Parking Charge 28 Days Old? Your Appeal Deadline Is Here
You are at or very near the deadline for appealing directly to the operator. If you have not yet appealed, do so immediately. If the operator has already rejected your appeal, you should now have the option to escalate to the independent appeals service (POPLA or IAS).
- --The 28-day appeal window to the operator is closing or has just closed
- --If you appealed and were rejected, you have 28 days from the rejection to escalate
- --POPLA and IAS appeals are free and binding on the operator
- --If you missed the deadline, you can still defend at court if it reaches that stage
What You Need to Know
- Submit your appeal today if you have not already done so
- A late appeal may still be accepted at the operator's discretion
- The independent appeals service (POPLA/IAS) is your next step if rejected
- Even if all appeal deadlines pass, you can still defend a county court claim
- The operator will likely send reminder letters -- do not panic
Which Situation Applies to You?
You have not appealed yet
The formal appeal window may have closed, but submit your appeal anyway -- many operators accept late representations.
Submit your appeal immediately. Mark it urgent and explain any reason for the delay.
UrgentYour appeal was rejected and you received a NOR
You have 28 days from the Notice of Rejection to escalate to POPLA or IAS.
Prepare your independent appeal with all evidence and submit it within the deadline.
Act soonYou appealed and have not heard back
If the operator fails to respond to your appeal within a reasonable time, the charge should be treated as cancelled.
Send a follow-up letter asking for a response and stating the charge should be cancelled.
Act soonYou missed the appeal deadline entirely
You cannot appeal to the operator or POPLA/IAS, but you can still defend a county court claim if one is issued.
Prepare your defence arguments and evidence in case the matter escalates.
Act soonWhere You Are in the Process
Parking charge notice issued
The operator places a ticket on your windscreen or posts a Notice to Keeper to the registered keeper via the DVLA.
Reduced payment window
Most operators offer a reduced charge if paid within 14 days. This is optional -- paying is an admission of liability.
Appeal to operator
You can submit a formal appeal (representation) to the operator within 28 days of the notice.
Independent appeal (POPLA/IAS)
If your appeal is rejected, you can escalate to the independent appeals service within 28 days.
Debt collector letters
If unpaid, the operator may instruct debt collectors. These have no special legal powers.
Letter Before Action
A formal pre-court letter. You have 30 days to respond.
County court claim (if issued)
The operator must issue a claim to enforce the charge. You have 14 days to acknowledge and 28 days to defend.
What the 28-Day Deadline Means
The 28-day period from the date of the parking charge notice is the window in which you can make a formal representation (appeal) to the operator. After this deadline, the operator is not obliged to consider your appeal, although many do. If the operator has already rejected your appeal and issued a Notice of Rejection, you have a separate 28-day window to escalate to the independent appeals service.
What If You Missed the Deadline?
Missing the appeal deadline is not the end of the road. First, submit your appeal anyway -- operators sometimes accept late appeals, particularly where there is a good reason for the delay. Second, even if the operator refuses to engage, the charge must still follow a legal process before it can be enforced. The operator must eventually issue a county court claim, and at that stage you have a full right to file a defence. Many claims are discontinued when a defence is filed.
Escalating to POPLA or IAS
If the operator rejected your initial appeal, they must issue a Notice of Rejection with details of how to escalate. POPLA handles appeals against BPA (British Parking Association) members. The IAS handles appeals against IPC (International Parking Community) members. Both services are free, and their decisions are binding on the operator but not on you -- meaning if you lose, you can still defend at court.
What Happens After 28 Days
If you do not pay or appeal, the operator will typically send reminder letters and may instruct a debt collection agency. Debt collectors have no special legal powers -- they are simply writing letters on behalf of the operator. The charge cannot be enforced without a county court judgment. Many charges never reach court because the cost and risk for the operator is significant.
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Start Your Free DefenceFrequently Asked Questions
Is it too late to appeal at 28 days?
The formal deadline is 28 days, but it is worth submitting an appeal anyway. Many operators accept late appeals. If they refuse, you still have the right to defend yourself at court. The appeal deadline is not a hard legal cut-off for your defence rights.
What is a Notice of Rejection?
A Notice of Rejection (NOR) is a formal letter from the operator rejecting your appeal and giving you the right to escalate to the independent appeals service. It must include a code or reference for POPLA or IAS. You have 28 days from the date of the NOR to submit your independent appeal.
Can the parking company take me to court at this stage?
No. At 28 days, the matter is still in the early stages. The operator must exhaust the appeals process and typically wait several months before considering court action. The vast majority of charges never reach court.