The "Keying Error" Problem
Smart Parking operates car parks that require you to type your registration into a tablet or payment machine. A high proportion of the parking charges they issue are to drivers who genuinely paid for their stay but made a small typo when entering their registration.
Note: Smart Parking is a member of the International Parking Community (IPC). Independent appeals are handled by the Independent Appeals Service (IAS).
Common Keying Errors
- Typing "0" (zero) instead of "O" (letter)
- Missing a character (AB12 CDE → AB12 CD)
- Transposing letters (AB12 CDE → AB12 CED)
- Including spaces incorrectly
The Strongest Arguments for a Keying-Error Appeal
Even though Smart Parking is no longer bound by the BPA Code, the underlying legal points still work in your favour. A keying-error appeal should focus on:
- Genuine payment attempt — you bought a session and paid the correct amount for the time you stayed.
- Substantially correct VRM — the registration entered is clearly a typo of your real plate, not someone else's vehicle.
- No intent to avoid payment — there is no benefit to you in entering the wrong plate; the operator has not suffered any loss.
- Operator's evidence burden — Smart Parking must produce strict proof, including ANPR images, payment machine/app records, and clear instructions about what to do if you mis-key your plate.
- Signage and machine clarity — payment terminals must be unambiguous and signage must clearly explain what happens if a registration is entered incorrectly.
- Fairness and proportionality — pursuing a £100 charge against a driver who paid in full is disproportionate to any actual loss.
How to Appeal a Keying Error
- Gather your payment receipt (or app/bank record) showing you paid for the session.
- Photograph the payment machine or tablet interface — note any glare, broken keys, confusing prompts, or missing instructions about correcting an error.
- Write a clear, factual explanation of the typo and why it was a genuine mistake.
- Ask Smart Parking to produce their evidence: ANPR images, payment logs, and signage photos.
- Frame the request around fairness, proportionality, and the absence of any real loss to the operator.
What If They Reject Your Appeal?
Smart Parking is an IPC member, so the second-stage independent appeal goes to the Independent Appeals Service (IAS). IAS assessors will look at the strength of your evidence — payment records, signage and machine clarity, and the proportionality of the charge — when deciding whether to uphold or cancel the ticket.
Prevention Tip
Always double-check your registration before confirming, and take a photo of the screen as proof of what you entered. If the machine doesn't offer a clear way to correct a mis-keyed plate, that itself is evidence worth keeping.