Private parking tickets aren’t fines; they’re invoices for breaking the landowner’s parking rules as shown on the signage. If the ticket is fair, paying quickly may get you a discount. But if you think it's unfair, you may want to appeal instead of paying straight away. If you don’t pay, it will escalate with a greater financial amount due and, in some cases, eventually go to court where you can be given a CCJ.

Grace Period – 10 minutes after your permitted period of parking before a parking charge is issued. NOTE, that many sites that use ANPR will calculate this time till your vehicle exits the site, not a parking bay. Consideration Period – Time given when you enter a car park to read the signs and decide if you want to stay.

No, once you’ve paid, you’re accepting the charge, and you lose your right to appeal. Always appeal first if you think the ticket is unfair. If you have already paid and decide to appeal you can still try and appeal, but it is up to the parking company to decide if they will allow the appeal. You may not appeal to the independent adjudicator.

If you have proof of payment (receipt, bank statement, or parking app record), appeal immediately. Ensure you provide full evidence.

Yes. If the parking company take you to court and proves you broke their contract (terms on the signage), a judge will order you to pay.

The DVLA legally sells driver details to parking companies for enforcement purposes. While controversial, this is allowed under UK law. However, if a company misuses your data, you can complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

A section (Annex F) within the sector single Code of Practice that specifies instances when a parking charge should be cancelled or reduced to £20. Examples of this are a minor keying error when registering their vehicle (EG an 0 and O).

If you feel a parking company has acted unfairly or broken the Code of Practice (LINK) you can complain to their trade association: British Parking Association (BPA) link: https://portal.britishparking.co.uk/compliance/LogComplaint International Parking Community (IPC) link: https://www.theipc.info/motorist-advice

The independent appeals services are made up of qualified solicitors and barristers. They are duty bound by their own professional standards bodies to uphold the rule of law and to maintain independence. This duty is expressly retained in the terms and conditions of their appointment.

Each of the Accredited Trade Associations has an independent appeals service. The independent appeals service is made up of qualified solicitors and barristers. They are duty bound by their own professional standards bodies to uphold the rule of law and to maintain independence. This duty is expressly retained in the terms and conditions of their appointment. British Parking Association (BPA): POPLA International Parking Community (IPC): IAS

Yes, private parking companies can issue tickets, but they are not the same as council fines. They’re based on a contract. By parking on private land, you agree to their terms. However, these charges must be fair, and you have the right to challenge them. It is important to check if the parking company is a member of an Accredited Trade Association. If they are not, proceed with caution. Learn more about Trade Associations HERE. Check if the parking company is a member of an Accredited Trade Association HERE: IPC Accredited, BPA Members

No, once you pay, you’re accepting liability, and you can’t appeal. If you’re unsure whether the ticket is fair, it’s best to appeal first before making any payment. If you have already paid but still want to appeal, you can try, but it is up to the parking company to decide if they will allow you to appeal. You are no longer eligible to appeal to an Independent Adjudicator.

If you believe the ticket was wrongly issued, you should appeal. Start by appealing to the parking company directly, explaining why it’s unfair and providing evidence. If they reject your appeal, you can take it to an independent appeals service like POPLA or IAS, depending on the company. Use our chatbot to see if you should appeal.

Ignoring a private parking charge can lead to letters from debt collectors and possibly court action. Most companies will pursue unpaid parking charges. Ignoring it completely can backfire. It’s usually better to appeal or pay rather than risk a court claim.