NCP parking charge appeal: steps, stations, airports and Letters of Claim

About NCP charges

NCP runs car parks in town centres and at sites such as railway stations, hospitals and some airports. Many NCP car parks use number plate cameras, so the charge often arrives by post as a notice to keeper.

In checks made with our tool, NCP was the most common parking company behind a Letter of Claim, and people reported those letters coming from Moorside Legal. Parking Help is independent and not connected to NCP.

The appeal steps

1. 1

   Step 1: Appeal to NCP

   Within 28 days of the notice.

2. 2

   Step 2: If rejected, independent appeal

   POPLA allows 28 days from the rejection, using the code in the letter.

3. 3

   Step 3: Reminders and debt collectors

   If the charge stays unpaid, letters may follow. They are only letters.

4. 4

   Step 4: Letter of Claim

   If a law firm writes, reply within 30 days.

Railway station car parks

Since 26 December 2025, railway byelaws no longer stop station car parks from being 'relevant land' under the Protection of Freedoms Act. That means the keeper rules — including the notice to keeper 14-day rule — can apply at stations, so check the dates on your letter.

Airport car parks

Many airports have their own byelaws, and land covered by byelaws isn't 'relevant land', so the keeper rules may not apply. It depends on exactly where the car park is — check whether it's inside the airport boundary. Our checker raises this as a point worth checking when you choose 'Airport or port'.

What to check on an NCP charge

• Did you pay by app or machine, and does the registration match? See entered wrong registration.
• Was your overstay within the parking grace period?
• Were the signs and tariffs clear at the entrance and where you parked?
• If it was a hospital car park, see hospital parking charge appeal.

Pay-on-exit and app payments

At many NCP car parks you pay by machine, app or phone. If you paid but still got a charge, check the registration you entered and the time on your receipt. Screenshots from the app, or a bank statement showing the payment, are strong evidence. If the machine or app wasn't working, say so and give the time you tried.

What to write in your appeal

• Your charge reference, the date and the car park name.
• What happened, in two or three sentences.
• Each point that applies — late notice, grace period, payment made, unclear signs.
• Copies of receipts, screenshots or photos.

Put every point in at the start: if the appeal is rejected and you go to POPLA, it helps to have raised them all already.

If NCP rejects your appeal

The rejection letter should give you a POPLA code. You have 28 days from the rejection to appeal — see the POPLA appeal guide. Add anything you didn't raise the first time, and answer each reason NCP gave for rejecting you. If you decide to stop there, keep every later letter: debt collector letters are only letters, but a Letter of Claim needs a reply.

If a Moorside Legal letter arrives

Reply within 30 days, in writing, and ask for their evidence. Our Moorside Legal letter of claim guide covers this step by step, and Moorside Legal email address explains how to reply without a portal.

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.