The AA has called out “shark-like” practices from the private parking sector and called for urgent government action as new research shows that drivers would pay unwarranted private parking charges.

One in 20 drivers say they would pay up immediately if they received a PCN even if they knew they did not break the rules

In a poll of more than 11,500 drivers, one in 20 (5%) said they would pay up immediately if they received a parking charge notice (PCN) even if they knew they hadn’t broken the rules.

Of these, more than half (53%) said they would do so because “it gets rid of the hassle”. More than one in 10 (13%) said they would pay the PCN because they felt they wouldn’t get a fair hearing at appeal, while shockingly 11% said they’d pay due to fears of legal action.

In contrast, 53% of drivers said they would appeal a PCN letter from a private parking company, but only a third said they felt “confident” they would be successful.

The AA said the data showed drivers had no faith in the current appeal process, and added that the delay in implementing an official government private parking code of practice act was “scandalous”.

The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 was enacted in March 2019, yet no aspects of the Bill have been implemented since Royal Assent. The Act included a government-backed Code of Practice, an independent single appeals panel and an independent Scrutiny and Oversight Board to ensure private parking operators were following the Government’s mandated rules.

However, following a legal challenge from the private parking industry, the incoming rules were withdrawn in June 2022 with no government action since.

The private parking sector has since implemented its own code of practice, but the AA has said it doesn’t endorse the code and warns that 5% of drivers “have been hoodwinked into believing that this self-authored code is the official government-backed document”.

The AA is calling on the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to act urgently and introduce the government-backed scheme by the end of 2025.

Jack Cousens, head of roads policy, said: “The delay in implementing the official government code is scandalous. Six years on, yet no part of the legislation has been introduced to protect and safeguard drivers from an aggressive industry.

“The fact that drivers are willing to pay up when they have done nothing wrong, nor have any confidence in the current appeals process, shows why urgent action is needed.

“We are hugely concerned that the Government is standing idly by while drivers continue to receive threatening letters from a sector that works on the basis of guilty until proven innocent. Urgent action is needed, and introducing the rules by the end of the year will help wrestle back some of the balance in favour of the motorist.

“Until the measures within the Act are in place, drivers will continue to be attacked by these shark-like businesses.”

The IPC (International Parking Community) – which, along with the BPA (British Parking Association), published the sector’s voluntary code of practice and backed the creation of the Private Parking Scrutiny and Advice Panel (PPSAP) last year – has responded to the AA by “setting the record straight” and “urging action over alarmism”.

The industry body said that figures indicating one in four motorists who appeal directly to a private parking operator are successful show “that the system is not only working but that drivers are listened to”.

The IPC also pointed to swift work by the PPSAP panel earlier this year to amend the parking code of practice to end the ‘five-minute rule’ – and said it was important to note that the panel are currently holding a full review of the code.

“An invitation to be involved in the conversation has been extended to the RAC and AA, which they have not accepted. The PPSAP are reviewing the code to see what, or if changes need to be made. They are inviting comments from consumer groups, government and motorists. It is easy to share out-of-context figures and criticism from the sidelines, the sector are inviting the RAC and AA to be part of the solution,” said a spokesperson.

Will Hurley, CEO of the International Parking Community, commented: “The IPC believes that a fair and consistent parking experience should be the norm, parking should be a forgettable experience, and we’re actively working to make it so. We remain committed to collaborating with government, consumer groups and the BPA to build a better system together.”