Question 1

Do I have to pay a private parking charge?

Accepted Answer

Private parking charges are contractual, not fines. You are only liable as the keeper if the operator followed the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 requirements exactly — including issuing a Notice to Keeper within 14 days. Over 50% of POPLA appeals succeed. Do not ignore the charge, but you have strong grounds to appeal.

Question 2

How do I appeal a council parking ticket (PCN)?

Accepted Answer

You have 28 days from the PCN date to make an informal challenge to the issuing council. If rejected, you receive a Notice to Owner and have 28 days to make a formal representation. If that fails, you can appeal free of charge to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal (or PATAS in London). Common grounds include defective signage, invalid Traffic Regulation Order, or procedural errors on the PCN.

Question 3

How long do I have to appeal a parking charge?

Accepted Answer

For council PCNs, you have 28 days from the date of issue to make an informal challenge. If you pay within 14 days, you usually get a 50% discount. For private parking charges, challenge within 28 days of the original notice. After this, amounts can increase significantly.

Question 4

What is POPLA and how does it work?

Accepted Answer

POPLA (Parking on Private Land Appeals) is the independent appeals service for private parking charges from BPA-member operators. If your initial appeal to the parking company is rejected, you can escalate to POPLA for free. The operator must provide a full evidence pack. If they fail to respond within the deadline, your appeal is automatically allowed.