247advice.co.uk
Parking Charge Notice
This page provides advice and information on PRIVATE parking charges (tickets) only. For Penalty Charge Notices (PCN), please see the Government advice.
Parking Ticket issued by a private parking company
This is for advice and information on parking charges (tickets) only. parking charge Notices are issued by the private parking sector on private land. Examples of this are Supermarkets, Hospitals and Airports. How you pay a parking charge (parking ticket) depends on who issued it, and if they are accredited. You have limited time to pay or appeal, an early payment reduction is available if paid within 14 days. If you pay the parking charge, you lose your ability to appeal. Below is the step by step process you should take if you receive a parking charge.
Rogue or Accredited?
Private parking companies should be a member of an Accredited Trade Association (ATA). This means the parking company must follow the sector’s Code of Practice. The Code does things like cap the amount a parking charge can be ( EG £100), mandate clear signage and ensure there is an independent appeals service.
If the operator is not accredited by the International Parking Community (IPC) or the British Parking Association (BPA) proceed with caution. Parking companies who are not accredited do not have to follow a Code of Practice, and they do not have access to DVLA data, we advise not share personal details with them.
ATA: IPC
Trade Association for the private parking sector. Members must comply with the sector Code of Practice. The IPC regularly audits its member’s signs, sites and appeals. The IPC has several parking schemes for the highest of standards. These are: ParkProtect and AAPP. The IPC has an independent appeals service, this is the Independent Appeals Service (IAS).
ATA: BPA
Trade Association for the private and Local Authority (council) parking sector. Members must comply with the sector Code of Practice. The BPA has several parking schemes for the highest of standards. These are: ParkMark and AM-GO. The BPA has an independent appeals service, this is: Parking on Private Land Appeals (POPLA).
How long do I have to pay or appeal?
STAGE 1
UP TO 14 DAYS
You have up to 14 days to pay at a 40% reduction (EG: £100 down to £60). If you choose to appeal at this stage, you maintain the ability to pay at a reduced rate should you lose your appeal. You should allow time for postage if you use that method.
NOTE: If you appeal at this stage, you only have the ability to pay at the reduced amount for a further 14 days
STAGE 2
15 DAYS UP TO
28 DAYS
On day 15 you must pay the full amount of the parking charge. If you wish to appeal, you must do this within 28 days.
STAGE 3
29 DAYS PLUS
If you have ignored the parking charge up to this point, it will be sent to a company to recover the parking charge. This company may add a “Debt Recovery Fee” of up to £70 to the total. You have also lost the ability to appeal.
After day 29, It can be escalated to court and the judge
may issue a CCJ in some cases.
Can you appeal?
ASK OUR AI
CHATBOT
Our AI chatbot will ask you some questions about your parking charge, and let you know if you should appeal. You can still appeal even if the chatbot concludes you have a low chance of a successful appeal.
HOW DO I PAY?
Your Parking Charge will tell you how to pay. Their name and logo should be at the top of the letter or be indicated on the front page if attached to the windscreen in a yellow pocket.
Top Tip: If you are unsure if your payment has been received, then contact the parking company and check. Do not assume.
CAN I APPEAL AFTER I PAY?
No. If you want to appeal, then you must do this before you pay. If you have already paid, but want to appeal, it is up to the discretion of the operator.
WHAT IF I DON'T PAY?
A Debt Recovery Fee is added, and you could be taken to court and get a CCJ
I THINK MY PARKING TICKET ISN'T FAIR
If you think your parking charge isn’t fair, or issued in error, you should first appeal to the operator. You can then appeal to the independent adjudicator (IAS or POPLA).
IPC = IAS
BPA = POPLA
If you appeal to the IAS or POPLA it freezes the clock, but you can no longer pay the reduced rate, unless the operator offers it to you as a sign of good faith.
I APPEALED MY PARKING CHARGE
If you appeal your parking charge to an operator, they have 28 days to respond.
If you do not hear back, do not assume that the charge has been cancelled. Please follow up with the operator prior to the 28 days.
Concluded
If you appeal your parking charge to an operator, they have 28 days to respond. If you do not hear back, do not assume that the charge has been cancelled. Please follow up with the operator prior to the 28 days.
APPEAL IN 5 EASY STEPS
STEP 1:
REVIEW THE NOTICE
Carefully read the parking charge notice to understand the alleged contravention, the timeframe to appeal, the amount due, reduced rate timeframes and the payment deadline. The notice will also state that the parking charge was issued on private land.
STEP 4:
APPEAL TO THE OPERATOR
First, appeal to the operator who issued you the parking charge notice. Their name and how to appeal will be on the parking charge notice. If appealed within 14 days, you are still eligible for the 40% discount. Once appealed, the clock is frozen, and the operator has 28 days to respond.
STEP 2:
Check the operator is accredited
If the operator is not accredited by the International Parking Community (IPC) or the British Parking Association (BPA) proceed with caution.
STEP 5:
INDEPENDENT
ADJUDICATOR
If not satisfied after appealing to the operator, you can then appeal to an independent adjudicator. For the IPC this is the IAS, for the BPA this is POPLA. You are no longer eligible for the 40% discount.
STEP 3
GATHER
EVIDENCE
Ensure you gather as much evidence as you can. Pictures of signage, proof of payment, images of faded markings or proof of a medical emergency.
UNDERSTAND
OUTCOMES
When you appeal, the parking charge might be cancelled, reduced to £20 if mitigating circumstances are accepted, or upheld, requiring full payment. If your appeal is rejected, you must pay within 28 days to avoid additional charges. Failure to pay could result in further action, including potential court proceedings.
NOT THE RIGHT PARKING TICKET?
Let's get you to the right one
Parking Ticket issued by a private parking company
This is for advice and information on parking charges (tickets) only. parking charge notices are issued by the private parking sector on private land. Examples of this are Supermarkets, Hospitals and Airports. How you pay a Parking Charge (parking ticket) depends on who issued it, and if they are accredited. You have limited time to pay or appeal, an early payment reduction is available if paid within 14 days. If you pay the parking charge, you lose your ability to appeal. Below is the step by step process you should take if you receive a parking charge.
Rogue or Accredited?
Private parking companies should be a member of an Accredited Trade Association (ATA). This means the parking company must follow the sector’s Code of Practice. The Code does things like cap the amount a parking charge can be (EG £100), mandate clear signage and ensure there is an independent appeals service.
If the operator is not accredited by the International Parking Community (IPC) or the British Parking Association (BPA) proceed with caution. Parking companies who are not accredited do not have to follow a Code of Practice, and they do not have access to DVLA data, we advise not share personal details with them.
ATA: IPC
Trade Association for the private parking sector. Members must comply with the sector Code of Practice. The IPC regularly audits its member’s signs, sites and appeals. The IPC has several parking schemes for the highest of standards. These are: ParkProtect and AAPP. The IPC has an independent appeals service, this is the Independent Appeals Service (IAS).
ATA: BPA
Trade Association for the private and Local Authority (council) parking sector. Members must comply with the sector Code of Practice. The BPA has several parking schemes for the highest of standards. These are: ParkMark and AM-GO. (make both links) The BPA has an independent appeals service, this is: Parking on Private Land Appeals (POPLA).
How long do I have to pay or appeal?
STAGE 1
UP TO 14 DAYS
You have up to 14 days to pay at a 40% reduction (EG: £100 down to £60). If you choose to appeal at this stage, you maintain the ability to pay at a reduced rate should you lose your appeal. You should allow time for postage if you use that method.
NOTE: If you appeal at this stage, you only have the ability to pay at the reduced amount for a further 14 days
STAGE 2
15 DAYS UP TO
28 DAYS
On day 15 you must pay the full amount of the parking charge. If you wish to appeal, you must do this within 28 days.
STAGE 3
29 DAYS PLUS
If you have ignored the parking charge up to this point, it will be sent to a company to recover the parking charge. This company may add a “Debt Recovery Fee” of up to £70 to the total. You have also lost the ability to appeal.
After day 29, it can be escalated to court and the judge may issue a CCJ in some cases.
Can you appeal?
ASK OUR AI CHATBOT
Our AI chatbot will ask you some questions about your parking charge, and let you know if you should appeal. You can still appeal even if the chatbot concludes you have a low chance of a successful appeal.
WHAT IF I DON’T PAY?
A debt escalation fee is added, and you could be taken to court and get a CCJ
HOW DO I PAY?
Your Parking Charge will tell you how to pay. Their name and logo should be at the top of the letter or be indicated on the front page if attached to the windscreen in a yellow pocket.
Top Tip: If you are unsure if your payment has been received, then contact the parking company and check. Do not assume.
CAN I APPEAL AFTER I PAY?
No. If you want to appeal, then you must do this before you pay. If you have already paid, but want to appeal, it is up to the discretion of the operator.
I THINK MY PARKING TICKET ISN'T FAIR
If you think your parking charge isn’t fair, or issued in error, you should first appeal to the operator. You can then appeal to the independent adjudicator (IAS or POPLA).
IPC = IAS
BPA = POPLA
If you appeal to the IAS or POPLA it freezes the clock, but you can no longer pay the reduced rate, unless the operator offers it to you as a sign of good faith.
I APPEALED MY PARKING CHARGE
If you appeal your parking charge to an operator, they have 28 days to respond.
If you do not hear back, do not assume that the charge has been cancelled. Please follow up with the operator prior to the 28 days.
CONCLUDED
If you appeal your parking charge to an operator, they have 28 days to respond. If you do not hear back, do not assume that the charge has been cancelled. Please follow up with the operator prior to the 28 days.
APPEAL IN 5 EASY STEPS
STEP 1
REVIEW THE NOTICE
Carefully read the parking charge notice to understand the alleged contravention, the timeframe to appeal, the amount due, reduced rate timeframes and the payment deadline. The notice will also state that the parking charge was issued on private land.
STEP 3
GATHER EVIDENCE
Ensure you gather as much evidence as you can. Pictures of signage, proof of payment, images of faded markings or proof of a medical emergency.
STEP 2:
Check the operator
is accredited
If the operator is not accredited by the International Parking Community (IPC) or the British Parking Association (BPA) proceed with caution.
STEP 5:
INDEPENDENT ADJUDICATOR
If not satisfied after appealing to the operator, you can then appeal to an independent adjudicator. For the IPC this is the IAS, for the BPA this is POPLA. You are no longer eligible for the 40% discount.
STEP 4:
APPEAL TO THE OPERATOR
First, appeal to the operator who issued you the parking charge notice. Their name and how to appeal will be on the parking charge notice. If appealed within 14 days, you are still eligible for the 40% discount. Once appealed, the clock is frozen, and the operator has 28 days to respond.
UNDERSTAND OUTCOMES
When you appeal, the parking charge might be cancelled, reduced to £20 if mitigating circumstances are accepted, or upheld, requiring full payment. If your appeal is rejected, you must pay within 28 days to avoid additional charges. Failure to pay could result in further action, including potential court proceedings.