Group Nexus Parking Charge – Pay or Appeal? 

Have you received a Group Nexus parking charge and are questioning whether to pay or appeal? You’re not alone. Every month, over 130,000 people visit our website seeking advice on fines and parking tickets.

Which? found that, despite 78% of members deeming private parking fines unfair, many don’t contest due to low confidence in appeal success.¹ However, we’re here to empower you with the knowledge and confidence to challenge these fines effectively.

This piece provides simple and useful guidance on:

•  Understanding what a Group Nexus parking charge is.
•  Deciding if you need to pay your Group Nexus parking fines.
•  Learning how to appeal a Group Nexus parking fine.
•  Knowing the difference between a parking charge notice and a penalty notice.
•  Finding out if parking charge notices can be enforced.

We understand the annoyance a private parking fine can cause. That’s why we’ll offer plenty of helpful tips and examples to guide you through the process.

Do you have to pay?

Not necessarily. Suppose the Parking Charge Notice is legal and was issued correctly. In this case, you are liable to pay the fine if you are the vehicle’s registered keeper.

If Group Nexus takes you to court and a court ordered payment for parking fines is issued, you’ll have to pay the fine! Also, don’t ignore any court letters because the consequences can be far-reaching if you do. For example, you could pay more and get a CCJ to boot!

When you decide to pay the fine, you should get a discount if you pay within 14 days. However, if you file an appeal, fill out the online appeal form on the Group Nexus website as soon as possible. The sooner you do, the quicker you resolve the problem.

Appeal Process Steps

You can challenge a Group Nexus parking charge when you believe it is unfair. Grounds for appealing a parking ticket include:

• No rules were broken when you parked your vehicle
• Signs were not visible or not there at all
• Mitigating circumstances – I’ve recently spoken out about private parking companies giving fines to drivers after their vehicle has broken down². Remember, it’s your right to appeal such decisions.
• The parking operator didn’t follow their T&Cs
• A 10-minute grace period was not given

Here’s a table that explains the appeal process. If you want to learn more or require further advice, make sure to read our detailed guide.

Parking infringements that could result in a PCN

There are a few reasons why you could get a Parking Charge Notice. Examples of parking infringements that could result in a privately issued PCN include:

• you didn’t pay to park
• you didn’t pay enough for the amount of time you actually parked
• you stayed for longer than the maximum time stated
• you parked somewhere you were not allowed

What happens if you don’t pay the Parking Charge?

The RAC reports that the majority of complaints regarding private parking companies stem from exorbitant fees and unreasonable conduct by private parking companies.³ So, if you believe the PCN was unfairly issued, it’s understandable if you’ve considered not paying it. However, it’s crucial to weigh the potential consequences.

Group Nexus could take you to court for non-payment of the parking fine. First, you’ll probably receive many letters reminding you of the charge. They could include late fees and other charges. Next, the company could:

• Threaten legal action for unpaid parking charges
• Get a debt collection agency involved

If you are not going to appeal the fine, we suggest you pay it before things get to this stage. As we see it, paying the fine will prevent a stressful situation from worsening.

Plus, don’t ignore the penalty or the correspondence you receive.

The problem will not go away when you do.

A court judgement could be issued, and you could end up with bailiffs knocking on your door if you ignore the fine!

Lastly, Group Nexus must follow guidelines as they are a BPA (British Parking Association) member. The BPA is an association representing traffic management and parking industry organisations.

If you believe you have grounds to appeal a fine, you have the right to do so by taking your case to POPLA, and independent appeals service. However, if you have already paid the penalty, you cannot appeal.

This MoneySavingExpert forum user contacted POPLA to appeal against a Parking Charge Notice from Group Nexus. As you can see, the user could not appeal if they had already paid their parking charge.

Is the Parking Fine enforceable?

The enforceability of private parking charges is not clear-cut. First, when you get a Parking Charge Notice, check it’s legit and that you were given a 10-minute grace period (more on this later) before receiving the fine.

Next, determine whether the company will take you to court for non-payment. That’s when a privately issued Parking Charge Notice becomes enforceable. Also, check if the ticket was left on your vehicle or sent by post. Remember, a Parking Charge Notice is an invoice. Therefore, it is dealt with as a civil matter when you go to court.

» TAKE ACTION NOW: Get legal support from JustAnswer

Group Nexus Parking Contact Details

References

1. Which? – The rise of private parking fines
2. The Sun – Avoid paying a £100 parking fine 
3. RACF – Private Parking: Public Concern