TL;DR: Too long, Didn’t read
It is NOT a Fine: A ticket from a private company (like ParkingEye or Euro Car Parks) is actually an invoice for “breach of contract.” Only the Council or Police can issue real fines.
Do Not Ignore It: In the past, people ignored them. Now, companies can and do take you to court (CCJ risk). Do not ignore it.
The “10-Minute” Rule: You legally have a 10-minute grace period after your parking runs out before they can issue a ticket.
Blue vs. Yellow: Check the ticket. If it says “Penalty Charge Notice” (Council), pay it. If it says “Parking Charge Notice” (Private), you can often fight it.
You park at a supermarket or a retail park. You stay 15 minutes too long. A week later, a letter arrives demanding £100. It looks official. It has black and yellow chequers. It talks about “court action.”
But is this a real fine? Or is it just a private company trying their luck?
The Difference: Council vs. Private
This is the most important check. Look at the ticket carefully.
1. Penalty Charge Notice (Official)
Issued by: Local Council or Police/TfL.
The Law: Statutory authority. You have broken a traffic law.
Advice: Pay it (or appeal formally). They have the power to send bailiffs quickly.
2. Parking Charge Notice (Private)
Issued by: Private companies (ParkingEye, NCP, Smart Parking).
The Law: Contract Law. By parking on their land, you “agreed” to their contract (the signs). You broke the contract, so they are invoicing you for “damages.”
Advice: Do not pay immediately. Check if the contract was valid first.
A Quick Story: Meet Tom
Tom parks in a private car park to grab a coffee.
The sign says “2 Hours Max.” Tom stays for 2 hours and 8 minutes.
He gets a ticket for £60.
The Verdict: Tom should appeal. Under the British Parking Association (BPA) Code of Practice, private car parks must give you a 10-minute grace period at the end of your parking time. Since he was only 8 minutes over, the ticket is invalid.
How to Fight a Private Ticket
You can appeal (and win) if you spot one of these flaws in their “Contract”:
1. The “Grace Period” Rule
If you are a member of the BPA (British Parking Association) or IPC (International Parking Community), you must allow 10 minutes grace before issuing a ticket. If you were 5 minutes late, the ticket is invalid.
2. Unclear Signage
Remember, this is a contract. A contract requires an Offer (the sign) and Acceptance (you parking).
If the signs were hidden behind a tree, tiny, or unlit at night, you could not have read the “Offer.”
Defence: “No contract was formed because the signage was not prominent.”
3. The “Keying Error”
Did you type your number plate into the machine but get one digit wrong (e.g., O instead of 0)?
The BPA says companies should cancel these tickets for a small admin fee (usually £20) rather than the full £100 charge.
Should I Just Ignore It? NO.
Ten years ago, the advice was “throw it in the bin.” That changed in 2015 (Beavis vs. ParkingEye).
If you ignore it, they can take you to the Small Claims Court.
If you lose (or ignore the court letter), you get a CCJ (County Court Judgment), which ruins your credit score for 6 years.
The Strategy: Appeal it using their internal process. If that fails, take it to POPLA (the independent appeals service). This freezes the fine while they decide.
Summary: Don’t Panic, Just Check
That scary letter is just an invoice.
Check the timings: Were you within the 10-minute grace period?
Check the photos: Was the sign visible?
Appeal: Don’t just pay out of fear.
(Sources: Citizens Advice – Parking Tickets, BPA Code of Practice)
This guide is for information purposes only and is not legal advice. If you receive a court summons, seek professional advice immediately.