Have you received a Contractual Parking Charge Notice, and you’re not sure if you should pay or appeal? You’ve come to the right place. Every month, over 130,000 people visit our website looking for guidance on fines and parking tickets.
In this article, we’ll provide simple and useful information on:
- What a Parking Charge Notice is.
- If you are required to pay a Parking Charge Notice.
- How to appeal a Contractual Parking Charge Notice.
- Tips to avoid getting a Contractual Parking Charge Notice.
We understand getting a private parking fine can be very frustrating. But don’t worry; you’re not alone. Over 19,000 parking fines are issued each day in the UK.1
We’re here to help you learn more about Contractual Parking Charge Notices and what you can do about them. Let’s get started!
Not sure what to write in your parking appeal?
You don’t need to start with a blank page.
We’ve created a free parking ticket appeal letter template that gives you a clear structure to follow.
Free editable parking appeal letter template from MoneyNerd.
What is a Contractual Parking Charge Notice?
A Contractual Parking Charge Notice is just another name for a Parking Charge Notice2. The word “Contractual” is included because the motorist agrees to a contract when entering and using a private car park. This should be stated on car park signage.
For example, by using a private car park, such as Premier Park, you agree to pay (the correct amount) for your stay. So if you don’t pay or overstay the length of time you paid to park, you have broken the terms and conditions of the contract.
And this is why some Parking Charge Notices can be called Contractual Parking Charge Notices. The word “Contractual” may also be included to sound more formal and intimidating to the recipient.
Contractual Parking Charge Notice G24
G24 is one car park management company that is well known to send out Contractual Parking Charge Notices to drivers. They are one of the biggest car park management companies, overseeing the operations of scores of car parks the length and breadth of the UK.
“I have received a contractual parking notice from G24. I have not responded to it. I have been told by a friend that I should just ignore it and throw the letters in the bin because they are just worthless pieces of paper. Is this good advice?”
- FAKENAME1 (Legal Beagles Forum)
“I’ve received a parking charge notice today from G24 saying I was parked on private property on 1st August 2020. They state ‘By entering and parking the vehicle on our client’s private property, the driver agreed with G24 limited to be bound by the terms and conditions of parking shown. The terms and conditions were clearly displayed at the entrance to and in prominent places within the car park.[…]”
- Guest (Legal Beagles Forum)
G24 will usually list the exact terms and conditions the motorist has broken when using the car parks they manage. This is to show that the contract was broken.
What’s Included in the Free Appeal Template
A clear structure
The template gives you a simple framework for putting your parking appeal together, so you don’t have to work out what to write from scratch.
What you’ll add
- Your parking charge details
- Why you’re appealing
- Any relevant evidence
- What you want the parking company to do
Easy to adapt
Just replace the sections in [square brackets] with the details of your own situation and edit the wording where needed.
You’ll get the template by email so you can save it, edit it and use it when you’re ready.
Free parking appeal letter template from MoneyNerd.
Do you have to pay a Parking Charge Notice?
You must pay a Parking Charge Notice within 28 days or make an appeal. Otherwise, you could be taken to court and have to pay further costs.
You might hear stories and advice online about ignoring Parking Charge Notice, but this isn’t always good advice.
Yes – some people do ignore Parking Charge Notices and never get taken to court, meaning they never have to pay. But that’s not a certainty, so ignoring these parking tickets is a risk.
» TAKE ACTION NOW: Get legal support from JustAnswer
Appeal Process Steps
POPLA is working hard to address issues that cause unfair parking fees. Main issues are often with technology and third party ticket issuers. 3
So, it’s common to believe that the ticket was unfairly issued. If that’s your case, you have the option to appeal.
Janine, our financial expert, advises to formally appeal a parking ticket within 28 days of receipt, providing evidence such as a photo of your car’s registration number if the PCN is incorrect.
I’ve created this table outlining the steps of the appeal process. If you want to learn more, don’t forget to read our complete guide.
| Process: | Steps you should take: |
|---|---|
| When you receive the ticket… | You should gather as much evidence as you can to support your appeal claim and prove that the ticket was unfairly issued. |
| If you were given the ticket in person/attached to your car… | You must make an informal appeal (sent to the local authority/council that issued the PCN) within 14 days. This should be a letter with the evidence proving why the ticket was incorrectly given. |
| If it was posted to you… | You will be given 21 days to submit an informal appeal (from the day you received the letter). Your informal appeal should be a letter with the evidence proving why the ticket was incorrectly given. |
| If the informal appeal is rejected… | You will receive a Notice to Owner and will have 28 days to respond to this with a formal appeal. You can conduct the formal appeal online or via paper form. The Traffic Penalty Tribunal can send you one of these forms. |
| If the formal appeal is rejected… | You will receive a Notice of Rejection. From here, you are free to challenge the council’s verdict at an independent tribunal. |
| If the independent tribunal disagrees with your appeal… | You should pay the ticket within 28 days of the tribunal rejecting your appeal. If you don’t, the fine will be increased by 50%. If you don’t have the money to pay the fine, you should contact Citizens Advice or another debt charity. |
Do I need to pay a parking fine from G24?
You’ll need to pay or appeal the fine from G24 within 28 days of the incident. If you are planning to pay the fine, it’s recommended to do so within 14 days so you get to pay the discounted fine instead of the full fine.
Appeals can be made directly to G24 in writing. The appeal must state why you want the parking ticket cancelled and may require further evidence to support any claims.
G24 then has up to 56 days to respond to your appeal. If they reject the appeal you can escalate it to Parking on Private Land Appeals (POPLA), which is a free service. This is because G24 is a member of the British Parking Association (BPA).
Feel more confident before you send your appeal
Writing a parking appeal can be difficult when you’re not sure what to include or how to structure it.
Our free template gives you a clear starting point, helping you:
- Set out what happened clearly
- Explain why you’re disputing the charge
- Include the important details
- Avoid starting from a blank page
Simply adapt the template to your own circumstances before sending it.
Free parking appeal letter template from MoneyNerd.
Are Parking Charge Notices legally enforceable?
You can be taken to court if you don’t pay a Parking Charge Notice. If you are subject to legal action and subsequently lose the case, a judge can issue an order for you to pay.
If you’re taken to court but don’t fight your case, the judge can serve you with a County Court Judgment (CCJ). This is another type of court order that makes you responsible to pay. When a case goes to court, you may end up having to pay court fees.
Although some parking companies might not take you to court, you can never be sure they won’t. Legal threats alone may be enough to get you to pay, which is why they usually threaten court action in all circumstances.
Ready to appeal your parking ticket?
Don’t start with a blank page.
Get our free parking ticket appeal letter template and use it as the starting point for your response.
Add the details of your parking charge, explain why you’re appealing and adapt the wording to your circumstances.
We’ll send the template straight to your email.
Free parking appeal letter template from MoneyNerd.
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