NCP Appeals – Should You Pay or Challenge? Quick Guide

Have you got a fine from NCP? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Each month, over 32,000 people visit this site for advice on tickets and fines. You might be worried about paying a fine that isn’t fair or about the process to fight it. You need good advice to make the right choice about what to do next.

In this guide, we’ll help you understand:

• Who NCP is and why they can give out parking tickets,
• If you must pay a parking charge notice from NCP,
• How to fight an NCP parking fine,
• What happens if you don’t pay NCP,
• How to contact NCP.

We know how it feels to get a fine, as our team has offered guidance to many people in the same boat, and we’re here to help you too. Let’s dive in and get you the help you need to deal with your NCP fine.

Do I have to pay a parking charge notice from NCP?

You could pay an NCP parking charge when you believe it’s reasonable and correctly issued. The operator makes it easy for you to pay via their website (contrary to how they deal with appeals!).

You’ll need to provide the following information and make sure you use the correct parking charge prefix of which there are many! I’ve listed them here:

• LG
• ZP
• CP
• LU
• PC
• SP
• GA
• SG
• EM
• CC
• TL
• C2C
• GRA
• TFW
• AVA
• BIA

The prefixes are important because each one has its own dedicated link which you must follow. Then you’ll need to provide the following information:

• Vehicle registration number – VRN
• Parking charge reference number
• Payment method

How to avoid paying NCP parking tickets

If you want to avoid paying a NCP 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.

Click here to get the trial offer with JustAnswer.

NCP appeals, is it a fair process?

Many motorists who get NCP fines wonder if the operator’s appeals process is fair. You’ll find one motorist view of things below:

Source: https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/www.ncp.co.uk

However, other motorists were not so lucky!

How do I challenge an NCP parking fine?

There are specific things to bear in mind when you challenge an NCP parking fine which you’ll find below:

• First, watch out for fraudulent emails. NCP never sends out parking charge notices via email. If you get an email claiming it’s from the operator, don’t click on any links but rather contact the NCP via the operator’s website
• Second, check when the parking charge was issued. If it’s less than 48 hours, you won’t be able to appeal or pay the charge because it won’t appear on the operator’s website until 48 hours have elapsed
• Third, the deadline to appeal an NCP parking charge is 28 days. If you wait too long, you lose the right to challenge the fine
• Fourth, make sure you have enough evidence to support your challenge. Also, make sure you attach the proof to your online appeal
• Fifth, you can trace a lost NCP parking charge number by emailing the operator or by calling NCP support on 01604 625 622 depending on the prefix
• Sixth, NCP should reply to your appeal against the charge within two weeks. Make sure you add your email address to the appeal so the operator can reply via email. Otherwise, you’ll be notified in writing and the letter is sent through the post

The operator will either accept your appeal or the parking charge be cancelled. Or you’ll get a rejection letter in which case, you can opt to escalate things to the Parking on Private Lands Appeals service (POPLA).

POPLA is an independent body that assesses the merits of an appeal before deciding whether to uphold or reject it. POPLA’s decision is final and must be respected!

Unfortunately, when POPLA rejects your appeal against the charge, you’ll have to pay the full amount! On the other hand, if the appeals service upholds your appeal, NCP has to cancel the parking charge.

What happens if you don’t pay NCP?

A number of things could happen when you don’t pay an NCP parking charge. I’ve listed them below:

• The operator sends you payment reminders
• You could be threatened with court action (small claims court)
• NCP could ask a debt collector to chase you for the money
• The operator could decide to stop chasing you for a payment

The problem is there is never any guarantee that NCP will stop chasing you. Plus, when you get letters threatening court action, it could be a way of scaring you into paying, or it may not.

In short, it’s a gamble!

The one sure thing is that if NCP takes you to court over an unpaid fine and wins, a judge will order you to pay! There’s no way of getting around a court’s decision!

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How much will an NCP fine set you back?

An NCP parking charge could set you back as much as £100+ depending on where the infraction happened. There was a lower cap on parking charges, but the government has put it on hold. The good news is the new, lower cap is due to be introduced in 2023.

That said, all operators in the UK must offer you a discount when you pay the parking charge within two weeks. So, you’d pay £60 instead of £100 when you settle the fine within 14 days!

Can private parking firms enforce fines?

Private parking companies can’t lawfully issue ‘fines’. They can send you a notice telling you that you are in ‘breach of contract’. The firm has to win a case in a small claims court to get you to pay their ‘invoice’.

» TAKE ACTION NOW: Get legal support from JustAnswer

How do I get in touch with NCP?

I’ve listed how you can contact NCP below.

Is the NCP appeals process worth it?

Some motorists feel it’s worth challenging an NCP parking charge and has been successful. However, other motorists found the appeals process more challenging and had their appeals rejected.

That said, it’s always worth appealing an NCP parking fine. First, the operator can’t chase you for payment until they’ve considered your appeal. Second, when you appeal the fine within two weeks and NCP rejects it, you get to pay the reduced fine!