Is POPLA the same as a court?

No. POPLA and IAS are independent alternative dispute resolution services, not courts. They are not part of the judicial system. Their decisions are not court judgments and cannot be enforced as such. If you lose at POPLA, the operator must issue county court proceedings and obtain a judgment to enforce the charge.

What happens if I miss the Stage 2 deadline?

If you miss the 28-day Stage 2 deadline, you lose access to the independent appeal service. The operator can then pursue the charge without the POPLA/IAS step. You would need to defend in county court if the operator issues proceedings. Some operators allow late POPLA submissions in exceptional circumstances — contact POPLA or IAS directly to ask.

Can the operator appeal a POPLA decision in my favour?

No. POPLA decisions in favour of the motorist are binding on the operator — the operator cannot appeal a finding that upholds the motorist's case. The charge must be cancelled. If the operator refuses to cancel after a POPLA decision in your favour, report this to the BPA immediately, as it is a breach of the operator's Code of Practice obligations.

Stage 2 Appeal (POPLA/IAS)

By GetRighted Legal Research TeamLast updated July 2026

Summary

Stage 2 is the independent appeal that follows an unsuccessful Stage 1 (operator-level) challenge. Depending on which trade body accredits your operator, Stage 2 goes to POPLA (Parking on Private Land Appeals, for BPA members) or IAS (Independent Appeals Service, for IPC members). Both are independent of the operators they adjudicate. The POPLA adjudicator's decision is binding on the operator; a motorist can reject the POPLA decision and still defend in court. The stage 2 appeal must be made within 28 days of receiving the operator rejection letter, and the POPLA verification code or IAS reference from that letter is required to file.

POPLA vs IAS — the two Stage 2 services

POPLA (Parking on Private Land Appeals) handles Stage 2 appeals for BPA-accredited operators. It is administered by Ombudsman Services under contract to the BPA. IAS (Independent Appeals Service) handles Stage 2 appeals for IPC-accredited operators. Both services use adjudicators who review written submissions from the motorist and the operator. Hearings are paper-based — there is no oral hearing. Adjudicators apply the relevant Code of Practice, POFA 2012, and contract law. The process is free to motorists.

What Stage 2 adjudicators consider

Adjudicators assess whether the operator has established that: (1) there was a contract with the driver; (2) the contract was breached; (3) the charge is lawful and proportionate; and (4) the POFA procedure (for keeper claims) was correctly followed. They also apply the relevant Code of Practice — a clear Code violation (inadequate signage, failure to observe consideration period, inadequate ANPR records) can lead to an upheld appeal. Adjudicators are not bound by the operator's internal reasoning — they make their own assessment of the evidence.

POPLA decisions bind the operator, not the motorist

If POPLA decides against you, the charge is not automatically enforceable as a judgment — the operator must still issue county court proceedings if you refuse to pay. A motorist who loses at POPLA can still defend in court on the same or new grounds. The POPLA decision is admissible evidence but not binding on a court. This asymmetry matters: operators are bound to honour POPLA decisions in your favour; you are not compelled to pay simply because POPLA dismissed your appeal.

How to prepare a Stage 2 submission

✓Obtain the POPLA verification code or IAS reference from the operator's rejection letter — you need this to file.
✓Submit within 28 days of the rejection letter — the deadline is strict.
✓Write separate sections for each ground: signage, POFA compliance, ANPR accuracy, excessive charge, genuine customer.
✓Attach all photographic evidence, the original charge notice, the Stage 1 rejection letter, and any receipts or timestamps.
✓Reference specific Code of Practice sections and POFA paragraphs — adjudicators respond to cited legal authority.

Sources

BPA Code of Practice 2023, Section 22 — POPLA process
IPC Code of Practice 2023, Section 18 — IAS process
Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019

Frequently Asked Questions

Is POPLA the same as a court?: No. POPLA and IAS are independent alternative dispute resolution services, not courts. They are not part of the judicial system. Their decisions are not court judgments and cannot be enforced as such. If you lose at POPLA, the operator must issue county court proceedings and obtain a judgment to enforce the charge.
What happens if I miss the Stage 2 deadline?: If you miss the 28-day Stage 2 deadline, you lose access to the independent appeal service. The operator can then pursue the charge without the POPLA/IAS step. You would need to defend in county court if the operator issues proceedings. Some operators allow late POPLA submissions in exceptional circumstances — contact POPLA or IAS directly to ask.
Can the operator appeal a POPLA decision in my favour?: No. POPLA decisions in favour of the motorist are binding on the operator — the operator cannot appeal a finding that upholds the motorist's case. The charge must be cancelled. If the operator refuses to cancel after a POPLA decision in your favour, report this to the BPA immediately, as it is a breach of the operator's Code of Practice obligations.

Got a ticket? Find out if you can win.

GetRighted checks your situation against all known defenses — free in under 2 minutes.

Check My Ticket