Should I Pay Euro Car Parks Fine?

Have you received a fine from Euro Car Parks and are not sure what to do next? This is the perfect place for you. Every month, over 130,000 people come to our website for help with fines and parking tickets.

In this article, we’ll explain in easy terms:

What a Euro Car Parks fine is.
If you have to pay Euro Car Parks fines.
How to write a letter to appeal a parking fine.
The role of the British Parking Association (BPA).
Tips to avoid Euro Car Parks 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 However, we’re here to help you understand the process.

Let’s dive in!

56% of Ticket Appeals Succeed

In some circumstances, you might have a legitimate reason not to pay your parking fine.

It’s a bit sneaky, but the last time I needed legal advice, I paid £5 for a trial to chat with an online solicitor called JustAnswer.

Not only did I save £50 on solicitor feeds, I also won my case and didn’t have to pay my £271 fine.

Chat below to get started with JustAnswer

Ask a question, get an answer ASAP!

*According to Martin Lewis, 56% of people who try to appeal their ticket are successful and get the charge overturned, so it’s well worth a try. In partnership with Just Answer.

Can you fight a PCN?

The RAC reports that the majority of complaints regarding private parking companies stem from exorbitant fees and unreasonable conduct by private parking companies.²

So, if you believe the PCN is unfair, you can challenge it. But you must do so within 28 days of receiving the Parking Charge Notice. When you challenge the fine within 14 days, and the operator rejects your appeal, you could only pay 60% of the fine.

NOTE: When the operator accepts your appeal, you won’t have to pay the Parking Charge Notice.

You should challenge the fine if:

The Parking Charge Notice was sent by post more than 14 days after the alleged infringement took place
No rules were broken when you used the car park
Road marking and car park signs were unclear or not clearly visible – hidden by trees or bushes
The payment machine was out of order
The fine you got was over £100
You could not get back to the car park for a valid reason – you are disabled, pregnant or with a younger child. UK law prohibits discrimination!
You were waiting for a vehicle recovery firm to come because your car broke down
You got back to the car park 5 to 10 minutes late and were not given the 10-minute grace period (more on this below)

Although you don’t need evidence, the more proof you can provide, the more robust an appeal against a PNC would be.

When possible, we suggest you provide the following:

Photographs of where you were parked, the Parking Charge Notice, unclear signs, road markings
Correspondence with the operator
Invoice from the vehicle recovery company if your car broke down
Witness statements if anyone can corroborate your story

Appeal Process Steps

We’ve put together this table to help you better understand the appeal process. If you want to learn more about the steps involved or require further advice, be sure to 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 is a 10-minute grace period?

As we mentioned, Euro Car Parks is an established private operator.

The company is a member of the British Parking Association (BPA). As such, they must abide by the BPA’s Code of Practice.

This includes allowing you a 10-minute grace period when you return to your car.

The operator should not issue a Parking Charge Notice unless the grace period has expired. When they do, you have the right to have the ticket cancelled by filing an informal appeal with the operator.

NOTE: It costs nothing to file an informal appeal, and you need to do this before you can file an appeal with an Independent Appeals Service (IAS).

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.

Get started

In partnership with Just Answer.

How do you write a letter to appeal a parking fine?

You can write a letter of appeal against a Euro Car Parks PCN or fill out their online appeal form. That’s how to appeal a private parking ticket from the operator.

You have to lodge an appeal against a Parking Charge Notice within 28 days of receiving the fine.

Make sure you follow the operator’s parking ticket appeals process. Also, it can take over a month to find out whether the operator upholds or rejects your appeal. Remember to keep copies of all your correspondence with the operator in case you have to take the matter up with an Independent Appeals Service (IAS).