Countrywide Parking Appeals – Should You Pay?

Have you received a Countrywide parking fine and are unsure whether to pay or appeal? This article is here to help.

Every month, over 130,000 people come to our website for guidance on matters of fines and parking tickets. So, you’re not alone.

In this article, we aim to provide clear and straightforward advice on:

•  The rules about Countrywide parking fines.
•  Reasons you might receive a Parking Notice Charge.
•  How and when to appeal a parking ticket.
•  The appeals process with Countrywide.
•  What might happen if you don’t pay a parking ticket.

We know that getting a parking fine can be very upsetting. But don’t worry; we’ll provide useful tips, examples, and contact details to help you make the right decision about your Countrywide parking fine.

Can it be enforced on private land?

When you break the ‘rules’ in a private car park, the operator has the right to issue a Parking Charge Notice. This is not the same as a Penalty Charge Notice and should not be dealt with in the same way.

A Parking Charge Notice is an invoice raised by the landowner or parking operator. However, all British Parking Association (BPA) members must follow a Code of Practice. If an operator does not abide by it, and you get a ticket, you have the right to challenge it.

Private operators cannot enforce a Parking Charge Notice. However, they can take you to court for non-payment. So never ignore things when you get a ticket from Countrywide. Whether you broke the rules and paid the amount or filed an informal appeal to challenge the ticket, you should deal with it.

My advice is to make sure the Parking Charge Notice is yours. Next, decide whether the operator had good cause to give you a ticket.

Why you might be given a Parking Fine

You could be given a Parking Notice Charge for several reasons. However, private operators often issue them for minor parking offences. That said, you could get one for:

• Not paying the correct fee to park
• Overstaying the time allowed to park
• Failing to park in an allotted bay
• Parking in bays designated for families with infants or the disabled

Private car park operators must erect signs that tell you about their rules and the Terms and Conditions on their land. When signs are not clearly visible, or road markings are not clear, you could challenge a Parking Charge Notice.

When the rules of using a car park are not clear, and the operator gives you a ticket, you can’t be held in ‘breach’ of the contract! Thus the Parking Charge Notice should be cancelled!

When to challenge a ticket

You could challenge a Parking Charge Notice if you:

• Received the ticket over 14 days after you parked a vehicle in the car park
• Parked correctly in a designated bay
• Couldn’t see the signs and road markings because they were not visible or clear (hidden by vegetation, markings faded)
• Couldn’t pay because the machines were out of order
• Charged more than £100
• Had a valid reason for not getting back to your vehicle (disabled, pregnant, have a young child with you)
• Weren’t driving the vehicle at the time the Parking Charge Notice was issued
• Were broken down and waiting for assistance
• Ran out of time by under 10 minutes (10-minute grace period)
• Got a Parking Charge Notice in the post, but there weren’t any CCTV or ANPR signs erected in the car park

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Countrywide Parking Contact Details

What is a 10-minute grace period?

The Private Parking Code of Practice states that operators must allow you a 10-minute grace period before issuing a ticket. All accredited members of the parking association must follow this rule. You could challenge the fine when you get a ticket, and you were not given 10 minutes grace!

It costs nothing to file an informal appeal against a Parking Charge Notice, so you have nothing to lose. Plus, you must make an informal appeal before lodging one with an independent trade association or tribunal.

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.

Get my free appeal template

Free parking appeal letter template from MoneyNerd.

The appeals process

When you think the Parking Charge Notice is wrong or unfair, you have the right to file an appeal against the charge! You have to make the appeal in writing to Countrywide Parking.

Note: Even when you file an appeal in writing to Countrywide using their process, the 14-day period you have to pay a reduced fine still stands from the date the Parking Charge Notice was given to you.

When the operator disagrees with your appeal, you have the right to appeal to an Independent Appeals Service. But, again, if you lose your appeal, you’ll have to pay the total amount of the Parking Charge Notice!

Remember to send your appeal in writing by registered post, so you have a record the operator received it.

Should I dispute or pay the fine?

When you know you didn’t break any rules or weren’t driving the vehicle when the ticket was issued, challenge the fine! However, when you were in the wrong and deserved to receive a Parking Charge Notice, you may be better off paying it. That said, it costs nothing to make an informal appeal, so it’s something worth considering.

Thanks for reading my article on Countrywide parking appeals and whether you should pay the fine. I hope the information helps you decide whether it’s easier to settle the fine and move on or whether an appeal is an option.