POPLA Appeal: What Evidence to Include

Understand what POPLA actually decides

POPLA assessors consider whether the operator has proved its case on the balance of probabilities. They look at whether the charge was issued correctly under the operator's own code of practice, whether signage was adequate, and whether the operator can show you (or the registered keeper) are liable for the charge.

Keeper liability in private parking cases depends on the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, Schedule 4. If the operator did not serve a Notice to Keeper within 14 days of the parking event (for drive-away cases) or within 14 days of a ticket not being paid (for fixed-penalty-style tickets left on the vehicle), keeper liability does not attach. This is one of the most powerful technical grounds available, and your evidence submission should address it if relevant.

Start with your grounds and a clear summary

Open your submission with a short, factual summary of your grounds. Assessors read many cases; a clear opening paragraph that identifies the specific reason the charge should not stand helps frame everything that follows.

Stick to the grounds you can actually evidence. Common grounds that succeed at POPLA include inadequate or unclear signage, failure to meet POFA 2012 notice deadlines, no landowner authority (the operator cannot prove it had the right to issue charges on that land), genuine pre-payment or permit held, and genuine grace period disputes. Do not list every possible argument unless you have something concrete to support each one.

Photographs and visual evidence

Photographs are often the most persuasive evidence you can submit. If your ground is that signage was inadequate, include clear photographs of the entrance to the car park, the signs at the point where a driver would decide whether to park, and any signs near where you parked. Take these as soon as possible after the event; car parks do change their signage.

If you have photographs timestamped on the day, include them. If you are arguing you paid correctly, a photo of the pay-and-display ticket or a screenshot of a parking app transaction is essential. Label each image briefly so the assessor does not have to guess what it shows.

Documents that support your specific ground

Match your documents to your argument. Below are the most common grounds and the evidence that supports them.

For a payment dispute: your pay-and-display ticket, a parking app receipt or screenshot showing the correct location and time, or a bank or credit card statement showing the transaction.

For a permit or resident exemption: a copy of the permit itself, any correspondence from the managing agent confirming your entitlement, or a lease clause that grants parking rights.

For a POFA notice deadline failure: copy the dates from the Notice to Keeper itself. If the date of the parking event and the date of the notice are more than 14 days apart (for a ticket not left on the vehicle) the operator may have lost keeper liability. You do not need to prove this; point to the dates and ask the assessor to make a finding.

For a landowner authority challenge: POPLA can request that the operator provide its contract with the landowner. You can ask POPLA to direct the operator to produce this document as part of your submission.

What the operator will submit, and how to respond

The operator submits its own evidence pack, usually after you have filed yours. POPLA will share it with you and give you a short window to respond. Use that response to address anything new the operator raises, rather than repeating your original points.

Operators commonly submit photographs of their own signs, the ANPR entry and exit images, and a copy of their BPA membership and landowner agreement (sometimes redacted). If the landowner agreement is heavily redacted or missing entirely, note this in your response and ask the assessor to draw the appropriate inference.

Formatting your submission

POPLA accepts submissions through its online portal. You can upload documents as PDFs or common image formats. Keep file sizes reasonable; very large files can cause upload problems.

Number your documents (Exhibit 1, Exhibit 2, and so on) and refer to them by number in your written case. Write in plain sentences. You do not need legal language, but you do need to be specific: name the date, the location, the sign or the document you are relying on. Vague submissions are harder for assessors to decide in your favour.

What not to include

Avoid submitting irrelevant personal circumstances unless they directly bear on liability. Hardship, inconvenience, and the view that the charge is unfair in general are not grounds POPLA can decide on. The assessor's role is to apply the relevant rules, not to exercise discretion based on sympathy.

Do not submit dozens of pages of case law printouts unless you are referencing a specific POPLA or court finding that directly supports your point. A brief accurate citation is more useful than a bundle of loosely related material.

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