Should I Pay or Appeal my Park Watch PCN?

Have you received a Park Watch Parking Charge Notice (PCN)? You’re not alone. Each month, more than 32,000 people visit this site seeking advice on tickets and fines.

It can be a bit scary and confusing, but there’s no need to worry. In this article, we’ll guide you through:

•  Understanding what a Park Watch PCN is and why it is given
•  Learning how to appeal and possibly beat your PCN
•  Knowing when a Park Watch PCN is enforceable
•  Understanding the need to pay the PCN and what happens if you don’t
•  Discovering where to find extra help if you need it

We know how it feels to get a PCN; some of us have been in the same boat. With our experience, we’ll help you make the best decision.

Should I pay a Park Watch PCN immediately?

No. You shouldn’t pay a Park Watch Parking Charge straight away, not before you have checked the following:

• The details on the Park Watch Parking Charge Notice are correct
• You were given a grace period before the parking ticket was issued
• The Parking Charge Notice arrived in the post more than 14 days after the alleged parking infringement was committed

If any of the above applies to your case, you may have grounds to challenge a Park Watch PCN.

When can I appeal a Park Watch PCN?

You can appeal a parking ticket when you believe the operator made a mistake or because:

• Park Watch didn’t allow you a mandatory 10-minute grace period before issuing the parking ticket
• Failed to follow the IPC guidelines
• The details on the Park Watch Parking Charge Notice are incorrect
• You parked correctly, paid the right fee and got back to your vehicle on time
• The Parking Charge Notice could be too old to enforce

Check out this message posted by one motorist about an older parking ticket on private land they are being chased for.

Source: Moneysavingexpert

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How do I appeal a Park Watch PCN?

I suggest you write a letter to appeal the ticket if you want to challenge a Park Watch PCN.

Make sure you have grounds to challenge it and evidence to back up your claims.

The operator must reply to your appeal within a set deadline.

If you don’t get a response from the car park operator, you could insist they cancel the ticket.

I’ve listed ways to appeal a Park Watch Parking Charge Notice in the table below.

The operator stipulates that you must provide the following information with your appeal:

• The reason you believe a Park Watch Parking Charge Notice should be cancelled
• Your full name and contact details
• The vehicle registration number (VRN)
• The Parking Charge Notice reference number

It’s worth noting that once the car park operator receives your appeal, the IPC Code of Practice stipulates that no further action can be taken until a decision is made.

What if Park Watch rejects my appeal?

You will get a Letter of Rejection from Park Watch if they disagree with your reason to have a parking ticket cancelled.

You have two options at this stage of the process. You can either:

• Pay the parking ticket, or
• Escalate your appeal to an independent adjudicator

If you decide to escalate your appeal, the information on how to do this should be included in the operator’s Letter of Rejection.

In this instance, you would escalate your appeal to the Independent Appeals Service (IAS).

The IAS will assess your appeal and decide whether to reject or uphold it.

If the appeals service upholds your appeal, the operator must cancel the Parking Charge Notice and you won’t have to pay.

However, if they reject your appeal, their decision is final, and you must pay the operator the amount you owe.

What happens if I don’t pay a parking charge notice UK?

You risk having debt collectors contacting you if you don’t pay a Parking Charge Notice.

However, a company like Park Watch will not hesitate in sending you lots of payment reminders followed by payment demands.

All these reminders are sent to the registered keeper’s address.

If you forget to update your details with the DVLA, you risk a hefty fine of up to £1,000.

After that, a debt collection agency could chase you for the payment, which is never a nice experience.

You should either make a Park Watch appeal or settle the ticket within 14 days to pay the lesser amount to prevent this from happening.

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Will Park Watch take me to court?

Yes. There’s always a chance that Park Watch will start legal proceedings to recover the amount you owe.

You’ll receive a Letter Before Action (LBA), which you should not ignore. If you do ignore an LBA, things could escalate further.

It might be an empty threat to encourage you to pay, but the operator may be serious about taking you to court over an unpaid Parking Charge Notice.

In short, a court summons will be issued, and if you don’t attend the hearing, a default is registered against you.

It will earn you a County Court Judgement (CCJ), and you have 30 days to pay it.

Not settling a CCJ means it will remain on your credit history for six years.

You will have difficulty getting:

• A loan
• Credit card
• Mortgage

How do I contact Park Watch?

I have listed the Park Watch contact details in the table below.

Park Watch Parking Charge Notice, pay or appeal?

It’s very much a personal decision whether you pay or appeal a Park Watch Parking Charge Notice.

That said, if you feel you have grounds to challenge a parking ticket, you have the right to do so.

In my experience, it’s best to have as much evidence as possible to back up an appeal to stand a chance of success.

Plus, when you appeal a parking ticket on private land, the operator can’t take the matter any further until they decide whether to accept or reject it.

In short, filing an appeal against a Park Watch PCN gives you a little time to get your finances in order if needed.

On the other hand, you might want to consider settling the parking ticket within 14 days so you get to pay the reduced fine.

If you do, the amount you pay could be at least 40% less than the original Park Watch Parking Charge Notice.