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Have you received a Parking Charge Notice (PCN) from Carflow? You’re not the only one. Over 32,000 people visit this site each month seeking advice on tickets and fines.
It might feel scary and confusing, but don’t worry. In this article, we’ll provide clear guidance on:
Who Carflow is and what a Parking Charge Notice means
The difference between a Penalty Charge Notice and a Parking Charge Notice
The reasons for receiving a Carflow Parking Charge Notice
The need to pay the charge or how to challenge it
Where to find more help if you need it
We know how it feels to get a PCN; some of us have been in your shoes. With our expertise, we’ll help you understand how to deal with your Carflow PCN.
Let’s dive in!
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.
Is a Penalty Charge Notice the Same as a Parking Charge Notice?
This question is very important, as there is a vast difference between a penalty charge notice and a parking charge notice. The former is an official penalty fine from the government or one of its agents. You can’t ignore the penalty charge notice, and you will be chased for payment if you don’t pay it.
On the other hand, a parking charge notice is just a private parking invoice. For example, if you parked in a Tesco car park in a disabled bay, and you had no disabled sticker on show, you might get a parking charge notice. These are not legally enforceable, although the parking operator will likely try to convince you otherwise by hounding you for payment.
How to avoid paying Carflow parking tickets
If you want to avoid paying a Carflow parking ticket then you’ll need an airtight appeal.
The best way to perfect your appeal is getting a little advice from a Solicitor. I’d 100% recommend spending a fiver to get a trial of JustAnswer.
You can explain your situation in their chat and they’ll connect you with a Solicitor who can advise you and give you the best chance to win your appeal.
Do You Have To Pay a Carflow Parking Charge Notice?
Parking on private lands is regulated under the Protection of Freedoms Act (POFA) 2012. These regulations did bring in what is termed keeper liability. Meaning the keeper of the vehicle (not the actual driver) could be liable to pay a parking charge notice. But, and this is a very big but, Carflow has no legal vehicle for making you pay up, they can’t take you to court or have you prosecuted if you don’t pay.
All that Carflow can do is turn the unpaid parking charge notice over to a firm of debt collectors, which is something they do regularly. These debt collectors will then begin harassing you for payment. Luckily, most appeals against parking charge notices are upheld. You likely won’t have to pay.
Can You Make an Appeal Against a Carflow Parking Charge Notice?
Firstly, if there are any mistakes on the parking charge notice, then it is very likely you can appeal the parking ticket and have it cancelled. Check the notice thoroughly, if your name is spelt incorrectly or the licence plate is wrong, for example, you might just be able to tell Carflow to think again, they got it wrong.
You also have the option of following the standard appeals process that Carflow has in place. You have to make your appeal to Carflow by either sending an email to [email protected] or writing them a letter and sending it to:
Carflow
PO Box 76433
London
EC1P 1BB
Carflow says that you have to make your appeal within 28 days of the date the parking charge notice was originally issued. Once you have started your appeal, you don’t have to pay the charge until the appeal has been considered. If your appeal isn’t successful, you will be informed in writing.
However, even if Carflow overturns your appeal, you still have the option of moving forward to starting a Parking On Private Land Appeal (POPLA). You can start this appeal online But before you decide to start an appeal right now, you need to have a few things on hand first, and this includes:
The 10-digit verification number (from POPLA).
The parking charge number.
Your personal details.
Details of the vehicle.
A good argument for making the appeal.
Proof or evidence you can submit to support the appeal.
Finding More Advice
There are a few really good public discussion forums that specialise in private parking charges, and how to appeal against them successfully. These are great places to get some real-world advice from people who have dealt with Carflow before.
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.
