General information, not legal advice.
POPLA (Parking on Private Land Appeals) is the independent appeals service for parking companies that belong to the British Parking Association (BPA). It is free to use.
When can you use it?
When the parking company has rejected your appeal and its rejection letter gives you a POPLA verification code. You must appeal within 28 days of the rejection. The letter will say if the company is a BPA member.
What you need
- The 10-digit verification code from the rejection letter.
- The parking charge notice and the company's rejection.
- Your evidence: photos of signs, receipts, permits and so on.
How long does it take?
POPLA usually takes about 6 to 8 weeks to decide. Check the POPLA site for the current time.
What POPLA does and does not accept
POPLA decides whether the parking charge was properly issued. It does not allow appeals on mitigation alone. Saying you were having a bad day is not enough: you need a ground that the charge was not properly issued or that the operator failed to comply with the rules.
Writing the appeal
Give clear numbered grounds, each with the facts and the evidence. The assessor can ask the operator for its evidence. The letter generator has a POPLA/IAS mode with pre-written wording for typical grounds, including a request that the assessor check the operator's evidence of landowner authority and signage.
If POPLA refuses
The operator may carry on collecting, and may eventually go to court. A POPLA decision binds the operator if you win, but not you if you lose. See debt collector letters.
Loading…
Common mistakes
- Missing the 28 days. The limit runs from the date of the rejection, so act as soon as the letter arrives.
- Losing the verification code. Keep the rejection letter safe, since you need the code to appeal.
- Mitigation only. POPLA does not allow appeals on mitigation alone. Include at least one ground the charge was not properly issued.
- Not uploading evidence. Add photos, receipts and permits to the appeal itself. Do not assume the assessor will find them elsewhere.