This guide explains private parking companies, contractual parking charges and the steps to take when you receive a notice. Check the evidence and deadlines before deciding whether to pay or appeal.
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In this guide, we’ll provide easy-to-understand information on:
- What private parking is.
- Whether you have to pay fines from private parking companies.
- How much private parking tickets can cost.
- How to challenge or appeal a private parking ticket.
- The risks and truths about ignoring a private parking fine.
Getting a parking fine can be a real headache; some of us have been there too. With our expertise, we’ll help you understand your rights and options.
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.
What is classed as private parking?
Private parking is when you park in parking facilities on private land not owned by a local authority.
These private car parks are usually managed by a car park management company.
The site is typically connected to a private business, such as a fast food chain, shopping centre or supermarket. But they can be connected to hospitals and universities as well.
The sort of sites that car park operators manage include:
- Private property parking
- Commercial parking
- Residential parking
What are private parking companies?
Private parking companies are legitimate businesses that help private landowners and other private businesses manage car parks.
Businesses outsource the day-to-day running of their car park to specialist companies that offer parking management services.
Private parking companies might also be called car park operators or car park management companies.
They offer a range of services from providing car park signage and ticketing machines to installing number plate recognition cameras and issuing parking tickets.
Many private parking companies provide their services free of charge and claim the money raised from any Parking Charge Notices they issue.
What are Parking Charge Notices?
A Parking Charge Notice is a private operator’s demand for payment for an alleged breach of parking terms. It is a civil contractual claim, not a criminal fine or a council Penalty Charge Notice.
In short, it’s a private parking penalty issued by a car park operator.
A private parking company issues a fine to a motorist who allegedly breaks parking rules (Terms and Conditions) for using the car park.
The most common reasons for receiving a Parking Charge Notice are:
- Failing to pay for parking
- Overstaying a permitted parking period, after any grace period that applies to the circumstances
- Not parking in a designated parking bay
If private parking firms have on-site staff, the Parking Charge Notice might be left on the vehicle.
An operator may seek DVLA registered-keeper details and send a postal notice where the data-access requirements are met. Keeper status is not the same as ownership or proof of who drove.
DVLA data access is only permitted if an operator is an ATA member.
If you don’t think your fine is from a private company…
You might have received a Penalty Charge Notice instead of a Parking Charge Notice.
They are easily confused because they are very similar looking.
But a Penalty Charge Notice is a fine issued by a council or other authority for parking contraventions on public land.
They are council-issued parking fines that are enforceable by law.
If you have a Penalty Charge Notice, head to my police and council fine page for information relevant to your situation.
How much are private parking tickets?
The BPA/IPC industry code generally limits parking charges to £100 and requires at least a 40% early-payment discount during the applicable 14-day period. This is an industry requirement, not a universal statutory cap. Check the applicable code and the amount and deadline on your notice.
Read the parking terms and notice carefully; amounts and procedures can differ where a statutory or byelaw scheme applies.
If an accredited operator does not follow the applicable code, raise the issue in your appeal or complaint. A code breach does not automatically decide every dispute about legal liability.
The government’s 2022 code was withdrawn. Its proposed £50 cap must not be described as current law. Check the government’s current code status.
Can a private parking company get my details from DVLA?
Accredited parking operators can request registered-keeper details from DVLA for a permitted purpose. Access to those details does not itself establish liability.
Although private parking tickets should be issued to the person responsible for the contravention.
However, a car park operator sends the fine to the registered keeper when they don’t have the address of the driver (who may not be the vehicle keeper).
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.
Parking fine scams to watch out for
Drivers are warned to stay vigilant because there are car park scams.
It involves criminals and scammers targeting cashless payment systems.
Occasionally, drivers call a number on a machine or they have to scan a QR code. It takes them to a payment website.
Fraudsters target the systems and steal personal information and money from unsuspecting motorists.
They use a fake QR code they stick on a payment machine which is disguised as a ‘quick pay’ option.
The fraudsters then steal money from a person’s bank account.
As such, I suggest you watch out for cashless payment scams.
What if the operator is not accredited?
Non-membership of an accredited trade association does not by itself make a charge invalid. It affects access to DVLA keeper information and the usual independent appeal routes, but an operator may already have contact details or another lawful way to pursue a claim.
Do not ignore a notice, letter before claim or court claim solely because of the operator’s membership status. Check the evidence and seek advice if you are unsure how to respond.
They are not accredited parking companies.
When responding, give accurate information and avoid disclosing unnecessary personal details. Do not assume that withholding your address guarantees the matter will end.
You can check if a company is an ATA member by calling the British Parking Association (BPA) or by contacting the International Parking Community (IPC).
Do I legally have to pay private parking fines?
A valid contractual charge can be legally owed before court action. If you dispute liability, use the appeal process and keep evidence. If the operator brings a claim, the court can decide a disputed charge and may order payment.
A demand is not a court judgment, but that does not mean it is safe to ignore. A judgment and the appropriate enforcement process are needed before court enforcement measures can be used.
Can I ignore a private parking ticket?
You could choose to ignore a private parking ticket, but you run the risk of being subject to legal action and eventually having to pay more.
You’ll also miss the opportunity to pay a 40% reduced fine.
It’s never wise to ignore a ticket. The risk of unpaid parking fines include court action.
More about Private Parking Fines…
There are scores of private parking companies in the UK.
Some of them are known to take legal action while others rarely do.
Find out more about the parking ticket you’ve got and the potential consequences of it by reading my company-specific posts.
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.
How to pay private parking tickets
Most private parking tickets can be paid on the company’s website via a dedicated payment portal.
In short, they offer online payment for parking fines options.
You must first enter your vehicle registration number and your PCN reference to identify your private car park fine.
What might happen if you ignore a private parking company fine?
The legal consequences of unpaid fines includes being taken to court.
A number of scenarios could play out if you ignore a private parking operator, such as:
- Send further demands or seek added charges, which need a lawful and recoverable basis rather than being automatically payable.
- They could ask a debt collection agency to do the above
- They might stop contacting you for a period and then repeat one of the above
- They might bring a court claim. Responding and defending a disputed claim is important; ignoring it can lead to a default judgment.
Can private parking companies enforce fines?
Private parking companies can ask a court to enforce a fine with debt enforcement action.
When a court orders you to pay and you ignored the court order or missed a repayment, bailiffs could be instructed to recover the amount owed.
Can private parking companies send bailiffs?
Private parking companies can only send bailiffs with permission from a court after an order has been served against you.
Enforcement methods depend on the jurisdiction and court authority. Ordinary debt collection is different from bailiff or sheriff-officer enforcement.
The bailiffs could come to your home.
Bailiffs charge fees that you also have to pay, so this is best avoided!
Can I appeal a private parking ticket?
Follow the operator’s stated appeal deadline, commonly 28 days for accredited schemes. Do not assume every private demand has the same appeal rules.
You might be given extra time if there were mitigating circumstances preventing you from appealing, such as being in hospital.
How to challenge private parking tickets
You can challenge the private parking ticket by sending a letter or submitting a statement via the private parking operator’s website.
There’s a parking ticket appeal process to follow found on the ticket you receive.
The statement should explain why you want the ticket to be cancelled and it should be accompanied by evidence which supports your arguments.
The BPA/IPC industry code requires an operator to decide an appeal within 28 days or acknowledge it and explain the timeframe for a decision. There is no universal rule that a private parking charge is cancelled automatically after 56 days. Keep proof of submission and use the operator’s and trade association’s complaint routes if the applicable code is not followed.
I’ve included a case study detailing a motorist’s question about appealing a parking charge notice here.
Source: Moneysavingexpert
What happens if I appeal a private parking ticket and lose?
If you lose a private parking ticket appeal, you can pay the parking ticket or ask for an independent tribunal to take another look.
The independent group you may have to use is called Parking on Private Land Appeals (POPLA) or the Independent Appeals Service (IAS).
POPLA and standard IAS appeals are normally free to motorists and have a 28-day deadline after the operator’s rejection. IAS has a separate non-standard process with different conditions and a fee.
The service you have to use depends on which ATA the private parking company is a member of.
A BPA-scheme rejection normally directs eligible appeals to POPLA. For Scotland and Northern Ireland, POPLA requires the driver or an authorised representative of an identified driver, not a keeper-only appeal.
But if the company is a member of the International Parking Community (IPC), you will use IAS – unless directed otherwise.
Can not paying a private parking ticket affect your credit?
A private parking demand alone does not appear as a CCJ. In England and Wales, an operator may obtain a judgment through a court claim; Scottish decrees and other jurisdictions have different procedures.
In England and Wales, full payment within one month of judgment normally allows removal from the register. Later payment normally marks the judgment satisfied, but it remains for six years from the judgment date.
It would negatively impact your credit rating.
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.
