How to appeal to POPLA: a step-by-step guide

What POPLA is

POPLA (Parking on Private Land Appeals) is an independent appeals service for parking charges issued on private land, such as supermarket, hospital and retail park car parks. It's run by Trust Alliance Group and funded by the British Parking Association. POPLA's assessors decide appeals based on the relevant law, the BPA's code of practice, and the evidence from both sides.

You can only use POPLA once you've appealed to the parking operator and it has said no. If you haven't appealed to the operator yet, start with our guide to appealing a private parking charge.

POPLA or the IAS?

It depends which trade body the operator belongs to. The operator's rejection letter should tell you which service to use.

How to appeal to POPLA, step by step

1. Find your verification code. It's the 10-digit code in the operator's rejection letter or email. If you didn't get one, POPLA says the operator will provide it, but only if you appealed to the operator within 28 days of receiving the parking charge.
2. Check your deadline. You have 28 days from the date of the operator's rejection. POPLA says late appeals are unlikely to be accepted except in exceptional circumstances, such as a stay in hospital.
3. Gather all your evidence now. Photos of the signs and entrance, your ticket, app receipt or permit, and anything showing why you were there. You can't add more after you submit.
4. Set out every ground of appeal. Explain each reason the charge shouldn't stand, clearly and with evidence. You can't add new grounds later.
5. Submit your appeal online at popla.co.uk, or by post using POPLA's postal form. Online is faster.

Common grounds for a POPLA appeal

• Poor signage. If the terms weren't clearly displayed, it's hard to argue you agreed to them.
• You'd paid or had a valid permit, but the system didn't record it, for example a mistyped registration.
• Grace periods. The industry's Single Code of Practice requires a grace period of at least 10 minutes at the end of your parking time, and a consideration period when you arrive. Read more in our grace period guide.
• Keeper liability not established. Under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, the registered keeper can only be held liable instead of the driver if the operator follows strict rules, including when its notice must be delivered.
• Mitigating circumstances, such as a breakdown or a medical emergency.

While you wait, and after the decision

• While your appeal is with POPLA, the operator must not pursue you for payment. If it does, POPLA says you can report it to the British Parking Association.
• Decisions typically take 6 to 8 weeks, according to POPLA.
• If your appeal is allowed, the operator must cancel the charge.
• If your appeal is refused, the operator will expect payment. POPLA says you should pay within 28 days of its decision to stop the charge increasing or being passed to debt collection. POPLA can't reconsider its decision.

If you still believe the charge is wrong after a refused appeal, the operator would need to bring a county court claim to make you pay. If that happens, don't ignore the court papers, and consider getting advice from Citizens Advice.