Can I Appeal a Parking Fine From 4 Years Ago in the UK?
Did you get a parking ticket 4 years ago and are now wondering if you can still appeal it in the UK? This is a common question, and you’re not alone. Each month, over 32,000 people come to this site seeking advice on parking tickets and fines.
It’s normal to feel worried about a parking fine, especially if you didn’t know you broke any rules. You might also feel nervous about the process of appealing a ticket. In this article, we’re going to help you understand:
- The types of parking fines and how to identify them.
- The process of appealing a parking ticket.
- The time limit for being chased for a parking ticket.
- What makes a parking charge notice (PCN) invalid.
- The consequences of ignoring a PCN.
Our team understands how you feel and we’re here to provide clear, easy-to-understand advice. Let’s dive in and figure out how you can handle your old 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.
How long can you be chased for a parking ticket?
Again, it depends on who issues the parking ticket as to how long the issuer can chase you for payment.
For instance, a Parking Charge Notice from a parking company that contains the words ‘Protection of Freedoms Act’, should be sent to you by post within a specific time.
That said, the parking ticket would go to the registered keeper if that’s not you!
However, it gets a little more complicated, because it depends on whether the parking ticket is issued when you parked, whether an attendant hands you it or it’s left on your vehicle.
If you replied to the notice, you won’t get another ticket through the post. However, if you didn’t reply, another notice must be sent to you within 56 days.
If the ticket wasn’t issued when you parked, it must be sent to you within 14 days of the alleged parking infringement. If the operator fails to send you the notice within the time limit, you should tell the operator to cancel it!
Also, if the notice doesn’t contain the words ‘Protection of Freedoms Act’, a time limit doesn’t apply. So, if the notice arrives over 7 months after an alleged parking infringement, you could argue the fine is unfair!
Check out what happened to one person who posted this message on a popular forum:
Source: Moneysavingexpert
What makes a PCN invalid?
If you got a Penalty Charge Notice and an authority failed to comply with the regulations when issuing it, you could challenge the fine! For instance, the PCN did not provide the required information, or the issuer failed to reply to a challenge or they replied too late!
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.
In partnership with Just Answer.
What if you ignored the PCN?
You won’t get out of paying the fine if you ignore the parking ticket, whether it’s a Penalty Charge Notice or a Parking Charge Notice.
It’s never a wise move to ignore parking tickets because it gets more stressful and expensive when you do!
Whether you get a Parking Charge Notice or Penalty Charge Notice, ignoring the problem just makes matters worse.
What happens if the PCN was sent to old address?
Things get even more complicated when a parking fine is sent to the wrong address and therefore, you never get it!
Private operators that are members of BPA can access your details from the DVLA when they want to post a parking ticket to you.
It gets complicated because although you could challenge the Parking Charge Notice, you risk being fined by the Driver and Vehicle Licence Agency (DVLA). Why? Because you failed to update your details with them!
Plus, the fine for not telling the DVLA about your new address could be up to £1,000! The only exception is if you’re living in temporary accommodation!
Join thousands of others who got legal help for a £5 trial
Getting the support of a Solicitor can take a huge weight off your mind.
Reviews shown are for JustAnswer.
Will bailiffs contact you over an unpaid parking ticket?
Yes. But bailiffs must have an ‘order of recovery’ before they can contact you about an unpaid parking debt. Plus, the 21-day time limit must have expired!
Also, you should be given 7 days’ notice before bailiffs show up at your home. In short, enforcement agents must send you an ‘enforcement notice’ first.
You have the right to appeal even at this stage of the process! Also, you could file what’s known as a ‘late witness statement’.
All further enforcement action stops while your application is dealt with.
» TAKE ACTION NOW: Get legal support from JustAnswer
Can you challenge a court order to pay?
You can only challenge a court order to pay if you have legal grounds to do so. You can’t just challenge the order because it’s ‘wrong’.
A court order could be changed or cancelled for the following reasons:
- You never got the PCN or a ‘notice to owner’ because it was sent to the wrong address. But be careful because the DVLA could fine you for not updating your details with them
- An appeal against the PCN was filed in time, but you never got a ‘notice of rejection’
- An appeal was filed by never acknowledged
- The PCN was already paid
You’ll have to complete a form TE9 when applying for a court order to be cancelled.
Is it worth appealing for a PCN?
You should seek advice from one of the charities if you’re unsure what to do about appealing a parking ticket that’s 4 years old. Without the proper advice, you could end up in legal hot water!
I’ve listed the various charities that could offer free advice in the table below:
Lastly, can you appeal a parking fine from 4 years ago?
Whether you can appeal a parking fine from 4 years ago is highly unlikely. That said, there are specific arguments you could use to challenge the fine but it all depends on whether it’s a Penalty Charge Notice or a Parking Charge Notice!
Appealing a parking ticket is challenging at the best of times. So when you’re being chased for one that’s years old, it can get messy, to say the least!
For instance, did you forget to update your details with the DVLA? If so, you risk getting a hefty fine for that omission alone.
Or maybe you ignored the parking ticket. In which case, you may not have a leg to stand on when it comes to appealing it! Parking Charge Notices expire after 6 years, so an operator could chase you for payment right up till then!
Getting out of paying a Penalty Charge Notice that’s 4 years old can be even more challenging. Unless you can prove the issuing authority got it wrong. Plus, the chances are you’ve already got a CCJ on your credit file for non-payment of the Penalty Charge Notice!
If in doubt, contact one of the leading charities and seek their advice before doing anything else. And do so as soon as you can to avoid things from getting any worse!
Thanks for reading my post. I hope the information helps you get through a difficult time dealing with an old parking fine!
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.
In partnership with Just Answer.
