demand for £170