1. You don’t own the vehicle – often only the case if you have recently sold your car.
2. The penalty exceeded the amount shown on the sign.
3. The car was stolen at the time
4. The offence never occurred in the first place (no ticket was issued, there were no clear signs or markings etc)

In the vast majority of cases, number 4 is the most appropriate reason for appealing. It is worth bearing in mind the following, however:

Having a valid permit isn’t enough to invalidate a parking fine – the permit has to be on clear display. If there is evidence that it was not clearly display – and there is likely to be – you aren’t in a strong position. Since April 2008, parking tickets can also be sent by post – they don’t have to have been applied to your car. It is wise to ask for photographic evidence if you receive a surprise parking ticket, then check it carefully to ensure it is a genuine contravention.

HOWEVER:

If there aren’t clear signs on every single road leading into a restricted parking area, then you have grounds to appeal your ticket. If you get a ticket, check every road leading to the parking area; check both sides of the road and look for signs that are covered, smalls, faded or broken – all these can lead to your ticket being invalid. In the case of parking bays, there must be signs within 5 metres of each end of the bays. If you parked on a double yellow line, check that the line is unbroken and ends in a ‘T’. Breaks in the line, or failure to have a ‘T’ at the end of the line invalidate tickets. Of course, in all the above cases you will need to provide photographic evidence of the reason for appeal.

If your ticket was for parking outside of a marked bay, it is well worth measuring the bay to ensure it meets the requirements for the minimum size. If it isn’t at least 1.62 metres wide from edge of kerb to outer edge of line, it is too small and your ticket is likely invalid.

Although unloading vehicles is not allowed on double yellow lines, it is perfectly fine to unload on a single yellow line for up to 20 minutes. If you receive a ticket within 20 minutes, it isn’t valid. Of course, it will help to have proof that you were loading or unloading your vehicle at the time – contracts and witnesses work well.

Good luck!

Firstly – DON’T PANIC!

Private parking tickets are NOT fines – these companies have no official right to fine you anything. The ticket they issue is simply designed to look like a fine; it is merely an invoice for a supposed breach of contract between the driven and the landowner.

Secondly – ACT!

Gather evidence to reflect the unfair nature of the situation; take photographs of unclear (or a lack of) road signs and markings, obstructed signs and your car. If there was no parking notice (or you couldn’t see it) you couldn’t have agreed to the contract you are supposed to have been in breach of! For this reason, you should take pictures to prove there wasn’t appropriate signage, or that the were hidden, blocked or hard to see. Signs need to be visible from all over the car park, or they’re not sufficient.

Take witness statements from anybody who will testify to the fact that you were given your parking fine unfairly. By gathering all this evidence you’ll be in a better position to fight the company

Next time: fighting for your rights!