1 Penalty Charge Notices
There are different appeals processes for different parking tickets.
If you're appealing against a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN), you must write to the council informally explaining why the ticket was incorrectly issued.
You must appeal within 14 days of receiving the ticket in order to remain within the early payment discount period.
This discount is usually frozen for appeals made within 14 days of the original ticket.
If you've received a postal PCN, you must begin the appeals process formally - known as 'making formal representations'.
Information provided with your postal PCN ticket will tell you how to do this. For postal tickets a 21-day early payment discount applies.
2 Fixed Penalty Notices
Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) are issued by police officers or police traffic officers and are dealt with through the criminal justice system.
Normally, the only way to appeal an FPN is to have your case heard in court and plead 'not guilty' to the offence.
But some police forces operate a system that allows you to appeal informally. If your police force allows this, details will be included with your parking ticket.
3 Other parking ticket appeals
Excess Charge Notices (ECNs) or Standard Charge Notices (SCNs) are also issued by the local council.
These usually apply if you don't have a valid parking ticket or if the time on your ticket has elapsed.
To appeal against an ECN or SCN, you need to write to the council within seven days of receipt of the fine explaining why the ticket was incorrectly issued.
You must include evidence to support your appeal, such as photos, witness statements or video clips.
You can expect a response from the council within 14 days.
If the council rejects your appeal, you will usually be allowed to appeal again - although some councils will only allow you to appeal once.
Again, the early-payment discount will usually be frozen while your appeal is being dealt with.