POPLA appeal: deadline, verification code and what to write

What POPLA is

POPLA stands for Parking on Private Land Appeals. It is the independent appeals service for parking companies that belong to the British Parking Association (BPA). If you appealed to the parking company and it said no, its rejection letter should explain how to appeal to POPLA and give you a verification code.

POPLA is free for motorists. It looks at the evidence from both sides and decides whether the charge was issued correctly.

POPLA deadline: 28 days

You normally have 28 days from the date of the rejection to start your POPLA appeal. Don't leave it to the last day: gathering evidence takes time.

Your POPLA verification code

The code is a 10-digit number printed on the company's rejection letter. You enter it on the POPLA website to start the appeal. If your rejection letter has no code, write to the company straight away and ask for one, keeping a copy of your request.

The code is linked to one specific charge, so you need a separate code for each charge you appeal. If you have more than one charge from the same site, mention the others in each appeal so the assessor can see the full picture.

How a POPLA appeal works

1. 1

   Step 1: Gather your evidence

   Letters, photos of signs and your parking space, receipts, payment records, and anything showing why you were there.

2. 2

   Step 2: Write your appeal

   Set out every point at once. You usually can't add new points later.

3. 3

   Step 3: The company sends its evidence

   It uploads its case, often with photos and a site plan.

4. 4

   Step 4: You comment

   You normally get 7 days to respond. Answer every point and say what is missing.

5. 5

   Step 5: POPLA decides

   You'll get a decision by email or post.

What to put in a POPLA appeal letter

Keep it factual and short. Use headings so the assessor can follow each point. Common points include:

• Keeper liability wasn't established — for example the notice to keeper 14-day rule was missed, or the notice says it doesn't rely on PoFA.
• The signs weren't clear — ask for dated photos and a site plan.
• The company hasn't shown it has the landowner's authority to issue charges.
• A short overstay was within the parking grace period.
• You were a genuine customer, or you entered the wrong registration by mistake.

You don't have to say who was driving, but never say anything untrue.

Evidence that helps a POPLA assessor

Assessors decide on the documents in front of them, so clear evidence matters more than long arguments. Label each photo or document and refer to it by name in your appeal, for example 'Photo 1: entrance sign'.

• Photos of the entrance sign and the signs near where you parked, ideally taken at the same time of day.
• A screenshot of a map showing where the signs are.
• Receipts, bank statements or app records that show payment or a visit.
• The parking letters themselves, including the envelope if the date matters.

When the company uploads its evidence, look for gaps: no photo of a sign near your space, a site plan that doesn't match what you saw, or no evidence that it has the landowner's authority. Say what is missing in your comments.

After the decision

If POPLA allows your appeal, the company should cancel the charge. If POPLA refuses it, the decision doesn't bind you. The company may send reminders, debt collector letters and then a Letter of Claim. See our guides to the parking charge debt collector letter and the DCB Legal letter of claim. If your company is in the IPC instead, read the IAS parking appeal guide.

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.