Elite Parking Management - Should you Pay or Appeal?

Are you feeling stuck with an Elite Parking Management fine and unsure whether to pay it or challenge it?

You’ve found the right spot. Over 130,000 people visit our website every month seeking advice on fines and parking tickets.

This article will provide simple and clear advice on:

Understanding Elite Parking Management fines.
Deciding if you need to pay these fines.
The process for appealing a Parking Charge Notice.
Tips on preventing future parking fines.
Useful contact details for Elite Parking Management.

We know it can be really annoying to get a private parking fine. But don’t worry; we’ve got plenty of useful tips and examples to guide you on your journey.

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Can they enforce a Parking Charge Notice?

An Elite Parking Management PCN is only enforceable when a court orders you to pay the fine! Unlike Penalty Charge Notices, they are invoices issued because of an alleged parking infringement committed on private land. The operator issues a Parking Charge Notice on behalf of a landowner. It is not enforced by the police, local councils or highway authorities!

A Parking Charge Notice is an invoice raised by the operator because they deem you broke the rules of using their car park. Elite Parking Management can take you to court if you ignore the fine, refuse to pay, or file an appeal and lose. It is a civil matter between yourself and the operator.

Don’t assume the ticket was correctly issued because often, Parking Charge Notices are not! The operator is a member of the British Parking Association (BPA). They must follow the Code of Practice, and when they fail to do so, you have the right to file an informal appeal.

Note: It costs nothing to file an informal appeal with an operator.

Why you could get a Parking Charge Notice

Elite Parking Management might give you a ticket for a minor parking infringement. Don’t automatically pay the fine until you are satisfied it is justified!

The most common reasons for getting a PCN on private land is because you:

Didn’t pay
Got back to your car too late
Didn’t park in a bay
Parked in bays intended for the disabled or families with young children

An operator or landowner must erect signs indicating the Terms and Conditions for using their private car park. When signs or road markings are not clearly visible, and you get a fine, you have the right to contest it.

Note: When you don’t know an operator’s ‘rules’ for using a car park, you can’t be in breach of a contract!

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Can I appeal a Parking Charge Notice?

Yes, you have the right to contest a Parking Charge Notice. First, check whether the operator is an accredited British Parking Association (BPA) member. Elite Parking Management is a BPA member. The operator must follow the Code of Practice, and if they don’t, you can appeal.

I suggest you challenge a Parking Charge Notice if the following applies:

You were sent the fine over 14 days after you were parked in the car park
You didn’t break any rules and were parked correctly
Signs and markings were hidden
Payment machines were not working when you parked
The fine is over £100
You could not get back to your car for a good reason (you are disabled, have a young child, or are pregnant – you cannot be discriminated against by law!
Your car broke down, and you were waiting for a vehicle recovery company to arrive
You were only 5 to 10 minutes late getting back to your car – when the 10.-minute grace period should apply
You were sent the Parking Charge Notice by mail, but there were no CCTV or ANPR signs in the car park

Gather as much evidence as you can as soon as possible. This includes:

Photos of signs that are not clearly visible, faded bay markings, the ticket you got, the parking meter and where your car was parked
Correspondence received from the operator and copies of letters you sent them
Relevant information that forms the basis of your appeal, which includes things like an invoice from the AA or other vehicle recovery company
Witness statement if you know of anyone who can back your appeal against the Parking Charge Notice

Note: You don’t always have to provide evidence to contest a Parking Charge Notice!

Operators and landowners have the right to give you a fine when you break the rules. But mistakes happen, and overzealous attendants could issue a fine for no good reason.

Successful Appeal Case Study

Situation

Initial Fine	£100
Additional Fees	£171
Total Fine	£271

The Appeal Process

Scott used JustAnswer, online legal service to enhance his appeal. The trial of this cost him just £5.

Total Fine	£271
Cost of legal advice	£5

JustAnswer helped Scott craft the best appeal possible and he was able to win his case.

Scott’s fine was cancelled and he only paid £5 for the legal help.

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In partnership with Just Answer.

What is a 10-minute grace period?

As a British Parking Association (BPA) member, Elite Parking Management must follow the Code of Practice. This clearly states that all members of BPA must allow you a 10-minute grace period on returning to your car. Therefore, they should not issue a fine until the ten minutes are up.

When you are not allowed a grace period, you have the right to appeal a Parking Charge Notice. The bonus is that when you file an informal appeal with the operator, they cannot further take the matter until the appeal is resolved. Plus, it costs nothing to do!

Note: You have to file an informal appeal before you can file one with an Independent Appeals Service (IAS)

The Elite Parking Management appeals process

Before you pay an Elite Parking Management PCN, my advice is to appeal. The process involves filing an informal appeal with the operator as soon as possible. You have 28 days. It’s your right to appeal a fine under the Code of Practice that governs private car park operators.

If you don’t have any evidence to support an appeal, don’t worry. When the rules that apply to how Parking Charge Notices are given have been ignored, the ticket should be cancelled.

File your appeal with Elite Parking Management by post or on the operator’s website. You’ll need to provide the car registration number and the Parking Charge Notice number.

If the operator rejects your appeal, you can appeal to the Independent Appeals Service (IAS). It could take a few months to settle the matter, but in the meantime, no legal proceedings can be made against you. Not until the appeal is resolved. If you lose your appeal through the IAS, you’ll have to pay the fine or be taken to court!

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Elite Parking Management Contact Details

Address:	12 High Street, Stanford-Le-Hope, England, SS17 0EY
Email:	[email protected]
Website:	https://eliteparkingmanagement.com/

Can you get a CCJ for a parking charge fine?

For the fine itself, no. But when your case goes to court, you could be given a County Court Judgement (CCJ) for non-payment. Before this happens, I strongly recommend you don’t let matters get this far. A CCJ will impact your credit history, making it harder to borrow, get a loan or a mortgage further down the line.

Note: Elite Parking Management cannot take you to court once you file an informal appeal. You can only be taken to court when your appeal fails!