Councils either make it too time consuming and difficult to appeal a parking ticket, so that it is easier just to pay up, or frighten you into thinking the penalty will get much larger if you don't pay. I have now had two instances where Lambeth has simply omitted required steps in the appeals process, either jumping straight to a Charge Certificate (+50%) or straight to Northampton (+50% + court fees). When picked up on it they just blithely talk about administrative errors or technical problems as though that excuses everything. I asked whether they would accept "administrative error" as an excuse for my not paying my council tax but never got a reply on that one. You just have to be a) up on the rules/procedures and b) very persistent, in order to beat them at their own game. They clearly work on the basis that most people are not. BTW, are you aware of the campaign against motorbike parking charges in Westminster? The organisers are VERY persistent and well-informed and we get a turnout into the thousands of bikes at demonstrations. Here's the web address: www.notobikeparkingfees.com . Arguments are that motorbikes do not cause congestion, relieve pressure on public transport and cause little by way of emissions. Westminster is seeking to charge them to park simply because it can - and discriminating against those without mobile phones and/or credit cards to pay with.