Question 1

How do I pay?

Accepted Answer

Your parking charge will tell you how to pay. The name and contact details for the parking operator will be detailed on the notice you received.

Top Tip: If you are unsure if your payment has been received, then contact the parking company and check. Do not assume.

Question 2

Can I appeal after I pay?

Accepted Answer

No. If you want to appeal, then you must do this before you pay. If you have already paid, but want to appeal, it is up to the discretion of the operator but it is highly unlikely this will be allowed.

Question 3

My parking charge number isn't recognised

Accepted Answer

Please contact the operator.

Question 4

What if I don't pay?

Accepted Answer

An “Escalation Fee” of up to £70 is added, and you could be taken to court and possibly receive a CCJ. If you are taken to court, further charges will be applied.

Question 5

I think my parking charge isn’t fair

Accepted Answer

If you think your parking charge isn’t fair, or issued in error, you should first appeal to the operator.  You can then appeal to the independent adjudicator. For members of the IPC, this is the Independent Appeals Service.(https://theias.org/)

Question 6

I appealed my parking charge and haven't had a response

Accepted Answer

If you appeal your parking charge to an operator, they have 28 days to respond. If you do not hear back, do not assume that the charge has been cancelled.  Please follow up with the operator prior to the 28 days.

Question 7

Has my parking charge been cancelled?

Accepted Answer

How do you know if your parking charge has been cancelled?  Never assume that a parking charge has been cancelled; always check with the parking company, unless you have a clear written letter cancelling the parking charge.

Question 8

Can I complain to the IPC about a parking Operator?

Accepted Answer

Yes you can. However, complaints must be lodged with the parking operator in the first instance.  When lodging your complaint with the parking company remember to ask for the complaint reference number and anything that will make it easier for the IPC to investigate if the matter is not resolved satisfactory with the parking company.

Question 9

I am unhappy with the practices of a parking operator and I want to make a complaint to the IPC

Accepted Answer

Before you complain to the IPC you must first complain to the parking operator following their documented process. Once you have received a response and if you remain unsatisfied, you can complain further to the IPC. 
 
To complain to the IPC simply click on the following link  https://portal.theipc.info/login/complaints, you will first need to create a user account then you can select the ‘submit complaint’ option.

Within this section you will be prompted to select the parking operator that your complaint relates to, the parking charge number, the subject and the basis of your complaint. Once you press submit, this will be sent to the complaints department at the IPC. All complaints will be acknowledged within 10 working days and concluded within 20 working days, unless extra time is needed and as such you will be updated.

Question 10

I can't pay my parking charge

Accepted Answer

If you can’t pay your parking charge, or can’t see how to pay your parking charge, please contact the operator.

Question 11

I want to appeal

Accepted Answer

To appeal a parking charge, you must first appeal to the operator who issued you the parking charge. If you remain unsatisfied, then you can appeal to an independent appeals service. For the IPC, this is the Independent Appeals Service (IAS).(https://theias.org/) Please be aware that there are timeframes and limitations for appeals.  Read more in the "Motorist Zone" of this website. You can also visit www.247advice.co.uk (www.247advice.co.uk)

Question 12

I can’t appeal

Accepted Answer

If you are unable to appeal, please contact the operator (the company who issued the parking charge).

Question 13

I think a parking company broke the Code

Accepted Answer

Please first contact the parking company, if not satisfied with their response, please log a complaint through the IPC’s complaints portal.(https://portal.theipc.info/login/complaints)

Question 14

Should I Appeal or Complain?

Accepted Answer

Appeals Cover: You should appeal a parking charge if you believe it was issued in error, or you have mitigating circumstances that the operator was not aware of at the time of issue. Appeals cover anything that relates to the circumstances of why the parking charge was issued. 
EG: You believe your parking charge should be cancelled. You made an error entering your vehicle registration. You have a permit that you didn't display or was not accounted for by the operator. Signage or payment facilities are missing.

Complaints Cover:  Concerns regarding the lawfulness of the parking charge cannot be dealt with under the complaints procedure. Such issues must be considered under the appeals procedure as the IPC cannot comment upon, or interfere with, individual parking charges. Anything that relates to the companies conduct in dealing with the parking charge would be a complaint. 
EG: You did not receive the original parking charge. You did not receive the appeal rejection notification. The operator did not comply with PoFA. You are unable to appeal.

Question 15

I didn’t receive my parking charge

Accepted Answer

Please contact the operator.

Question 16

I received my parking charge after the appeals window

Accepted Answer

Please contact the operator. If you are unsatisfied, you can file a complaint.

Question 17

I missed my appeals window

Accepted Answer

If you missed the opportunity to appeal, you can contact the operator and ask them to allow the appeal as a gesture of good will. They do not have an obligation to allow the appeal.

Question 18

Parking Jargon

Accepted Answer

Unsure what something means? See "Parking Jargon" in 247advice.co.uk (247advice.co.uk)

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