You couldn’t find anywhere else to parkYou parked incorrectly for a short periodYou are fighting the parking regulationsYou agree that you were blocking the pathYou were looking for change to put in a meter. Although, if you can prove that you were on your way to pay a parking ticket it becomes a valid reason to appeal.
There is usually a 50% discount if you pay for your ticket in the first 14 days. So, if you are thinking of paying, you should pay before the 14th day. You should not pay for your ticket if you are thinking of appealing it.
After getting the ticket, before moving forward with disputing the ticket. You need to sit back and think about your reason for disputing it. The following list consists of official reasons for disputing a ticket.
You were parked correctly
The parking signs or road markings were not clearYou were charged too muchYour car broke downYou couldn’t get back to your carYour car was stolenMitigating Circumstances
Congratulations, your chances of winning the appeal just rose if your reason is on the list. Now you just have to prove it!
There are three stages of appeals you can employ to get the ticket revoked. An informal appeal, a formal appeal, or an Independent Adjudicator.
Informal Appeal
The only type of parking ticket you can appeal informally is a Penalty Charge Notice and this is only possible if you found it clinging to your windscreen. It is advisable to submit an informal appeal less than 14 days after getting the ticket because certain councils will still allow you to pay half the fee even after the appeal is rejected.
You can send a letter to the email address provided at the back of the ticket to appeal the ticket or apply on the council’s website. It is advisable that you include your address, your vehicle registration number, and ticket number in the letter.
Formal Appeal
Assuming your informal appeal is rejected, you’ll be sent a Notice to Owner (NTO), which informs you that your appeal was rejected and asks you to pay up or apply for a formal appeal. The letter you need to appeal should come with the NTO. You can also get a Notice to Owner straight away if you didn’t file for an informal appeal or you were sent the ticket by post (this means you were caught on CCTV and the discount usually lasts for 21 days instead of 14 days). After appealing, you just have to wait for a maximum of 56 days (if they do not respond by then, you win by default). You may be asked to pay a fee, be rest assured that you will be refunded if your appeal is accepted.
Independent Adjudicator
If your formal appeal was rejected, this is the last bus stop regarding your parking ticket. When your formal appeal is rejected, you shall be alerted via a Notice of Rejection of Representations letter. Attached to this letter is a Notice of Appeal form that you need to fill and submit that would inform the council that you’re moving forward to dispute the ticket with an independent Adjudicator.
Unfortunately, you have missed the opportunity to get the 50% discount, so if you lose, you will be ordered to pay the full fee. Given that, it is free and you do not have to be physically present, there is no disadvantage to not moving forward with it. After all, you are already at the last stage, what do you have to lose now?
Conclusion:
To maximize your likelihood of winning any of the appeals, you should include viable evidence in the letters you submit. The evidence can be in the form of pictures, written communication, witness statements, etc. Anything that you think can improve your chances should be included in the letters.
Frequently Asked questions
What happens if I don’t pay after all the appeals are rejected?
This is a very bad idea. The fee will go up by 50%, the council can then take you to a Magistrate court and your credit rating will likely be affected.
What are examples of Mitigating Circumstances?
Examples of mitigating circumstances include but are not limited to: emergency situations, recent bereavement, you were not in the vicinity, etc.
How would I differentiate an official ticket from a private one?
An official parking ticket is either called a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN), An Excess Charge Notice(ECN), or a Fixed Penalty Notice(FPN). Anything other than the above is a private ticket.
