You asked us: I’ve always been able to park for free in my work’s carpark but recently I got a ticket when a new parking company took over. Work said they’d get it sorted and I didn’t need to do anything, but I’m worried about additional charges or being taken to court. Should I just pay the fine for now? 

We answered: before taking any other action, we’d suggest talking to your employer as they’ve said they will handle it. Check any policy or handbook that your workplace has on this and whether there’s anything in your contract about parking. If you’re not happy with your employer’s response or the issue isn’t resolved, you may want to seek advice. 

Usually, if you disagree with a parking fine and think you have valid grounds for it to be cancelled, we’d suggest you appeal it. If you pay the fine, it’s usually seen as admitting the ticket was right, so you’ll no longer have the option to appeal and you won’t get your money back.  

Putting in an initial appeal against a parking ticket is free, whatever type of ticket you have – just make sure you don’t miss the deadline. How many days you have and how to appeal will depend on the type of ticket. 

There are a few main ticket types. Penalty Charge Notices or Excess Charge Notices are normally issued by the council on public land, like council car parks. Parking Charge Notices are issued by landowners or parking companies on private land, like supermarket carparks. The Police can issue a Fixed Penalty Notice if you park on white zigzags or somewhere they manage parking. 

If a parking company puts a Parking Charge Notice on your car and they’re not an Accredited Trade Association (ATA) member, don’t contact them unless they write to you first. Only ATA members can get your contact information from the DVLA. To check if a parking company is an ATA member, visit the British Parking Association or International Parking Community websites.

Keep in mind that only the police, council or a private company acting for them can clamp your vehicle on private land. Call the police on 101 if you’ve been clamped by a private landowner. Don’t remove the wheel clamp yourself – you could be taken to court for criminal damage, or theft if you keep the clamp. 

There are multiple circumstances where parking fines should be cancelled, including if parking signs or road markings were unclear, you were only just out of time or it’s difficult for you to get back to your car because you’re disabled, pregnant or have young children. You can also appeal if you weren’t driving your car when it was ticketed. Just be aware you’ll usually need to provide evidence, like photos proving that a parking meter was broken so you couldn’t pay, or that your Blue Badge was correctly displayed. 

Visit the Citizens Advice website for more information about how and when to appeal – or give us a call. 

If none of the reasons that mean a parking ticket should be cancelled apply to you, it’s a good idea to pay the fine as quickly as you can. You can usually get a discount of 50% off Penalty Charge Notices or Excess Charge Notices and 40-60% off Parking Charge Notices if you pay within 14 days. In addition, not paying could affect your credit score, and lead to court fees and bailiff action. 

Finally, remember it’s important to take action if you’re being chased for a parking ticket when you’ve already paid or are appealing it. If you’ve already paid, contact whoever issued the ticket with proof of payment. If you’re appealing, confirm when you appealed, who you appealed to and your ticket reference number. Then explain that under section 40 of the Administration of Justice Act 1970 and section 2 of the protection from Harassment Act 1997, they must stop sending you letters until there’s a decision on your appeal. If you’ve received a Parking Charge Notice that you think is unfair, you can also report the parking company to Trading Standards.   

For self-help advice on any of the topics covered here, visit the Citizens Advice website – or contact us to speak to one of our local team.