The 14-day rule for postal notices

What the law says

In England and Wales, a parking company can only make the registered keeper pay if it follows Schedule 4 of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012. Otherwise it can only pursue the driver, and it has to prove who that was.

If there was no ticket on the windscreen (for example a camera car park), the notice to keeper must be given within 14 days, starting the day after the parking. A posted notice is treated as given on the second working day after posting.

So a notice posted on day 13 counts as given on day 15 at the earliest, which is too late. Weekends and bank holidays aren't working days, so they push it later still. A late notice only stops them making the keeper pay: they can still pursue the driver.

The notice also has to say certain things

It must, among other things, describe the parking period, name the company owed the money, explain how to appeal, and warn the keeper that they may have to pay if the driver isn't named within 28 days. If parts are missing, keeper liability can fail.

Where it doesn't apply

• Scotland and Northern Ireland: there's no keeper liability at all, so only the driver can be pursued.
• Land under byelaws, such as most airports, railway stations and some ports: it isn't 'relevant land', so keeper liability can't apply.
• If you've already told them who was driving: they can pursue the driver directly.