How to use this appeal template
Free Appeal Template, Heathrow Airport
Heathrow AirportI appeal as the registered keeper of the vehicle. I am not obliged to identify the driver and decline to do so.
1. APCOA Parking is unable to transfer the driver's liability (if any) to the keeper under Schedule 4 to the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 ("POFA") because the drop-off zones at Heathrow Airport are not 'relevant land' as defined in POFA. Airport land subject to statutory control falls outside the scope of Schedule 4, and APCOA therefore has no basis on which to pursue the registered keeper.
Furthermore, as keeper I am entitled to all the defences available to the driver, including (without limitation) the following:
2. The parking charge is not notified until after the contract is entered into. Under the principles established by the Court of Appeal in Thornton v Shoe Lane Parking [1971] 2 QB 163, a term introduced after a contract has been formed does not become part of that contract. The charge therefore forms no part of any contract between the driver and APCOA.
3. The signage is not compliant with the BPA Code of Practice. The charging terms were not displayed clearly, prominently, or legibly at a point where the driver could have made an informed decision to avoid the zone before entering it. No valid contract was formed.
4. The vehicle was present in the drop-off zone for no more than 5 minutes. The driver is entitled to the 5-minute consideration period expressly mandated by the BPA Code of Practice, during which no charge may be levied.
5. The charge is not a genuine pre-estimate of loss and is therefore an unenforceable penalty at common law. APCOA has suffered no identifiable loss as a result of the vehicle's presence in the drop-off zone.
Any one of the above grounds is sufficient on its own to require cancellation of the PCN. I require this charge to be cancelled and invite APCOA to confirm cancellation in writing.
How to appeal a Heathrow Airport drop-off charge
Heathrow Airport operates ANPR-enforced drop-off charge zones at its terminals. Drivers entering these zones are charged £5 for up to 10 minutes or £7 for up to 30 minutes, issued as a Parking Charge Notice (PCN) by APCOA Parking, a major private car park operator.
The charge is not a council Penalty Charge Notice but a private civil debt governed by the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012. Significantly, Heathrow's drop-off zones are on airport land subject to statutory control, meaning Schedule 4 of POFA (keeper liability) does not apply. APCOA can only pursue the driver under contract, not the keeper. This is a major weakness in any claim.
Additionally, many successful appeals focus on signage that does not meet BPA Code of Practice standards and on timing discrepancies revealed by ANPR records. First-time appellants also frequently receive goodwill cancellations.
The strongest grounds for appealing a Heathrow PCN
1. Inadequate or unclear signage
Under the BPA Code of Practice, operators must display prominent, legible signage that clearly communicates the terms and charges before a driver commits to entering. Heathrow's charge zone at some terminals begins on the approach road, if you genuinely did not see or understand the signage, this is a strong ground.
2. ANPR timing discrepancy
ANPR systems record the time your number plate is read entering and leaving a zone. If there was congestion, a slow-moving queue, or a camera delay, your recorded time may be longer than your actual drop-off. Request the photographic evidence, discrepancies are surprisingly common.
3. You were not in the charge zone
Some drivers receive a charge after stopping briefly on an approach road they did not realise was subject to a fee. If you believe you did not enter the designated drop-off charge area, request the ANPR evidence and compare it against published zone boundary maps.
4. Genuine emergency or exceptional circumstances
Operators are expected to use discretion in cases of medical emergency, bereavement travel, or other exceptional circumstances. Document any evidence you have and include it with your appeal.
5. First offence / goodwill cancellation
Many private operators will cancel a first charge as a gesture of goodwill, particularly if your letter is polite and professional. Even if you have no specific technical ground, it is always worth appealing once before paying.
Frequently asked questions, Heathrow drop-off charges
How much is the Heathrow Airport drop-off charge in 2025?
Heathrow's current drop-off charges are £5 for up to 10 minutes and £7 for up to 30 minutes in the designated drop-off zone. Note that the charge zone at some terminals begins on the approach road, not at the terminal forecourt itself, this catches many drivers off guard.
Can I really appeal a Heathrow drop-off charge successfully?
Yes, and more often than you might expect. Informal first-stage appeals succeed in a significant proportion of cases, particularly where signage concerns are raised or where it is a first offence. Even if the informal appeal fails, escalation to POPLA is free and operators lose a meaningful number of POPLA cases.
What is POPLA and how do I use it?
POPLA (Parking on Private Land Appeals) is the independent appeals service for BPA-member parking operators. If your informal appeal is rejected, the operator must provide you with a POPLA verification code. You then submit your appeal at popla.co.uk free of charge. A POPLA adjudicator, entirely independent of the operator, will review the case.
Will ignoring the charge make it go away?
No, and this approach carries risk. Unpaid private parking charges can eventually result in a County Court Judgement (CCJ) if the operator pursues the debt through the courts, which could affect your credit record. Appealing costs nothing and takes very little time.
I'm the registered keeper but wasn't driving, am I liable?
Under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, a parking operator can pursue the registered keeper, but only if they issue a Notice to Keeper within 14 days of the alleged contravention (or 28 days if a Notice to Driver was first issued). If these timescales were not met, keeper liability does not apply. Check the dates on your notice carefully.
Can the charge affect my credit score?
A private parking charge notice alone cannot affect your credit score. Credit records are only impacted if the operator obtains a County Court Judgement against you and you fail to pay it within 30 days. Simply receiving or disputing a PCN does not appear on any credit file.