Can You Get A CCJ For Parking Ticket in the UK?

Can you get a CCJ for a parking ticket in the UK? It’s something many motorists ask when faced with a fine. Sometimes you may not even know you’ve got a parking ticket, or maybe you ignored it!

Check out my post to find out when you could get a CCJ for a parking fine, and when you would not!

How to appeal and win

If you want to avoid paying a 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. For £5 it’s actually amazing value.

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Is a penalty charge the same as a parking charge?

There is a difference between a penalty charge and a parking charge. The former charge is backed by UK law, whereas a parking charge falls under contractual law. 

So, when you get a parking ticket on private land, the issuer must win a case in court to get you to pay. When you get a penalty charge notice, an authority just issues a Charge Notice followed by an Order of Recovery when you don’t pay!

How do you know if you’ve got a CCJ?

I’ve included info on how to check if you’ve got a CCJ here.

Source: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/borrowing-money/county-court-judgments-and-your-credit-rating/

How long do you have to pay a Penalty Charge Notice?

You have 28 days to pay a Penalty Charge (PCN) before the issuing authority raises the amount by 50%. But when you pay a PCN within two weeks, the amount is reduced by 50%.

How long do you have to pay a Parking Charge Notice?

Again, you’re given 28 days to pay a Parking Charge Notice but you’ll have to pay the full amount. That said, a private operator reduces the amount by 40% when you pay it within 14 days!

Can you beat your ticket?

In many cases tickets aren’t actually enforceable.

It’s a bit sneaky, but you could pay £5 to chat with an online Solicitor.

They’ll give you support in crafting the best appeal possible and give you the best chance of not paying your ticket.

You can try it below. 

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What happens when you ignore a Penalty Charge?

The issuing authority follows a strict legal process when you ignore a Penalty Charge Notice and you don’t pay.

I’ve listed the process below:

• The authority sends you a Charge Certificate in the post if you’re the registered keeper
• When you ignore things at this stage, you receive an Order of Recovery
• Enforcement agents are instructed to recover the amount owed on the Penalty Charge Notice plus fees and costs

When you don’t pay up at this stage, enforcement agents (bailiffs) could seize your possessions to cover the amount you owe!

What happens when you ignore a Parking Charge?

The operator who issued the parking charge could do the following when you ignore a parking ticket on private land:

• Send payment reminders to the registered keeper’s address
• Send a final payment demand
• Instruct a debt collection agency to chase you for the money owed
• Send you a Letter of Claim (Letter Before Action)
• Start legal proceedings against you in a small claims court

A car park management company can’t lawfully make you pay a parking charge without first winning a case against you. In short, only a court can order you to pay a parking ticket on private land!

Can you get a CCJ for an unpaid Penalty Charge?

Yes. The ‘charge’ is registered as if it’s a county court judgement against you. Moreover, there are more court costs to add to the amount you owe.

So, it’s never a good idea to bin the parking fine or to ignore it. Your best option is to challenge the fine as soon as possible. Ideally within 2 weeks so you get to pay a reduced fine if the authority rejects it. But this only applies to England and Wales!

Once you get an Order for Recovery, there’s a deadline to respect before things escalate and enforcement agents get involved!

Can you get a CCJ for an unpaid Parking Charge?

Yes. You could get a CCJ for an unpaid Parking Charge. But only if the operator takes you to court and wins a case against you.

There’s always a 50/50 chance a car park management company might start legal proceedings against you. It’s a risk you’ll have to weigh up when deciding not to pay a parking fine on private land!

Do parking tickets affect credit score UK?

An unpaid parking fine on its own will not affect your credit score. But when you get a CCJ registered against you, it could ruin your credit history. Moreover, a County Court Judgement stays on your credit file for 6 years making it harder to borrow during this time.

Are there any useful contacts regarding parking tickets?

Yes. There are some useful contacts regarding parking tickets and I’ve listed a few here:

Can you get a CCJ for a parking ticket in the UK?

Yes. You could get a CCJ registered on your credit file when a parking ticket goes unpaid. That said, receiving a parking fine doesn’t automatically get you a County Court Judgement (CCJ).

It’s only when you ignore a parking ticket, don’t pay the fine and ignore a court order to pay a parking charge that it happens!

So, it’s never a good idea to bin parking fines. Your best bet is to either challenge a parking ticket or pay up within two weeks. When you pay within 14 days, you get to pay a lesser amount!

I hope the information in my post clears up any questions you have about parking tickets and CCJs. It’s only when you don’t pay that a judgement could be registered against you.

Don’t submit your appeal yet.

The best way to beat a ticket is to get professional advice.

For a £5 trial, you can have Solicitors from JustAnswer look at your case and help make your appeal airtight.

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