Ticket Machine Accepted Payment Without Authority to Charge

Where a motorist pays for parking at a pay-and-display machine or through an app, only to subsequently receive a charge claiming there was no authority to charge (e.g. the car park was not authorised, the machine was faulty, or the charge was for a different 'offence' than no payment), the operator is estopped from demanding further payment. Payment accepted by the operator or their agent for parking is strong evidence of a contract for parking having been formed, and an additional charge for the same parking event is unjust enrichment.

Legal basis

Estoppel by representation; unjust enrichment; contract law — acceptance of payment; Consumer Rights Act 2015

How to identify this in your case

You paid at a pay-and-display machine, parking meter, or parking app, but still received a charge. The charge may claim your payment was insufficient, the machine was not associated with this car park, or you parked in a different area. Retain your payment receipt as evidence.

Sample appeal wording

I am writing to dispute parking charge [reference] for vehicle [registration] on [date]. I paid for parking at this location. Evidence of payment: - Method: [pay-and-display machine / RingGo / PayByPhone / JustPark app] - Transaction reference: [reference] - Amount paid: £[amount] - Time: [time] - Receipt/confirmation: [attached] Payment for parking constitutes acceptance of a contract for the parking session. You accepted that payment — or your authorised agent (the machine/app operator) did so on your behalf. To now seek additional payment for the same parking event would constitute unjust enrichment and would be unconscionable. No further sum is owed. This charge must be cancelled forthwith. If you dispute that my payment covered this parking event, please explain the basis of that position in writing so I can respond.

Replace [PARKING DATE], [NtK DATE] etc. with your own dates before sending.

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Sources

Contract law — acceptance
Unjust enrichment principle
Consumer Rights Act 2015