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Father Christmas Faces £285 Fine in Parking Dispute

1/19/2026

22 4

Summary

Story summary

Simon Edmonds, known as Father Christmas, received a £100 Parking Charge Notice from Excel Parking after entering car registration incorrectly in Derby.
Excel Parking rejected the appeal.
The company offered a £20 reduced charge, which Edmonds says he never saw.
A judge ordered Edmonds to pay £285.56 as MPs criticized the five-minute rule as a 'five-minute rip-off charge' and the government plans a Private Parking Code of Practice for transparency.

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Story summary

Simon Edmonds, known as Father Christmas, received a £100 Parking Charge Notice from Excel Parking after entering car registration incorrectly in Derby.
Excel Parking rejected the appeal.
The company offered a £20 reduced charge, which Edmonds says he never saw.
A judge ordered Edmonds to pay £285.56 as MPs criticized the five-minute rule as a 'five-minute rip-off charge' and the government plans a Private Parking Code of Practice for transparency.