Do Not Agree With Your Parking Fine? How Do You Appeal?
Getting a parking ticket is frustrating at the best of times, even more so if you feel you have done nothing wrong and been penalised unfairly. From time to time, when a parking charge notice is issued, it is either done so incorrectly or there could be mitigating circumstances that have not been taken into account. Most reputable parking companies will have some sort of appeals process that will allow you to appeal against a charge if you feel it is unfounded. So, if you are unsure about what you should do if you feel you have a case and the charge is unfair, here are some of the things you need to do to give yourself the best chance of having the charges repealed.
Make a Decision on Whether you Should Appeal
Think about the reason you were issued the parking charge notice. It is improbable that you would be successful in your appeal to get your parking fine reversed if you overstayed in a car park or used a commercial parking lot before going somewhere else.
You might have had good reasons for being unable to get back to your car or lingering too long at a location, like an accident, for example. We understand that when things are tough, you may not be as focused on parking, and in those circumstances, an appeal could be appropriate.
The person who was driving the car is another element to take into account. You have to decide if you want to pay your parking charge notice and settle the matter with the other driver directly or file an appeal to have the car park management business transfer liability to them if someone borrowed your car or drove on your behalf.
What Sort of Evidence Should I Provide?
If you decide to appeal, you’ll have to show proof to back up your case. For instance, if you have receipts to verify you made purchases at the store, you can show that you didn’t abuse the site if you received a Parking Charge Notice for parking in a supermarket’s car park without buying anything.
You should also send in a note from a doctor, receipts from a recovery company, or any other proof that supports your appeal and shows there were special circumstances. If you have been caught on a car park’s ANPR System ask the company for the footage if possible to ensure that the vehicle concerned belongs to you.
Contact the Company
The next step is to get in touch once you have gathered the supporting documentation for your appeal.
Although it may seem archaic, appeals must be made in writing. This creates a clear record of what was said and keeps facts from being missed or ignored, which can happen when emotions are high during a phone call or chat.
Many companies that handle parking have an online interface that lets you upload proof and check on the status of an appeal in real-time.
Usually, you have 28 days to file an appeal. Check with the parking management company, though, to make sure you don’t miss the deadline. Once your appeal has been received, the time you have to pay for your parking ticket is basically put on hold until the appeal is decided.
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If Your Appeal Is Rejected Have You Any Other Recourse
Even if you appeal a parking penalty notice and can demonstrate that there were other circumstances, your parking charge may still stand.
Although this may be disheartening, there are other possibilities. You can either agree with the decision and pay for the parking ticket, or you can take your case to POPLA.
POPLA, or Parking on Private Land Appeals, is an impartial organisation that enables drivers to challenge parking operators’ judgments. POPLA will look at what each side of the appeal has to say, consider the supporting evidence, and then decide whether or not to uphold or overturn the parking management company’s decision.
Even though it might seem hard to fight a parking charge notice, parking management companies should be committed to fairness. This means that your appeal will likely be settled quickly if you have enough proof and follow the right steps.
Hopefully, the information contained here will help you if you feel you have been unfairly penalised.
