How does CancelMyFine work?

Answer 5 simple questions about your parking fine, and our AI generates a formal appeal letter referencing relevant UK legislation. Pay £4.99 and download your letter as a PDF instantly.

What types of parking fines can I appeal?

We cover private parking charges (ParkingEye, NCP, UKPC etc.), council Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), and police Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs).

How long does it take?

The whole process takes under 2 minutes. Answer the questions, pay £4.99, and your PDF downloads automatically.

What if my appeal is rejected?

You can escalate for free. Private fines go to POPLA (BPA members) or IAS (IPC members). Council PCNs go to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal.

Can I park for free if the pay and display machine is broken?

If the pay-and-display machine is broken and no alternative payment method is available, you generally have grounds to park without paying. Take photos of the broken machine and display a note explaining the situation on your dashboard.

How do I prove the parking machine was out of order?

Take photos showing the machine's error message or blank screen, with a timestamp visible. Check for nearby machines and photograph those too. Some machines have fault reporting numbers — call and log the fault as additional evidence.

What if there was an alternative parking machine available?

If another working machine was available nearby, the operator may argue you should have used it. However, if it was unreasonably far away or you were not aware of it due to poor signage, you may still have grounds for appeal.

How to Appeal a Parking Fine When the Machine Was Broken

Broken Machine — You Shouldn't Pay the Price

If you received a parking fine because the ticket machine, payment terminal, or parking meter was out of order, you have strong grounds for appeal. You cannot be expected to pay for parking when the operator's own equipment prevents you from doing so.

What to Do at the Time

If you arrive and find the machine broken, take these steps immediately:

Photograph the machine showing error messages, blank screen, or damage.
Try alternative payment: Check for nearby machines, contactless options, or parking apps.
Leave a note on your dashboard explaining the machine was broken (photograph this too).
Report the fault to the council or operator if possible — a phone call or email creates a record.

Council PCNs

For council-issued PCNs, a broken meter is a recognised statutory ground for appeal. The council should have a duty to maintain its equipment, and you should not be penalised for their failure to do so. If one machine was broken, the council may argue you should have used another — counter this by explaining the distance or noting other machines were also out of order.

Private Parking Charges

For private car parks, if the only payment method was a machine that was broken, there was no way for you to comply with the terms. This undermines the entire basis of the charge. If an app payment option existed, the operator may argue you should have used it — but only if this was clearly signposted.

Generate Your Appeal Letter

Broken machine, unfair fine. Generate your personalised appeal letter in minutes with CancelMyFine — just £4.99. Visit CancelMyFine.co.uk and let us help you appeal.