How Not To Pay For Parking Fines UK (with FREE Appeal Template)
If you’re like most people, the thought of paying a parking fine is enough to make your blood boil. After all, it’s not fair that you have to pay for something that you didn’t do or something you didn’t see the sign for, right? Well, what if I told you that there is a way to get out of paying parking fines in the UK?
This is what happened in our case.
We went to Telford retail park as we have done for years now. There are no pay and display boxes as this is a free parking area. We parked there to do our shopping as you do and took our time as we didn’t need to rush to get back. About 2 weeks later we received a parking fine for £100 because they said we had parked there for over 4 hours!
Do You Have To Pay Private Parking Fines?
The simple answer is no, you do not have to pay private parking fines in the UK. Private parking companies are not affiliated with the government, so they cannot issue official fines. However, that doesn’t mean that they can’t try to get your money!
Many private parking companies will send threatening letters or even take you to court in an attempt to get you to pay up. But don’t be intimidated! If you know your rights, you won’t have to worry about paying a dime.
What Are Your Rights When It Comes To Private Parking Fines?
1. You have the right to appeal the fine. Just because a private parking company says you owe them money doesn’t mean you actually do. If you think the fine is unfair, you can always appeal it.
2. You have the right to ignore the fine. Private parking companies rely on intimidation to get people to pay up. But you don’t have to play their game! If you ignore their letters and phone calls, they will eventually give up.
3. You have the right to speak to a manager. If a private parking company representative is being aggressive or threatening, you have the right to speak to a manager. This will usually put an end to their tactics.
4. You have the right to dispute the charge with your credit card company. If you used a credit card to pay for parking, you can dispute the charge if you think it’s unfair.
5. Private companies are not allowed to access your personal private data without your permission, therefore they shouldn’t issue you with a fine! GDPR
Are private parking fines enforceable?
The simple answer is no. Don’t pay! They are in breach of the data protection act. I will show you what you need to say in your appeal reply further down this post.
•Private parking companies are not able to fine you, though they may try to make you think they do.
• All they’re doing is sending you a notice of what they deem to be a breach of contract.
• It isn’t the ability of private companies to issue tickets in itself that’s a problem though.
• The unstructured system which puts unnecessary power in potentially unscrupulous hands is the real problem.
How To Write An Appeal Letter For Parking Fines
If you’ve received a parking fine that you believe is unfair, you can write a parking appeal letter. An appeal letter allows you to explain why you believe the fine is unjust and gives the authority and opportunity to reconsider their decision.
When writing your appeal letter, be sure to include:
- Your name and address
- The date of the parking incident
- The amount of the fine
- Your vehicle registration number
- A clear explanation of why you think the fine is unfair
- Any relevant supporting evidence, such as photos or witness statements
- A polite request for the authority to reconsider their decision
Once you’ve written your letter, send it to the address on the parking ticket and wait for a response. In most cases, you’ll receive a notice in the mail indicating whether or not your appeal has been successful.
Free Appeal Letter Template for UK Private Parking Fines
Just fill in the form below to receive your free template so you can copy and paste it into your appeal email. When we sent this letter we got a reply within days and the fine was cancelled.
Can You Clamp A Car On Private Land?
•If a private company clamps or tows your car, they have broken the law and could be fined up to £5,000.
• It is only legal to clamp or tow a car if it has committed an offence on public property or if the act is carried out by a certified bailiff, the police, local authority, or local government agency.
• There may be specific local by-laws in some areas that permit clamping or towing of cars, but this is rare.
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