A Swansea car park has received scathing reviews from people online, who have claimed it’s "a nightmare".
Visitors to SA1 car park, by Swansea Marina, have claimed it's "unsafe", with at least three reviewers saying their car had been damaged or stolen whilst parked there. Other visitors claimed they had been fined for not parking in a marked bay when the markings of the car park were in places faded and unclear, and others have had a few choice words to describe the company running the facility.
The car park, which is frequently used by visitors to the city staying in the nearby Premier Inn, is the lowest rated in Swansea according to Google Reviews, as it has a damning 2.1/5 rating out of 24 reviews. Out of the 24 reviews, 16 of them were just one star. Excel Parking Services Ltd runs the facility, but a number of reviewers claim their appeals against fines have been 'ignored'. You can read more Swansea stories here.
Read more: People give their views on the worst place to park in Wales
Arriving drivers can pay with either coins for the car park or ring up and pay over the phone. The car park is open 24 hours a day, but reviewers are begging people to park elsewhere. You can get more Swansea news and other story updates by subscribing to our newsletters here.
Katie Markley wrote that her car had been stolen from the car park seven months ago. She claimed: "DO NOT PARK HERE - UNSAFE CAR PARK NO CCTV!!!!! We parked here for a 3 night stay in Swansea while staying at the Waterfront Premier Inn. On the 2nd August 2021 after checking out of the hotel we came down to find that our car had been stolen!!!" She claimed she had sent numerous emails to Excel parking with no response, and their telephone lines were not answered.
Another reviewer, Antonella Ramsden, said: "Not at all secure. No patrol or CCTV. We learned the hard way as on the first night of our stay in Swansea our catalytic converter was stolen! I would not park here again especially overnight." While, Stuart Sullivan claimed: "Do not ever park here, Excel appear to be doing absolutely nothing about the break-ins and thefts. Excel manage the 3 car parks in this area and there have been multiple break-ins and cars stolen on 4 different occasions in the last 2 months."
Other reviewers talk of faded lines, and unmarked bays and exits. Many of the reviews mention being fined for not parking in bays despite this.
Matthew Davies claimed: "Please, for your own sake, actively avoid this car park. They will sit and wait for you to park and when you pay and walk off, they will spring out of their cabin and book you (sometimes rows at a time). When confronted they will blame a co-worker who has conveniently left the area. This car park is controlled by Excel parking. Please don't line their pockets further by using this parking area. If I could give a zero star I would."
Reviewer Deborah Evans claimed: "This car park is a nightmare, the lines are not clearly marked and neither is the exit. Be careful - If you don't park correctly you will be booked and fined. The car park attendant sits in the hut, waits for you to leave and books you. No warning, you go back to your car to find a £35 fine. I parked in what I thought was a parking bay, purchased a ticket and got back to a fine. The lines had apparently been blacked out even though you could still see the white lines. Will not be parking there again."
Another car owner had a similar complaint. Reviewer, Fix My Spine, said: "I've just lost an appeal and paid £70 to avoid an even more costly appearance in court by missing work to attend. I didn't park in a marked bay. There are hardly any bays but loads of space to park. Whole rows of cars get "fined" at a time, as each car adds to the last, in all innocence. Unless you're prepared to pay £35 to park your car here, avoid this car park. Don't bother appealing, the car parking charities say that Excel is very good at legal jargonese and somehow manages to win its cases. I haven't got the time or inclination to contest this any further, but I can warn others of this company. Excel parking will do its best to fine you!"
Mansel Davies also left a one star review, saying: "Excel Parking Services Ltd...will use any method to ensure they scrape every last penny off you. Trying to get information from them in regards to how you broke their terms of service is a nightmare. Just park somewhere else. Please."
Excel Parking Services Ltd has been contacted for comment.
