Vehicle Control Services – Pay or Appeal?

Have you got a private parking fine from Vehicle Control Services and are unsure whether to pay or appeal?

Don’t worry, you’ve come to the right place. Every month, more than 130,000 people visit our website for guidance on dealing with fines and parking tickets.

In this easy-to-understand article, you’ll find information about:

•  Who Vehicle Control Services Ltd are
•  The cost of a Vehicle Control Services parking ticket
•  If you may need to pay these fines
•  How to appeal a Vehicle Control Services parking fine

Research from Which? found that the increase in fines can be attributed in part to unclear rules and the variety of payment methods offered in private car parks¹. 

Don’t worry; this article is filled with useful tips and examples to help you make sense of it all. 

Do you have to pay a Vehicle Control Services parking ticket?

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.

Should you pay or appeal the PCN?

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

You have the right to appeal a Vehicle Control Services Parking Charge Notice.

You must state the reasons why you think the parking ticket is unjust, and back up any arguments with evidence. 

For example, you might state that you overstayed in the car park because your hospital appointment was delayed. In this case, you may need a letter from the hospital to say this is true. 

I’ve created this table to help you better understand how to appeal your Vehicle Control Services PCN. If you want to learn more about parking tickets or the appeal process, be sure to read our detailed guides.

Further guidance: Traffic Penalty Tribunal; Citizens Advice.

They rejected my appeal

Vehicle Control Services will email or write to you – or both – to let you know the outcome of your appeal.

If they accept the appeal, the ticket will be cancelled, and you won’t have to pay anything. But if it’s rejected, you can:

1. Accept the rejection and pay the fine
2. Escalate the appeal to an independent tribunal

Vehicle Control Services will provide instructions on how to escalate the appeal within their rejection letter. 

Vehicle Control Services Number and 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.