Free parking appeal template letter (UK private parking charge)

Re: Parking Charge Notice — reference [YOUR REFERENCE]
Vehicle registration: [YOUR REG]

Dear Appeals Team,

I write as the registered keeper of the above vehicle to appeal this parking charge in full. This appeal is made within the 28-day window at Code of Practice v1.1 §8.4.1(a) of the private parking sector single Code of Practice, and I ask that the rate that applied at the date of this appeal be preserved while it is considered, as Code of Practice v1.1 §8.1.2(e) requires.

[KEEP ONLY THE NUMBERED GROUNDS THAT MATCH YOUR FACTS — DELETE THE REST]

1. No contract was formed by the signage. Code of Practice v1.1 §3.1.3(a) requires signs "be placed within the controlled land, such that drivers have the chance to read them at the time of parking or leaving their vehicle", and Code of Practice v1.1 §3.1.6 requires that "Signs must be designed and installed so as to be conspicuous and legible in all lighting conditions during which the controlled land may legitimately be accessed". [Describe what you saw: entrance sign position, lighting, lettering size, contradictory signs.] A charge founded on breach of contract fails where no contract was formed.

2. The mandatory periods were not respected. Code of Practice v1.1 §5.1 requires a consideration period on arrival, and Code of Practice v1.1 §5.2 provides: "A grace period as set out at Annex B to this Code must be allowed by the parking operator in addition to the parking period. A parking charge must not be issued during a Grace Period." [State your timings from the notice's own photographs or timestamps.]

3. Payment was made / a valid permit was held. [Attach the receipt, app record or permit.] If a registration character was mistyped, Code of Practice v1.1, Annex F, F.1(h) lists that case by name: "where the driver has paid the tariff but made a minor keying error when registering their vehicle (for example, 0 instead of o; I instead of L; 1 instead of I)".

4. Keeper liability has not been established. To pursue the registered keeper rather than the driver, the operator must comply strictly with Schedule 4 of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, including the content and timing requirements for the Notice to Keeper. PoFA 2012 Sch 4 para 9(5) provides: "The relevant period for the purposes of sub-paragraph (4) is the period of 14 days beginning with the day after that on which the specified period of parking ended." [Check the dates: a windscreen ticket requires the NtK on days 29-56; an ANPR/postal charge within 14 days.]

5. You are put to strict proof on every element. Please provide: photographs of every sign relied on, as positioned and lit on the date of the alleged event; the ANPR or timestamp records for the vehicle in full; and evidence of your written authority from the landowner to issue and pursue charges on this land.

For the reasons above I ask that this charge be cancelled. Code of Practice v1.1 §8.4.5 provides: "When an appeal is accepted the parking operator must cancel the parking charge." If you reject this appeal, Code of Practice v1.1 §8.4.6 requires you to present me with the option to pay or to appeal the decision to the relevant Appeals Service, so please issue the verification code with your rejection.

Yours faithfully,
[NAME]
The Registered Keeper