Have you got a private parking fine from Parking Charge Payment and are unsure whether to pay or appeal? This article is here to help.
Each month, over 130,000 people visit our website to understand their fines and parking tickets, so you’re not alone.
In this article, we’ll cover:
- What Parking Charge Payment is.
- Whether you need to pay Parking Charge Payment fines.
- How to appeal a Parking Charge Payment fine.
- Useful tips to avoid Parking Charge Payment fines.
Which? found that, despite 78% of members deeming private parking fines unfair, many don’t contest due to low confidence in appeal success.1 Don’t worry; we have plenty of helpful advice and examples to guide you through the 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.
Why Did You Receive a Parking Charge Notice?
PCNs are issued if a motorist is deemed to have broken rules while using a private car park. Reasons can include:
- Not paying to park
- Paying incorrectly
- Not using the private car park for its intended purpose
- Overstaying the allotted time
- Parking in the wrong place
Should You Pay Your PCN?
Before making a payment, you should make sure the PCN was issued to you fairly. Here are a few questions you should ask yourself before paying:
- Were you aware you had broken any rules?
- Were the Terms and Conditions displayed clearly in the car park at the time of use?
- Did the parking operator follow these Terms and Conditions?
- Were there mitigating circumstances?
- Were you given a 10 minute grace period before the PCN was issued?
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.
How Can You Pay?
You can pay by visiting the Parking Charge Payment website and entering the PCN number and the registration number of the vehicle that was used.
Can you Ignore a PCN?
Janine Marsh, our financial expert, says not to ignore a PCN as it leads to escalating issues like constant letters and debt collectors’ visits. If you dispute the ticket, appeal directly to the parking company. You see, Penalty Charge Notices are backed by the law, which means you could get summoned to court if you ignore them.
Some private firms take no legal action against motorists, which means that some motorists may not have to pay.
» TAKE ACTION NOW: Get legal support from JustAnswer
What Happens if You Don’t Pay a PCN?
Private firms will chase you for payment and send you reminders to pay your PCN. They can also add on extra charges and late fees. Ultimately, they can take you to court if you fail to pay your PCN.
When Should You Make an Appeal?
An appeal needs to be made within 28 days of the date the PCN was issued. However, if you make an appeal within 14 days you can still pay the reduced fee instead of the full £100 fine should your appeal be denied.
How to Appeal Your PCN
If you think you have been issued a PCN unfairly, you can appeal it by completing the online form at www.appealpcn.co.uk. Try to provide as much evidence as possible to back your case.
This table will help you better understand how to appeal your PCN. If you want to learn more about the appeal process or require further advice, please read our detailed guide.
| Process: | Steps you should take: |
|---|---|
| When you receive the ticket… | You should gather as much evidence as you can to support your appeal claim and prove that the ticket was unfairly issued. |
| If you were given the ticket in person/attached to your car… | You must make an informal appeal (sent to the local authority/council that issued the PCN) within 14 days. This should be a letter with the evidence proving why the ticket was incorrectly given. |
| If it was posted to you… | You will be given 21 days to submit an informal appeal (from the day you received the letter). Your informal appeal should be a letter with the evidence proving why the ticket was incorrectly given. |
| If the informal appeal is rejected… | You will receive a Notice to Owner and will have 28 days to respond to this with a formal appeal. You can conduct the formal appeal online or via paper form. The Traffic Penalty Tribunal can send you one of these forms. |
| If the formal appeal is rejected… | You will receive a Notice of Rejection. From here, you are free to challenge the council’s verdict at an independent tribunal. |
| If the independent tribunal disagrees with your appeal… | You should pay the ticket within 28 days of the tribunal rejecting your appeal. If you don’t, the fine will be increased by 50%. If you don’t have the money to pay the fine, you should contact Citizens Advice or another debt charity. |
What Happens if Your PCN Appeal is Rejected?
As GroupNexus is a member of BPA, you can escalate to Parking on Private Land Appeals (POPLA) if your appeal is denied. POPLA is an independent adjudicator service that can help motorists appeal against privately issued PCNs.
They have the power to overturn the decision of a private firm.
If POPLA rejects your appeal, you will have to pay your PCN. However, POPLA helped this user from Money Saving Expert get her PCN cancelled, and there is a chance they can help you too.
Statistics from a 2020 POPLA annual report show that almost 1 in 2 drivers get their PCNs cancelled after escalation. If you have compelling evidence to support your appeal, it could be worth taking your case to POPLA.
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.
Parking Charge Payment Details
| Private Parking Company: | GroupNexus |
| Companies that Have Merged to Become GroupNexus | CP PlusRanger Services Limited Highview Parking Limited |
| Payment Website: | www.parkingchargepayment.com |
| Alternative Payment Website: | www.pcnpayment.com |
| Website to Appeal a PCN: | www.appealpcn.co.uk |
What is a Grace Period?
Private parking operators, who are members of the British Parking Association (BPA) or the International Parking Community (IPC), are required to give motorists a 10 minute grace period before issuing a PCN.
GroupNexus is a member of BPA, which means they must observe this rule. If you were issued a PCN within 10 minutes of leaving the car park, you may have grounds for an appeal.
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.
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