Notes from Almost Legal
The legal admin, explained.
Plain-English notes on fines, fleet compliance, contracts and the paperwork of running a UK business — grounded in the primary sources, written for people who’d rather be running the business.
The CMA just went after private parking. It probably does not protect your van.
The CMA wrote to every private parking operator on 16 July 2026 and said the £70 debt recovery fee has no automatic legal basis. But it runs on consumer law, and a company vehicle is not a consumer. What actually applies to a business — and the statutory code expected in December.
Letter before action: the letter that decides whether you go to court
Before suing for an unpaid invoice in England and Wales, the court expects a letter — and which letter depends on who owes you. Companies get 14 days under the Practice Direction; individuals and sole traders get the 30-day Pre-Action Protocol pack. Most templates ignore the split.
What you can actually charge on a late invoice
Statutory interest on a late commercial debt is 11.75% for anything that went late since 1 July — and it stays 11.75% until the invoice is paid, whatever the Bank of England does next. Plus £40 to £100 per invoice, as of right. Most businesses claim neither.
Half of challenged parking fines get cancelled. So why does almost nobody appeal?
We pulled together a fully-sourced report on what parking fines really cost — and who ends up paying. Some of it surprised us: £64m a year docked from London drivers’ pay, half of it for fines that were winnable.
The 50% win rate your business never sees
Three independent appeals bodies report roughly a 50% win rate when parking fines are challenged — yet almost nobody appeals. Where the money goes, and why appealing is pure upside for fleets and sole traders.
Recharging driver fines: the lawful way to do it
The fine lands on the company first — but docking it from a driver’s wages without prior written authorisation is an unlawful deduction under s.13 ERA 1996. What the law actually requires, and the smarter route.