How to Appeal a Euro Car Parks Minor Keying Error (2025 Guide & Free Template)
You paid for your parking. You have the receipt or the bank statement to prove it. Yet, a few days later, a dreaded letter lands on your doormat: a Parking Charge Notice (PCN) from Euro Car Parks demanding £60 or even £100.
Why? Because you made a simple typo when entering your registration number at the machine or on the app.
This situation causes panic for thousands of UK motorists every year. But here is the good news: you do not have to pay the full fine for a simple typo.
If you made a genuine attempt to pay but mistyped your registration, this is classified as a “Keying Error.” Under the strict rules that Euro Car Parks must follow, you have valid grounds to have this charge cancelled.
In this guide, I will walk you through exactly how to appeal a Euro Car Parks minor keying error. I will explain the rules they don’t want you to know (BPA Code Section 17) and provide a copy-and-paste template to help you kill the fine quickly.
Understanding Keying Errors: Why You Got Fined
To win this appeal, you first need to understand how you got caught. Euro Car Parks generally manages their sites using ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras.
These cameras are automated robots. They do not have common sense.
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Entry: The camera logs your car entering the car park (e.g., Registration
AB12 CDE). -
Payment: You go to the machine/app and pay for your time, but you accidentally type
AB12 CDF(one digit wrong). -
Exit: The camera logs you leaving.
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The Mismatch: The system looks for a payment for
AB12 CDE. It doesn’t find one. It ignores the payment forAB12 CDFbecause it doesn’t match a car on site.
The system automatically issues a PCN for “Failure to Pay.”
However, humans review appeals, and humans are bound by the British Parking Association (BPA) Code of Practice. The BPA recognizes that fingers slip and touchscreens are often unresponsive. They have categorized these mistakes into two types: Minor and Major keying errors.
Minor vs. Major Keying Errors: Know the Difference
Your rights depend on which category your mistake falls into.
| Error Type | Definition | Your Rights (BPA Code) | Outcome |
| Minor Keying Error |
One character incorrect (e.g., 0 vs O, I vs 1). Or letters/numbers swapped. |
The PCN must be cancelled. | Free Cancellation |
| Major Keying Error |
Multiple characters wrong. Entering a completely different car’s reg (e.g., wife’s car). Only entering part of the reg (e.g., first 3 digits). |
The PCN should be cancelled, but an admin fee is allowed. | Capped at £20 |
Pro Tip: If you made a Minor error, do not offer to pay a penny. If you made a Major error, offering the £20 admin fee immediately shows you know the rules and makes them likely to settle quickly.
The “Magic Weapon”: BPA Code of Practice Section 17
This is the most critical part of your appeal. Euro Car Parks is a member of the British Parking Association (BPA) and the Approved Operator Scheme (AOS).
Membership isn’t optional for them; they need it to access DVLA data to get your address. To stay a member, they must follow the BPA Code of Practice.
Specifically, you need to cite Section 17, which deals with “Keying Errors.”
What Section 17 Actually Says
The Code explicitly states that if a driver can produce evidence of payment (like a ticket or bank statement) but made a minor keying error, the operator should cancel the PCN without charge. They acknowledge that a contract was formed and payment was made; the error is purely administrative.
Why They Ignore This Rule (And How to Force Them)
You might wonder, “If the rule exists, why did they send the fine?”
Parking companies operate on a volume model. They send thousands of automated letters hoping people will panic and pay the £60 “discounted” rate immediately. They hope you don’t know about Section 17.
By writing a formal appeal that specifically references “BPA Code of Practice Section 17,” you signal that you are not an easy target. You are an informed motorist who knows their rights. This usually forces their hand.
Step-by-Step: How to Appeal Euro Car Parks PCN
Before you rush to copy the template, follow these three steps to ensure your appeal is watertight.
Step 1: Don’t Pay the Fine Yet!
This is the most common mistake. People think, “I’ll pay it to stop the stress, then appeal to get my money back.”
Do not do this.
In the world of private parking, payment is considered an admission of liability. Once you pay, the case is closed. You will effectively never get that money back. Appealing pauses the timer on the fine, so you don’t lose the “early payment discount” while the appeal is being processed.
Step 2: Gather Your Evidence
You need to prove you did pay. Since the ANPR system missed your payment, you have to show it to them manually.
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The Parking Ticket: If you still have the physical ticket, take a clear photo of it.
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Bank Statement: This is usually stronger than a ticket. Screenshot the transaction on your banking app showing the date, time, and amount paid to “Euro Car Parks.”
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The PCN Letter: Keep this handy for the reference number.
Step 3: Use the Online Portal (Avoid Post)
Always appeal via their official online website.
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It is faster.
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It provides an immediate digital receipt (take a screenshot of the “Appeal Submitted” screen).
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Postal appeals can get “lost,” leading to higher fines.
The Appeal Template (Minor Keying Error)
Use this template if you made a small typo (one digit wrong, or swapped two letters).
Instructions:
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Copy the text below.
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Fill in the bracketed [bold sections] with your details.
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Attach your proof of payment (photo of ticket or bank screenshot).
Subject: Appeal against Parking Charge Notice [Enter PCN Number] – Minor Keying Error
Date: [Today’s Date]
To the Appeals Department,
Re: Parking Charge Notice (PCN) Reference: [Enter PCN Number]
Vehicle Registration Number: [Enter Your Correct VRN]
I am writing to formally appeal the Parking Charge Notice referenced above, issued on [Date of PCN].
The basis of my appeal is that a valid parking session was purchased for the vehicle, but a minor keying error occurred when entering the registration number at the payment terminal/app.
I have attached proof of payment (see attached [Ticket Scan / Bank Statement]) which confirms that the parking tariff of [£Amount Paid] was paid at [Time of Payment]. This covers the duration the vehicle was on site.
As Euro Car Parks is a member of the British Parking Association (BPA), you are required to adhere to the BPA Approved Operator Scheme Code of Practice. I specifically refer you to Section 17 regarding “Keying Errors.”
The Code acknowledges that manual input errors occur and distinguishes between ‘Minor’ and ‘Major’ errors. My error falls under the classification of a Minor Keying Error (e.g., one character incorrect or letters/numbers transposed).
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Specific Details: I accidentally entered [Incorrect VRN that you typed] instead of [Your Actual VRN].
The BPA Code of Practice states that for minor keying errors, the operator is expected to cancel the Parking Charge Notice. As the parking tariff was paid in full, Euro Car Parks has suffered no financial loss. Enforcing a penalty charge in this instance would be penal and inconsistent with the Code’s guidance.
Therefore, I request that you cancel this PCN immediately and confirm this in writing within 35 days.
Yours faithfully,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
What if I Made a “Major” Keying Error?
If you entered your wife’s car registration, or you only entered the first three digits and then hit ‘OK’, this is a Major Keying Error.
The strategy changes here. Under the BPA Code, Euro Car Parks can charge you for the administrative work of fixing this, but they cannot charge you the full £100 (or £60) fine.
The cap for a Major Keying Error is £20.
If this applies to you, modify the template above. Instead of demanding a full cancellation, change the final paragraph to:
“I acknowledge this constitutes a Major Keying Error under the BPA Code of Practice. As per the Code, I am willing to pay the administrative amount of £20 to close this matter. Please send instructions on how to pay this reduced amount. I will not accept liability for the full PCN amount.”
What Happens If Euro Car Parks Rejects My Appeal?
Euro Car Parks rejects many valid appeals on the first try. It is a tactic to see if you will give up. Do not panic.
If they reject your appeal, they must provide you with a POPLA Code (Parking on Private Land Appeals).
Escalating to POPLA
POPLA is the independent appeals service. They are not paid by the parking companies; they are neutral.
When you appeal to POPLA:
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State clearly that you paid for parking.
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Upload your proof of payment again.
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State that the operator has failed to follow BPA Code of Practice Section 17 regarding Keying Errors.
POPLA has a very strong track record of siding with motorists in keying error cases. If you can prove you paid, POPLA will almost certainly order Euro Car Parks to cancel the ticket.
Does This Go to Court?
It is extremely unlikely. Taking a motorist to court over a “keying error” where payment was actually made is a waste of money for the parking company. Judges rarely look kindly on companies wasting court time when the parking fee was already paid.
Conclusion
Getting a fine when you honestly paid for parking feels unjust because it is unjust. The automated systems used by Euro Car Parks lack the nuance to see that you made a simple mistake, but the law and the trade codes are on your side.
Use the template above. Be firm. Cite the BPA Code. In the vast majority of cases, a confident appeal based on Section 17 is enough to make the problem go away.
Next Step: Check your bank app right now, screenshot the payment you made to Euro Car Parks, and get that appeal submitted.
FAQs
How long do I have to appeal a Euro Car Parks fine?
You typically have 28 days from the date of the notice to appeal. However, if you appeal within the first 14 days, you usually preserve the right to pay the discounted rate (£60) if your appeal is rejected.
Is a keying error a valid reason to appeal?
Yes. The British Parking Association (BPA) Code of Practice explicitly lists keying errors as a valid reason for cancellation (Minor errors) or a reduced charge (Major errors).
What happens if I lost my parking ticket?
You do not need the physical ticket. A line on your bank statement or credit card bill showing the payment to Euro Car Parks is sufficient evidence that you paid the tariff.
Can Euro Car Parks send bailiffs?
Not immediately. They can only use bailiffs if they take you to court, win the case, and you still refuse to pay. This is a long process and rare for simple keying error cases.
What is the difference between a 0 and an O in a keying error?
This is the classic example of a Minor Keying Error. If you type the letter ‘O’ instead of the number ‘0’, the BPA Code states the fine must be cancelled free of charge.
Does appealing stop the 14-day discount clock?
Usually, yes. Most operators, including Euro Car Parks, will freeze the timer while they review your appeal. If they reject it, they usually give you another 14 days to pay the discounted rate.
Can I use this template for other parking companies?
Yes, provided they are members of the BPA (British Parking Association). Companies like ParkingEye or APCOA are also BPA members, so this Section 17 argument applies to them too.
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