CPS Parking Ticket Fine – Should I Pay or Appeal?
Have you got a CPS parking fine and don’t know if you should pay or appeal? This is the right spot for you. Every month, over 130,000 people visit our website to understand fines and parking tickets, which comes as no surprise, as over 19,000 parking fines are issued each day in the UK.1
This article will offer you simple and clear advice on:
- Who CPS is.
- Why CPS might give you a ticket.
- If you need to pay CPS parking fines.
- How to appeal a CPS parking fine.
- What happens if you ignore a CPS parking ticket.
We understand that a private parking fine can be very annoying. But keep calm, we have a lot of helpful tips and examples to guide you in this process.
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.
Do You Have to Pay?
In many circumstances, you could appeal your CPS Parking fine.
It’s a bit sneaky, but last time I had a parking fine I paid £5 for a trial to chat with an online solicitor called JustAnswer.
Not only did I save £50 on solicitor fees, I also won my case and didn’t have to pay my £271 fine.
Click here to get the trial offer with JustAnswer.
Why would they give you a ticket?
You could be given a parking ticket from CPS because the operator claims you did not abide by their rules. In short, you have allegedly disregarded the Terms and Conditions of using a car park they manage.
That said, you’ll be issued a parking charge notice (not the same as a penalty charge notice) for a minor parking infringement. It could be because:
- Your car wasn’t parked correctly
- You parked in a bay designated for use by a disabled person or families with children
- You didn’t pay to use the car park, or you overstayed an allotted time that’s free of charge
- You returned to your car well after the fee expired
There’s no getting out of paying when a parking charge notice is issued correctly because you committed a minor parking violation. Providing the fine was issued correctly according to the IPC guidelines.
It’s always a good idea to look into a parking ticket, as the RAC found that the number of parking tickets being issued is up by nearly 30%! The report also found that misleading and deliberately confusing signage in private car parks is part of the problem.2
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.
Should you pay it straight away?
No. You should first check the fine was issued correctly according to IPC guidelines before paying it.
You should see if:
- The details on the parking charge notice are correct
- Did the operator allow you a grace period before issuing the parking fine? You’re allowed a 10-minute grace period when you get back to your car
- Was the parking fine sent to you within 14 days of the alleged parking infringement?
I was recently featured in The Sun about parking tickets, where I encouraged everyone to check whether the ticket was issued by a member of a trade association. If they aren’t, then they probably can’t get your details from the DVLA to pursue you.
When you know the fine was issued correctly, I recommend paying it within 14 days of receiving it. Paying it within 2 weeks means you pay a reduced amount.
You can pay a CPS parking fine online. The amount an operator can legally charge is:
- £50 outside London (England and Wales)
- £80 in London
If your fine is above these amounts, you can challenge it. The operator should cancel the fine!
You must provide the following when you pay the parking fine:
- Your car registration details
- The parking fine reference number
What happens if you ignore it?
Don’t ignore a parking charge notice you get from CPS. The operator will chase you for the money if, after 28 days, you don’t pay. You’ll receive payment reminders. The letters are typically quite threatening.
You’ll receive a Letter Before Action as a warning the operator intends to take you to court!
Next, the operator could ask a debt collection agency who could contact you by letter, phone, or visit you in person. Lastly, CPS could take you to court to recover the debt.
Suppose you continue to ignore the parking fine and a court ruling. In that case, a County Court Judgement is filed on your credit history. It’ll affect your ability to borrow for 6 years!
I recommend you don’t ignore a parking fine on private land to avoid things escalating.
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.
Can a private company make you pay a fine?
The operator must take you to court because a parking charge notice falls under Contractual Law. Only a court can make you pay the fine!
Is it the same as a PCN?
No. The fine looks similar, but it is not the same at all. Penalty charge notices are legally enforceable under the Road Traffic Act 1988. On the other hand, a parking ticket on private land is an ‘invoice’.
Operators are authorised by landowners to issue fines to motorists. The notices are given to inform you of a parking infringement. In short, when you get a parking charge notice, it’s a civil offence, not a criminal one.
Here’s a table explaining the key differences between a Fixed Penalty Notice and a Penalty Charge Notice.
| Issue | Fixed penalty notice (FPN) | Council penalty charge notice (PCN) |
|---|---|---|
| Nature | Offer to resolve a specified offence without prosecution if complied with; rules depend on the offence. | Civil parking or traffic penalty under the relevant statutory scheme. |
| Points | Some motoring offences carry penalty points. | A civil PCN itself does not add licence points. |
| If unpaid | The next step depends on the notice and offence; prosecution or increased enforcement costs may follow. | Statutory escalation can add a charge certificate, court registration and enforcement fees. This is not normally a credit-file CCJ. |
| Disputing it | Follow the notice. Contesting liability may require a court hearing and carries cost/sentence risks if convicted. | Follow the notice’s informal/formal representation route and any later independent appeal deadline. |
| Amount | Depends on the offence and applicable rules. | Depends on the authority, contravention and area; check the notice for discount and full amounts. |
A private parking charge notice is a different contractual claim with its own appeal and court process.
Could they start legal proceedings if you don’t pay?
Yes. CPS could take you to court if you don’t pay the parking charge notice within 28 days of getting it. There’s no guarantee the operator won’t start legal proceedings to recover the debt.
My advice? You should pay the parking ticket within 14 days, so you pay less. Or you should file an appeal within 28 days, which stops the operator from taking the matter to court. Until they decide to reject your appeal, there’s nothing they can do.
» TAKE ACTION NOW: Get legal support from JustAnswer
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.
How do you challenge it?
You must file an appeal against a CPS parking ticket within 28 days of getting it. After twenty-eight days, you lose the right to contest the parking fine. Also, you need to explain why you don’t want to pay.
Your appeal was rejected. What happens next?
You have the right to file an appeal with an independent appeals service (IAS) if you receive a rejection letter from CPS. The operator must provide information on how to do this in their rejection letter.
You weren’t driving when it was issued. What should you do?
You must provide the name and address of the driver if you weren’t driving when the fine was issued. You’ll be liable for the parking fine if you don’t tell CPS who was driving and you’re the registered keeper.
You can transfer liability on the operator’s website.
References
