Scott founded MoneyNerd after his own experience with debt. He runs the website and oversees its general information about debt and other money matters.
Scott does not provide personal debt advice or recommend debt solutions through MoneyNerd. If you make a debt enquiry, MoneyNerd may introduce you to The Debt Advice Service, which provides any personal debt advice.
Janine previously contributed articles and videos to MoneyNerd about everyday money, household costs, debt topics and parking matters. She has a background in broadcasting, including work with BBC Radio 5 Live and Bauer radio stations. Her published work provides general information, not personal debt advice.
The form asks for contact details to deliver your free MoneyNerd template. General information, not legal advice. Follow your notice’s instructions and deadlines; adapt the wording to your circumstances. No outcome is guaranteed.
Have you received a private parking fine from P4 Parking and are wondering if you should pay or contest it? This is the right place for you. Each month, more than 130,000 people visit our website to understand their parking fines and tickets.
Which? found that unclear rules and various payment methods in private car parks are partly to blame for an increased number of fines.1
So if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the process, don’t worry. In this easy-to-understand article, we’ll cover:
Who P4 Parking is.
If P4 Parking fines need to be paid.
How to contest a P4 Parking fine.
Ways to avoid a P4 Parking fine.
We get how upsetting a private parking fine can be. But there’s no need to worry; we are here to help you understand your options.
Let’s get started!
Not sure what to write in your parking appeal?
The form asks for contact details to deliver your free MoneyNerd template.
Add your notice details, reasons for disputing the charge and relevant evidence.
General information, not legal advice. Follow your notice’s instructions and deadlines; adapt the wording to your circumstances. No outcome is guaranteed.
P4 Parking fine – should you appeal or pay?
I recommend you check the following before paying a P4 Parking fine:
That the fine is correctly issued
The operator followed the BPA code of practice
That you were given a 10-minute grace period before the fine was issued
You have the right to appeal if you feel the fine is not justified or you were overcharged. However, the operator must investigate your appeal, plus it prevents them from pursuing the matter further.
Can they enforce a Parking Charge Notice?
If you don’t pay the fine and you don’t appeal it, the operator can chase you for the money. You’ll get threatening letters, and eventually, P4 Parking could take you to court.
If they win the case, a judge will issue a court order for you to pay. This is when a fine on private land becomes enforceable! A private parking operate, such as P4 Parking or Parking Awareness Services, cannot legally demand you pay without a court order to pay.
What to include in your parking appeal
The form asks for contact details to deliver your free MoneyNerd template.
Include the notice reference, your reasons, supporting evidence and the action you want the issuer to take.
The correct process depends on the notice and where it was issued.
General information, not legal advice. Follow your notice’s instructions and deadlines; adapt the wording to your circumstances. No outcome is guaranteed.
Is a Parking Charge Notice the same as a Penalty Charge Notice?
They are not the same as Penalty Charge Notices. They are not covered by UK law. In short, an operator raises an invoice when they give you a fine because you committed a parking violation.
On the other hand, a Penalty Charge Notice is issued by local authorities, the Police and Highways agencies. They are enforceable under the Road Traffic Act.
You may get a fine from P4 Parking because you failed to follow the T&Cs of using a car park the operator manages. However, in recent times, private operators received a lot of bad press for giving out fines for minor violations!
Also, all British Parking Association members should follow the BPA code of practice. In short, P4 should manage a private car park fairly and only issue tickets to motorists who violate their rules!
Some of the most common reasons why P4 Parking could give you a ticket are:
You failed to display a ticket in your car window
You didn’t pay
You overstayed the allowed time
Your vehicle was poorly parked or in bays reserved for the disabled and families with children
Advertisement. Paid general legal information from JustAnswer. Memberships renew automatically until cancelled. Check the initial price, renewal price, billing interval and cancellation terms. The standard service does not create a solicitor-client relationship. No successful outcome is guaranteed. MoneyNerd may receive a referral fee.
How do I appeal the P4 parking charge?
You can appeal a P4 Parking fine when you feel it was incorrectly given or because the operator did not follow the Code of Practice. However, you must appeal the fine within 28 days (sooner if possible!).
The operator deals with parking appeals via email using their appeals form. But you can also mail an appeal to P4 Parking. Either way, you must provide:
Parking ticket reference number
Vehicle registration mark
Your name and address
The name of the driver if different to your own
Supporting evidence
Appeal Process Steps
I’ve put together this table to help you better understand the appeal process. If you want to learn more about the steps you should take or have any doubts, please read our detailed guide.
When
Action
On receiving a council PCN
Read the notice, keep it, gather evidence and note all payment and challenge deadlines.
Windscreen or handed-to-driver PCN
An informal challenge may be available before the Notice to Owner. Early challenge can preserve a discount under the authority’s policy; 14 days is not a universal final appeal deadline.
Postal PCN or Notice to Owner
Normally make formal representations within 28 days as stated on the notice. Do not assume there is an extra informal stage.
Representations rejected
The Notice of Rejection explains how to appeal to the appropriate independent tribunal, normally within 28 days.
Appeal unsuccessful
Pay by the deadline given in the decision or obtain advice on any available review. Further statutory charges can follow if you do neither.
Other ticket type
Private parking charges and FPNs use different procedures; follow the actual notice.
Keep in mind that you should contest the fine if you:
Did not break any rules when using the car park
Received the parking ticket in the post over 14 days after using the car park
Could not clearly see car park signs and road markings
Found payment machine was out of order
Received a fine that was over £50 (the cap on fines is £50 out of London, but £80 in London)
Didn’t get back to your car for a good reason
Broke down and was waiting for assistance
Got back to your car 5 or 10 minutes after the allotted time
Received the fine in the post, but no signs stating there was surveillance in operation were in the car park
Although this is not an obligation, your appeal stands a better chance of success if you provide supporting evidence.
The kind of proof could be:
Photos of your vehicle and where it was parked, the ticket machine, signs and road markings, the parking fine you got etc
Messages and other correspondence you got from P4 Parking and your replies
Witness statements if there is anyone who can support your version of events
Receipts from the vehicle recovery firm if you had broken down and needed their services
P4 Parking is authorised to hand out fines, but mistakes can happen. Plus, an overzealous car park attendant may give you a penalty without giving you the grace period on returning to your car!
What is an acceptable grace period?
The British Parking Association’s guidelines state that members should allow you a 10-minute grace period on returning to your car. Therefore, an operator should not issue a ticket if you are 10 minutes or under late getting back to the car park.
If you got the parking ticket 5 minutes after your time ran out, you should contest the fine with the operator. Moreover, it costs nothing to appeal, and it stops the operator from taking the matter further. Until the appeal is resolved, that is!
What happens when an appeal is rejected?
You’ll be notified when an appeal is rejected. Plus, the operator must explain how to file an appeal with the Independent Appeals Service (IAS). POPLA is the service that deals with parking fine appeals.
If you lose both appeals, you could contact the Ombudsman Service. But you may have to just cut your losses and pay the fine. Moreover, you’ll have lost the chance to pay the reduced amount!
Will I get a CCJ for a parking charge fine?
No, not for the parking fine. But if the operator takes you to court and wins, you’ll have a CCJ on your credit record. This will negatively impact your ability to borrow in the future.
Free parking appeal letter template
The form asks for contact details to deliver your free MoneyNerd template.
Explain what happened, why you dispute the charge and include relevant evidence.
General information, not legal advice. Follow your notice’s instructions and deadlines; adapt the wording to your circumstances. No outcome is guaranteed.
General information, not legal advice. Follow your notice’s instructions and deadlines; adapt the wording to your circumstances. No outcome is guaranteed.
We're glad you liked the article! As a small team, your support means everything to us. If you could rate us on Google, it would be amazing. Thank you!
Scott founded MoneyNerd after his own experience with debt. He runs the website and oversees its general information about debt and other money matters.
Scott does not provide personal debt advice or recommend debt solutions through MoneyNerd. If you make a debt enquiry, MoneyNerd may introduce you to The Debt Advice Service, which provides any personal debt advice.
Janine previously contributed articles and videos to MoneyNerd about everyday money, household costs, debt topics and parking matters. She has a background in broadcasting, including work with BBC Radio 5 Live and Bauer radio stations. Her published work provides general information, not personal debt advice.
The form asks for contact details to deliver your free MoneyNerd template. General information, not legal advice. Follow your notice’s instructions and deadlines; adapt the wording to your circumstances. No outcome is guaranteed.
