Euro Car Parks appeal: how to challenge a parking charge

About Euro Car Parks charges

Euro Car Parks manages car parks for landowners such as retailers, hospitals, hotels and leisure sites. Many of its sites use number plate cameras, so the charge usually arrives by post as a notice to keeper. The letter normally shows camera photos of your car entering and leaving, with times — check those times carefully, because they are the basis of the charge.

Parking Help is independent and not connected to Euro Car Parks.

The appeal steps

1. 1

   Step 1: Appeal to Euro Car Parks

   Within 28 days of the notice. Many companies freeze the reduced amount while they consider a first appeal.

2. 2

   Step 2: If rejected, independent appeal

   POPLA allows 28 days from the rejection.

3. 3

   Step 3: After that

   If the independent appeal fails, letters may follow. Reply to any Letter of Claim within 30 days.

Check the 14-day rule first

If your dates show the letter was late, say so in your appeal. Our free letter adds the right paragraph for you. See notice to keeper 14 days for the details.

The genuine-customer route

At shops, gyms, hotels and restaurants, the business can often ask its parking company to cancel a charge for a genuine customer. Ask the manager in writing and attach your receipt, booking or membership record. Do this alongside your appeal, not instead of it.

Hospital car parks

If the charge was at a hospital, start with PALS (the Patient Advice and Liaison Service) — see hospital parking charge appeal. NHS guidance in England says some groups, including disabled people and frequent outpatients, should get free parking.

If a ticket was left on the car

Some sites have attendants who leave a ticket on the windscreen. Then the deadlines run from the ticket date, and any letter to the keeper must arrive between 29 and 56 days later. If you got both a ticket and a letter, compare the dates — a letter outside that window is worth raising.

Other points to check

• Was your overstay within the parking grace period?
• Did you pay but enter the wrong registration?
• Did you leave and come back? Cameras can sometimes join two visits into one long stay.
• Were the signs clear at the entrance and near where you parked?

What to write in your appeal

Keep it short and factual. Start with the charge reference and vehicle registration, then set out each point under its own heading, with evidence. If you're the registered keeper and don't want to say who was driving, you don't have to — our free letter uses keeper wording by default.

• Late notice to keeper, if your dates show it.
• Grace period, if you were only a few minutes over.
• Payment made, or a keying error, with your receipt or app record.
• Unclear signs, with photos if you can get them.

If Euro Car Parks rejects your appeal

The rejection letter should explain how to appeal to the independent service and give you a code. For POPLA you have 28 days. Read our POPLA appeal guide and add any points you didn't raise the first time — assessors generally look only at what's in your appeal and the company's evidence.

If you decide not to go further, or the independent appeal fails, keep every later letter. Debt collector letters are only letters; a Letter of Claim needs a reply within 30 days.

You don't have to say who was driving, but never say anything untrue. Examples on this page are illustrative and based on typical situations, not real cases.

This is a free self-help guide, not legal advice. Check your own letters and dates. If you're unsure, get free advice from Citizens Advice. Written by the Parking Help team.