Does making a Stage 1 appeal stop the charge from increasing?

Yes. Under both the BPA and IPC Codes of Practice, a pending appeal freezes the charge amount. You cannot be required to pay the higher rate while your Stage 1 appeal is being considered. If the appeal is rejected, the reduced rate typically remains available for a set period after the rejection — check the operator's rejection letter for the payment deadline.

Can I skip Stage 1 and go straight to POPLA or IAS?

No. POPLA and IAS require evidence that a Stage 1 appeal was made and rejected. Without an operator rejection letter containing the verification code or IAS reference, you cannot access the Stage 2 service. You must complete Stage 1 first.

What if the operator ignores my Stage 1 appeal?

Under the BPA Code of Practice, if the operator does not respond within 35 days, the charge should be cancelled. Document the date you submitted the appeal and the date the 35-day period expires. Write to the operator citing the Code of Practice obligation and the missed deadline. If they still fail to act, escalate to the BPA directly with evidence of non-response.

Stage 1 Appeal

By GetRighted Legal Research TeamLast updated July 2026

Summary

Every private parking charge must be challenged at the operator level before an independent appeal can be made. This first-tier challenge — made directly to the company that issued the charge — is commonly called a Stage 1 appeal or an informal challenge. Both the BPA and IPC Codes of Practice require operators to consider Stage 1 appeals and respond within 35 days. If the operator rejects the appeal, they must provide a POPLA verification code (BPA operators) or IAS reference (IPC operators) to enable the Stage 2 independent appeal. Missing the Stage 1 window does not automatically prevent an independent appeal, but it forfeits the reduced-rate payment period.

What a Stage 1 appeal is and when to make one

A Stage 1 appeal (also called an informal challenge or first-stage appeal) is your initial written challenge to the operator who issued the parking charge. It should be made within 28 days of the original notice to retain your right to the discounted charge amount while the appeal is pending. The appeal is made directly to the operator — either through their online portal, by email, or by post. You set out your grounds (inadequate signage, POFA non-compliance, ANPR error, genuine customer, etc.) and attach supporting evidence. The operator must respond within 35 days under the BPA and IPC Codes of Practice.

What happens after Stage 1

If the operator accepts your Stage 1 appeal, the charge is cancelled. If they reject it, they must issue a rejection letter that contains either a POPLA verification code (for BPA members) or directs you to IAS (for IPC members). This code or reference enables the Stage 2 independent appeal. The rejection letter must be received within 35 days. If the operator fails to respond within 35 days, under the BPA Code of Practice the charge is automatically cancelled — document this carefully if it occurs.

Keep your appeal factual and evidenced

A well-structured Stage 1 appeal states the legal ground first (e.g., 'the signage does not comply with the BPA Code of Practice because...'), then provides factual detail, then attaches evidence. Avoid emotional arguments. Operators' Stage 1 teams typically apply a Code of Practice checklist rather than exercising broad discretion. A clearly referenced ground with photographic evidence of a signage defect is far more likely to succeed than a general complaint.

Making an effective Stage 1 appeal

✓Identify your primary grounds — signage, POFA non-compliance, ANPR error, consideration period, genuine customer, mitigating circumstances.
✓Gather evidence before submitting — photographs of signs, ANPR images (request these), receipts, timestamps, GPS data.
✓Submit within 28 days of the notice to retain the reduced charge if your appeal is ultimately rejected.
✓Keep a copy of everything submitted and note the date — you will need this if the operator fails to respond within 35 days.
✓If rejected, ensure you receive the POPLA verification code or IAS reference — without it you cannot proceed to Stage 2.

Sources

BPA Code of Practice 2023, Section 22 — appeals procedure
IPC Code of Practice 2023, Section 18 — appeals procedure
Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019

Frequently Asked Questions

Does making a Stage 1 appeal stop the charge from increasing?: Yes. Under both the BPA and IPC Codes of Practice, a pending appeal freezes the charge amount. You cannot be required to pay the higher rate while your Stage 1 appeal is being considered. If the appeal is rejected, the reduced rate typically remains available for a set period after the rejection — check the operator's rejection letter for the payment deadline.
Can I skip Stage 1 and go straight to POPLA or IAS?: No. POPLA and IAS require evidence that a Stage 1 appeal was made and rejected. Without an operator rejection letter containing the verification code or IAS reference, you cannot access the Stage 2 service. You must complete Stage 1 first.
What if the operator ignores my Stage 1 appeal?: Under the BPA Code of Practice, if the operator does not respond within 35 days, the charge should be cancelled. Document the date you submitted the appeal and the date the 35-day period expires. Write to the operator citing the Code of Practice obligation and the missed deadline. If they still fail to act, escalate to the BPA directly with evidence of non-response.

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