Pay or Appeal BPA Parking Fine – Know Your Rights!
By
Janine
Janine Marsh
Financial Expert
My name’s Janine, and I’m a mum of two who’s always been passionate about trying to cut down spending costs. I am now sharing as much financial knowledge as I possibly can to help your money go that little bit further.
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Got a BPA parking fine and not sure if you should pay it? You’re not alone. Each month, over 32,000 people visit this site seeking guidance on tickets and fines, just like you.
In this article, we’ll:
Explain what a BPA parking fine is and why you might get one
Show you how to avoid paying these fines
Help you understand how to complain about a private operator to the BPA
Discuss the difference between a private parking ticket and a penalty charge notice
Guide you on whether to pay or appeal a BPA parking fine
We know how stressful it can be to get a parking fine — it can make you feel concerned about money and about what might happen if you don’t pay.
But don’t worry; we’re here to help you understand how to handle your BPA parking fine.
Do You Have to Pay?
In some circumstances, you might have a legitimate reason not to pay your 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
In partnership with Just Answer.
Who is the British Parking Association (BPA)?
The BPA is short for the British Parking Association. Its only connection to parking charge notices is when you challenge a fine (invoice) issued by a private operator who might have served it incorrectly!
That said, the BPA also deals with complaints about car park management companies.
All private operators in the UK must follow a Code of Practice if they are members of the BPA. So, you have the right to appeal a parking charge if it isn’t issued correctly. If the operator rejects your appeal, you can take the matter to the Parking on Private Land Appeals service (POPLA).
That said, there’s a lot of confusion regarding the role of the BPA when it comes to parking tickets on private land!
Can you complain about a private operator to the BPA?
Yes. There’s a process to follow when filing a complaint about a private operator to the BPA. That said, and as previously mentioned, there’s a ton of confusion about the BPA’s role, as shown below:
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.
A parking fine from the BPA would likely be a fake parking charge notice sent to you by fraudsters. The British Parking Association doesn’t get involved in issuing parking charge notices to motorists.
The association is there to regulate its members. That said, you can complain about a car park management company to the BPA. It’s a service they get involved with, but only when it concerns an operator. Not a parking charge notice!
Why would you get a parking charge notice?
Car park management companies are authorised to issue parking charge notices if you don’t follow their rules. When you park on a site managed by a private operator, they must stipulate their rules on signs at a car park’s entrance.
You’re supposed to familiarise yourself with the T&Cs when using the car park. However, some signs are deliberately unclear or confusing. Consequently, motorists are issued parking charges, which are really unfair!
When you feel a parking ticket on private land is unjustified, you should appeal it as soon as possible! But don’t ignore the parking charge because it could turn out to be an expensive oversight.
Parking tickets on private land fall under contractual law, unlike penalty charge notices which are backed by the Road Traffic Act 1984.
There are lots of places you’d park on private land managed by a car park management company. I’ve listed a few places here:
Retail parksResidential areas
Commercial sites
Healthcare facilities
Train stations
Theme parks
Colleges
Universities
Supermarkets
You may park in any of the above sites and not realise you parked badly or broke the T&Cs. So, you could get a parking charge through the post. An accredited operator accesses the DVLA database to retrieve your registered keeper’s details!
Hire a Parking Solicitor for less than a coffee.
If you’re thinking about appealing your parking ticket then getting some professional advice is a good idea.
Getting the support of a Solicitor can make your appeal much more likely to win.
For a £5 trial, Solicitors from JustAnswer can look at your case and help you create an airtight appeal.
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My name’s Janine, and I’m a mum of two who’s always been passionate about trying to cut down spending costs. I am now sharing as much financial knowledge as I possibly can to help your money go that little bit further.
