Group Nexus parking tickets

About Group Nexus

Group Nexus (trading name of CP Plus Ltd) is one of the UK’s largest private parking management companies, operating over 1,200 car parks across the country and processing more than 127 million number plate reads every month. They manage sites across retail parks, shopping centres, hotels, hospitals, leisure facilities and residential developments. Group Nexus are a founder member of the British Parking Association (BPA) Approved Operator Scheme — one of the two main trade bodies that regulate private parking in the UK.

Like all private parking operators, Group Nexus issues Parking Charge Notices (PCNs) that are not fines in the legal sense. They are contractual invoices — and that distinction matters enormously when it comes to challenging them.

How Group Nexus Enforcement Works

Group Nexus primarily enforces using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras, though some sites also use parking attendants. Their enforcement process typically works as follows:

1. ANPR cameras photograph your vehicle’s number plate on entry and exit
2. If you have overstayed, parked without payment, or breached another condition, a PCN is generated
3. Group Nexus request your details from the DVLA as the registered keeper
4. A Notice to Keeper is sent — for ANPR-issued tickets this must arrive within 14 days of the parking event
5. The Notice requests payment (typically £100, reduced to around £60 if paid within 14 days)
6. If unpaid, further letters follow — potentially from a debt collection agency — and in some cases a county court claim may be issued

Is Group Nexus a BPA or IPC Member?

Group Nexus (CP Plus Ltd) is a founder member of the BPA’s Approved Operator Scheme (AOS). This means:

• They must follow the BPA Code of Practice
• If they reject your initial appeal, you have the right to escalate to POPLA (Parking on Private Land Appeals) for a free independent review
• POPLA decisions are binding on Group Nexus

Can You Ignore a Group Nexus Charge?

Technically, Group Nexus cannot force you to pay without taking you to court. However, ignoring a charge carries real risks:

• The charge will escalate — typically from the discounted amount to the full £100 or more
• Further letters will be sent, potentially including formal debt collection correspondence
• In some cases, Group Nexus may pursue a County Court Judgment (CCJ) — which, if left unpaid, can affect your credit record for six years

Our recommendation: don’t ignore it — appeal it. A well-constructed appeal is free and could get the charge cancelled entirely.

Step-by-Step: How to Appeal a Group Nexus PCN

Step 1: Check Your PCN Carefully

Before doing anything else, read the Parking Charge Notice carefully and check for errors. Common mistakes that can invalidate a PCN include:

• Wrong vehicle registration number
• Wrong date or time
• The Notice to Keeper was received more than 14 days after the alleged parking event (a breach of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012)
• Missing mandatory wording required under PoFA 2012
• Incorrect site address

Step 2: Consider Approaching the Landowner First

If you were a genuine customer at the site — shopping, eating, staying at a hotel — it’s always worth contacting the landowner or site manager directly and asking them to cancel the charge. Many landowners have the authority to do this and will do so for legitimate customers. This can be the quickest route to cancellation.

Step 3: Submit Your Formal Appeal to Group Nexus

You have 28 days from the date of the PCN to submit a formal appeal. Group Nexus can be contacted via their website at groupnexus.co.uk — look for the “PCN Pay or Appeal” option. Your appeal should include:

• Your PCN reference number
• Your vehicle registration
• Your full name and address
• Your grounds for appeal (see below)
• Any supporting evidence — photos, receipts, permits, etc.

Grounds for Appeal: What Actually Works

1. PoFA Non-Compliance

The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 sets out strict requirements for how and when a PCN must be served. If Group Nexus failed to issue the Notice to Keeper within 14 days, or if it is missing required statutory wording, the keeper cannot be held liable. This is one of the most powerful arguments available.

2. Inadequate or Unclear Signage

For a parking contract to be valid, the terms must be clearly communicated at the point of entry. If signs were hidden, damaged, absent, poorly lit, or positioned after the entrance, there is a strong argument that no contract was formed. Take photographs of the signage (or lack of it) if you can.

3. Grace Periods Not Applied

Under the BPA Code of Practice, Group Nexus must allow a minimum 10-minute grace period when leaving a car park. If you were charged for overstaying by 10 minutes or less, this is a clear breach of the code and a strong ground for cancellation.

4. Keeper Liability Not Properly Established

Group Nexus must follow a strict process under PoFA 2012 to pursue the registered keeper rather than the driver. Any procedural failure — incorrect dates, missing information, late service of the notice — can invalidate the claim against the keeper.

5. Valid Permit or Right to Park

If you held a valid permit, resident’s pass, or were visiting a premises where parking was included (e.g. a hotel or retail park where you made a purchase), state this clearly and include supporting evidence such as a receipt, booking confirmation, or permit document.

6. No Landowner Authority

Group Nexus must have a valid contract with the landowner authorising them to issue charges. It is worth requesting a copy of this contract as part of your appeal — in some cases it has been found to be deficient or absent.

7. Genuine Emergency or Mitigating Circumstances

If you overstayed due to a medical emergency, breakdown, or other unavoidable circumstance, explain this clearly and provide supporting evidence such as a doctor’s letter, hospital record, or breakdown recovery receipt.

Step 4: If Your Appeal Is Rejected — Escalate to POPLA

If Group Nexus rejects your appeal, do not give up. As a BPA member, they are required to provide you with a POPLA verification code. You then have 28 days to submit a free independent appeal at popla.co.uk.

Tips for a strong POPLA appeal:

• Don’t just repeat your original appeal — build on it with additional evidence and argument
• Reference the BPA Code of Practice and PoFA 2012 where applicable
• Include all photographic evidence, receipts, and correspondence
• Keep it factual and professional
• Personalise your appeal to your specific situation — copy-and-paste templates are less effective

What If Group Nexus Takes Me to Court?

If you receive a genuine, stamped county court claim form, you must respond — do not ignore it. Filing a defence is not as daunting as it sounds. Good starting points include:

• The online parking forums — an excellent source of up-to-date, case-specific advice. See our further help page for links
• Check whether Group Nexus’s representative has a proper right of audience — third party legal advocates used by parking companies sometimes do not, and this can get a case struck out
• Consider our legal advice partner JustAnswer for tailored guidance — click here to make a no-obligation enquiry for £5

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Group Nexus take me to court?

Yes, but it is not guaranteed — many unpaid tickets are not pursued through the courts, particularly for smaller amounts. However, you should never assume a ticket will simply go away. If you receive a Letter Before Claim or court papers, always respond.

Do I have to tell Group Nexus who was driving?

No. You are not legally required to name the driver. If you choose not to, Group Nexus must pursue the registered keeper under PoFA 2012 — which has strict procedural requirements they must meet.

Will a Group Nexus PCN affect my credit score?

No — a Parking Charge Notice itself will not affect your credit rating. Only a County Court Judgment (CCJ), if left unpaid, could potentially affect your credit file.

What is the difference between a PCN and a fine?

A PCN from a private company like Group Nexus is a civil invoice — not a criminal fine. It carries no points on your licence and no criminal record. Only council-issued PCNs or police Fixed Penalty Notices are statutory fines with legal enforcement powers.

Summary: Your Action Plan

1. Check your PCN for errors — registration, date, 14-day rule
2. Try the landowner first if you were a genuine customer
3. Submit a formal appeal to Group Nexus within 28 days
4. If rejected, request your POPLA verification code and appeal within 28 days
5. If court papers arrive, respond — don’t ignore them

How can Parking Cowboys help?

If you’ve received a ticket:

1. Understand what private parking tickets are
2. Find out about appeals, and in particular the POPLA service
3. Learn how to fight back with our essential guide

If you’ve received a court claim:

1. Understand how claims can be legally enforced in county court
2. Learn about County Court Judgements and the risk to your credit file
3. Consider using our legal service partner, JustAnswer. Click here to make a no-obligation enquiry

Best of luck — we’ll help you through this!

Group Nexus Contact Details