How to appeal a Euro Car Parks parking charge

About Euro Car Parks parking charges

Euro Car Parks is one of the UK's largest private parking operators. It runs car parks at retail sites, hotels, offices and petrol stations, often using ANPR cameras, so many charges arrive by post.

First: check what kind of notice you have

• Postal notice only (camera/ANPR, no windscreen ticket): in England and Wales the notice usually has to be given within 14 days of your visit for the registered keeper to be liable. See our 14-day rule guide.
• Windscreen ticket first, then a letter: the follow-up letter has its own window of 28 to 56 days.
• Scotland or Northern Ireland: the keeper-liability rules don't apply there at all. See our Scotland & NI guide.
• Check the details are right: registration, date, times, location.

Common possible grounds

• The notice arrived too late, or is missing the required keeper-liability warning.
• Camera entry and exit times include driving in, finding a space and queuing to leave, so a short 'overstay' may be within the grace periods industry codes expect.
• You paid, but the machine or app failed, or you typed your registration slightly wrong. Bank statements and app screenshots help.
• Signs were unclear, hidden or missing at the entrance.
• You were a customer of the shop or business. Many sites will cancel a charge if you send a receipt.
• Breakdown, illness or another emergency.

The CMA investigation

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has opened an investigation into Euro Car Parks, looking at its practices at petrol stations and how it handles appeals. The CMA has said it has reached no conclusions about whether any law has been broken. If your charge relates to a petrol station, describe exactly what happened (for example queuing for a pump or paying in the shop) and include any receipt.

How to appeal a Euro Car Parks charge

• 1. Use the appeal method printed on your notice (usually an online form or email). Appeal within the deadline on the notice, normally 28 days.
• 2. Write as 'the registered keeper' and don't say who was driving.
• 3. Set out each ground as a short numbered point, and attach your evidence.
• 4. Keep a copy or screenshot of what you sent and the date.
• 5. If Euro Car Parks rejects your appeal, use the independent appeal it names. Published sources disagree about which trade body Euro Car Parks belongs to, so check your own notice: a "BPA Approved Operator" logo means POPLA, and an "IPC" logo means the IAS. The rejection letter from your first appeal should also name the right service.
• 6. Never ignore court papers or a 'Letter Before Claim'. Respond in time and get free advice.

Not sure if you have grounds?

Upload a photo or PDF of your Euro Car Parks notice to our free check. It reads the dates, wording and details and tells you honestly whether there are possible grounds to appeal. ParkingAppealCheck is independent and is not connected with Euro Car Parks.