NCP Appeals – Should You Pay or Appeal?

Are you concerned about an NCP parking fine you’ve got? You’re not alone! More than 130,000 people like you visit our website each month, seeking advice on fines and parking tickets. 

This article will provide you with simple, easy-to-understand information on:

•  Whether you must pay NCP parking fines
•  How to make an NCP appeal
•  Important steps to follow when appealing a parking ticket

Research from Which? revealed that although 78% of members consider private parking fines unfair, many don’t challenge them due to doubts about the success of their appeal.¹ 

If that’s your case, and you’re wondering if you should pay or appeal your NCP parking fine, don’t worry. We’re here to help you make the right choice!

What to do with an NCP fine?

Decide on the evidence and the parking terms. If you accept the charge, paying within the discount period shown on the notice will usually cost less. If you dispute it, appeal by the stated deadline and keep a copy and proof of submission.

Check the operator’s policy on the discount during an initial appeal. Do not assume that making any appeal automatically loses it, or that it will always be re-offered. An independent appeal can mean giving up the reduced amount. Payment normally closes the appeal route, so check before paying if you intend to challenge the charge.

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Appeal Process Steps

As mentioned above, you can appeal an NCP Parking Charge Notice if you believe the parking fine is unjust or you have a good reason why it should be cancelled.

While unfair parking fines can be challenged, you must have supporting evidence and grounds to appeal.

I’ve put together this quick table that will help you better understand the appeal process. If you want to learn more about the steps you should take, please read our detailed guide.

Further guidance: Traffic Penalty Tribunal; Citizens Advice.

You can appeal an NCP parking ticket via the official NCP website.

You’ll need to enter:

• Your parking ticket number
• Provide good reasons (and possibly evidence)

NCP cannot respond over the phone. 

Remember that if you win your NCP appeal then the parking fine will be cancelled and you won’t have to pay. 

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What happens if you don’t pay for parking at NCP?

Anyone who doesn’t pay the required parking ticket in an NCP car park will be served a parking fine called a Parking Charge Notice.

The fine might be stuck to your windscreen by NCP staff, or it could be sent in the post if the contravention was seen on camera. 

These private car parking fines aren’t the same as Fixed Penalty Notices issued by the police or similar-sounding Penalty Charge Notices by local councils.

As such, an NCP parking violation should not be dealt with in the same way.

What happens if you don’t pay?

The operator can seek payment, use a debt collection agency or bring a court claim. An ordinary debt collector is not a bailiff and cannot seize your belongings. Added fees are not automatically valid: ask for their basis and challenge amounts you dispute.

Do not ignore a formal Letter of Claim or court papers. In England and Wales, the Debt Claims Protocol normally gives an individual 30 days to reply to a business’s Letter of Claim. Use the reply form, ask for relevant documents and explain any dispute. Court papers have their own deadlines, which still need a response.

A County Court Judgment (CCJ) is made by a court; a parking ticket or debt collector’s letter is not itself a CCJ. If a judgment in England and Wales is paid in full within one calendar month, you can have it removed from the register. Otherwise it normally remains for six years; later payment can mark it satisfied. Bailiff action requires further enforcement steps and is not automatic. Court procedures differ elsewhere in the UK.

Free parking appeal letter template

The form asks for contact details to deliver your free MoneyNerd template.

Explain what happened, why you dispute the charge and include relevant evidence.

Get the free template

General information, not legal advice. Follow your notice’s instructions and deadlines; adapt the wording to your circumstances. No outcome is guaranteed.

Are the fines enforceable?

A private Parking Charge Notice is a claim under contract law, rather than a council penalty or criminal fine. A valid charge can be owed before court proceedings start. It is incorrect to assume that you only have to pay if a judge orders it.

Check the notice, the signs and what happened. Pay by the stated deadline if you accept the charge, or use the operator’s appeal process if you dispute it. Ignoring it can lead to a court claim and additional costs. A court decides a disputed claim; the operator does not automatically win.

Common mistakes when making an appeal

I’ve listed common mistakes when appealing a parking charge that often results in rejection:

• Missing the appeal deadline
• Not providing adequate supporting evidence
• Failing to follow the correct appeal process

My NCP appeal got rejected

Read NCP’s rejection notice to find the next appeal route. Private contractual charges commonly go to POPLA, but railway byelaw penalties and other site-specific notices can follow a different process. Check the type of notice instead of assuming every NCP notice is the same.

If the operator rejects your appeal, check its rejection letter for a POPLA verification code and instructions. A POPLA appeal is normally due within 28 days of rejection and is free for the motorist. Include your evidence and address the operator’s reasons.

POPLA’s decision binds the operator, but it is not a court judgment binding the motorist. If you win, the charge must be cancelled. If you lose, the operator can continue to seek payment and may bring a court claim; you can still defend a claim. The discounted amount is generally no longer available after a POPLA appeal.

NCP Contact Details

References

1. Which? – The rise of private parking fines

For the underlying rules, see Schedule 4 of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, the current POPLA appeal guide and IAS appeal guidance. For court matters in England and Wales, see the Civil Procedure Rules pre-action protocols and GOV.UK guidance on CCJs.