p now.
Stage 2. The formal appeal process
You will have got to this stage in one of four ways:
You didn't make an informal appeal
If you ignored the ticket for the first 28 days, it's not too late to start your appeal. See the section below when the informal appeal is turned down, as the process will be the same.
The informal appeal was turned down
At this point the council sends a Notice to Owner form to the registered owner. This demands full fee payment, but is also a formal appeals form. Once you receive it you've 28 days to pay or appeal, or the penalty could increase by another 50% and you'll lose the chance to appeal. Full details of what this should include: Notice To Owner ticket requirements.
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Posted tickets
The ticket should include a formal appeal form. If you appeal within 14 days, or 21 if caught by CCTV, you'll usually get the opportunity to pay the reduced rate if your appeal is rejected. In addition, where you're caught on CCTV you can ask for any photographs or other evidence the council uses against you to be posted or be allowed to view them at the council's office. Full details of what this should include: Posted parking ticket requirements.
If you were clamped or towed away
You'll get a form with the ticket, or from the pound, to appeal within 28 days. On it you'll need to state your personal details, the relevant ground(s) for appealing and an outline of your appeal.
Writing the appeal
Simply fill out the form stating all the details. The form should include a space for you to put the grounds for appeal, but it's easier to write a separate letter outlining your appeal to ensure you've enough space to get all your points across. Here's a template to help:
FREE template letter: Make a formal parking fine appeal (click if problems opening)
If you made an informal appeal, resend all the information as it may be read by someone else who may not have the original details. Some councils allow you to view any photographic evidence they have against you on their website. The council has 56 days to respond to a formal appeal or you win by default.
What happens next?
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One of two things:
You win
If the council upholds your appeal, it'll write to you. HOORAY!
You go to the next stage
If it sends a Notice of Rejection of Representations letter, you'll then receive a form called a Notice of Appeal to challenge the ticket at an independent tribunal. At this point you will have lost the chance to pay at half price anyway, so there's no harm in continuing to the next stage.
In a tiny, tiny number of instances the independent tribunal can award costs to a council if it rejects your appeal and thinks you've made a "frivolous, vexatious or wholly unreasonable" appeal - for example, if you blatantly blocked a hospital entrance and are still appealing.
You need to submit the form within 28 days of receiving it. This date is deemed to be two working days after the letter's date.
Stage 3: Final appeal to the independent tribunal
Now, providing you've been through the processes above, there are four bodies which hear tribunals.
Don't be put off by the idea of going to the adjudicator. Actually, this is quite good news. First of all, it's an adjudicator appointed by government, not any council or authority, and is completely independent. And most importantly, to clear up any confusion...
It's free, it's not like a court hearing and you DON'T have to attend. It can be done by post, phone or online.
You do have the option of a personal hearing (and in some cases, a telephone hearing) if you'd like to explain yourself. But for most people, a written appeal will suffice as long as you supply the relevant evidence to support your case.
Which body carries out the appeal depends on where the incident happened:
England and Wales (not London):
Traffic Penalty Tribunal.
Scotland:
The Scottish Parking Appeals Service, no website so call 0131 221 0409.
Northern Ireland:
Northern Ireland Traffic Penalty Tribunal.
London:
The Environment and Traffic Adjudicators.
You'll get the relevant form to appeal from the council. Again, submit every last smidgen of relevant evidence as the adjudicator won't have seen any of the evidence you previously submitted. As with a formal appeal to the council, it's worth sending a separate letter attached to the form outlining your case. Here's a template to help:
FREE template letter: Make an independent tribunal parking fine appeal (click if problems opening)
What happens next?
If the appeal is made in person or on the phone, the adjudicator will normally tell you the decision there and then. Otherwise, you'll get a letter with the decision. There are four possible outcomes:
You win.
HOORAH!
You lose.
You need to pay the penalty within 28 days or the fine can increase by 50%.
The appeal's adjourned.
It's rare, but happens if the adjudicator requires further information.
The appeal's dismissed but the adjudicator considers there