Parking Charge Notice Ignore – The Worst Case Scenario

Getting a parking ticket is frustrating. Especially when you think you’ve done nothing wrong, but private operators are authorised to give these tickets out and sometimes they’re overzealous. But don’t go down the ‘parking charge notice ignore route’ because it could get expensive!

I look at what happens when you ignore a parking ticket on private land and if it’s a good idea to throw the fine away. Interested? Then read on to find out more!

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.

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What’s a parking charge notice?

A parking charge notice may look like an official penalty charge notice, but that’s where the similarity ends. Parking tickets issued on private land fall under contractual law. In short, a car park management company raises an ‘invoice’ because you broke the contract terms.

You see, as soon as you enter a private car park, you enter into a contract with the landowner’s car park management company. So you’ve agreed to the T&Cs for using the car park.

A private landowner or a car park operator can’t legally demand you pay a parking charge notice. Instead, they have to issue court proceedings, win the case and have a court order you to pay.

Without a court order, a parking charge notice is not enforceable!

But a private operator could take you to court and win the case. But, of course, you’d have to pay the full amount when this happens!

Who is liable for a parking charge notice?

The registered keeper is liable for a parking charge notice. An accredited operator gets your details from the DVLA. The parking charge is sent through the post. 

Parking Charge Notice Vs Penalty Charge Notice

You’d get a Parking Charge Notice on private land. This is because private operators issue parking tickets on behalf of landowners. On the other hand, a penalty charge notice is issued by an authority on public land. An example is when you park illegally on a High Street.

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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Should you ignore a parking charge notice?

No. Don’t ignore a parking charge notice you get on private land. The parking ticket may not be immediately enforceable, but an operator could take you to court.

When a judge rules in favour of the operator, that’s it. You’ll have to pay the parking ticket. Plus, in a worst-case scenario, you could get a County Court Judgement (CCJ) on your credit record.

You may have to deal with debt collectors should a private operator sell the ‘debt’. Dealing with a debt collection agency is stressful and could lead to further action against you!

In short, don’t ignore a parking charge notice you get on private land!

Will the parking charge notice affect your credit score?

No, a parking charge notice doesn’t affect your credit score, but if you get a CCJ for non-payment, it will!

Moreover, it could really impact your credit history, making it harder to borrow, get a credit card or even get a mortgage!

Should you pay a parking charge notice straight away?

No. Not before you check the details on the parking charge notice. For example, are the details on the ticket yours? Was the parking charge notice issued correctly and sent to you in a set timeframe?

Only pay for the parking ticket once you’re happy all the details are right, and you deserve it! However, there is one advantage to paying a parking charge notice: you get to pay much less.

An operator could discount the amount by up to 40% when you pay within two weeks!

Should you appeal a parking charge notice?

Everyone has the right to appeal a parking ticket. More especially when a parking charge notice isn’t deserved. Maybe an over-zealous parking warden issued the parking ticket incorrectly? Or did a CCTV recording of a parking infringement get it wrong? It happens!

Make sure you make an appeal against a parking charge notice within the set deadline. If you miss it, you lose the right to appeal a parking ticket!

Also, gather as much proof as possible to show the parking charge notice should be cancelled!

What excuse could you use to appeal a parking charge notice?

There are several reasons why you could appeal a parking charge notice. This includes any of the following:

• You tried to pay, but the Pay & Display machine was out of order
• You broke down, and you were waiting for a tow truck to arrive
• A medical emergency stopped you from returning to your car in time
• The parking charge notice arrived in the post more than 14 days after the alleged parking infringement
• You weren’t given a grace period before the parking charge was issued

What is a grace period, you ask?

Accredited car park management operators must give you a 10-minute grace period before issuing a parking charge notice. And if they don’t, the parking charge should be cancelled!

What happens when your parking charge notice appeal is rejected?

When an operator rejects your appeal against a parking charge notice, all is not lost. You have two choices:

• Pay the parking ticket and move on with your life
• Escalate your appeal to an independent appeals service

But to do this, an operator must be registered with an Accredited Trade Association (ATA). Plus, it’s a free service!

Should you ignore a parking charge notice on private land?

No, ignoring a parking charge notice you get on private land would be a mistake. Although the parking ticket is not immediately enforceable, there’s a chance you’ll be taken to court.

If the operator wins the case, you could get a CCJ on your credit history, and the operator could sell the ‘debt’ to a collection agency. You’d have to deal with debt collectors, which is never a pleasant experience.

So, you should pay the parking charge notice if it’s deserved. Or appeal the parking ticket, which puts everything on hold. But don’t ignore things because, in a worst-case scenario, it could get expensive and mess up your credit score!

Thanks for reading this post on whether you should go down the “parking charge notice ignore route”. I hope the information helps you decide what to do for the best, which could save you time and money.

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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