Imagine a career in parking and the first position that springs to mind is normally that of a civil enforcement officer, patrolling a beat, issuing tickets and providing advice to motorists. However, there are several other interesting positions available in the sector, one of which is parking appeals officer. Read on to find out more.
What does it involve?
The primary function of a parking appeals officer is to provide a responsive service to individuals involved in a parking dispute - an obvious example of this being a driver who has been given a ticket they feel was unwarranted and want to challenge the fine they have been charged.
Appeals officers are responsible for deciding if the appeal is valid, corresponding with the individual over the phone, managing their appeal if it goes ahead and dealing with any issues that might arise. A wide variety of duties may need to be undertaken, ranging from issuing refunds to dealing with bailiffs.
Parking appeals officers are often required to represent clients at adjudications and also have to attend seminars and other working groups from time to time. There are more admin-based duties involved too, such as data entry and invoicing.
What are the working conditions like?
This is primarily an office-based role, although it does include the opportunity for travelling out to adjudications and other events as mentioned above. Working hours tend to be fairly regular and are normally split over Monday to Friday. This is relatively well-paid position, with potential salaries ranging from £20,000 to £40,000. Parking appeals officers tend to be hired by local authorities, meaning they enjoy the benefits of public sector employment, such as higher pay and good pensions and holidays.
What experience is needed?
There are number of criteria you'll need to meet if you are to successfully become a parking appeals officer. Firstly, knowledge of the parking sector, a good understanding of all the related regulations and the Traffic Management Act of 2004 is vital. To have this level of experience you'll need to have already worked in parking in some capacity. Previous experience of appeals is a massive bonus.
It is also crucial to have worked in a customer service environment and be used to dealing with the public in a calm and confident fashion. You will need to be able to maintain a tactful and diplomatic manner in all situations and remain composed in the face of pressure. People can get aggravated where money is concerned, so it's important you are able to stay professional at all times and try to diffuse any heated situations.
Some of the other skills and experience that are important for this role include :
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to use your own initiative
• A good academic background
• Excellent communication skills
• Self motivation
• Flexibility and ability to cope with a varied range of duties
• Computer literacy
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team and take direction when necessary
Next steps
If you think you fit the bill and would like to become a parking appeals officer, why not take a look at our vacancies page and see if there are any positions currently available? If you've got any questions about the role or a particular job that's on offer, feel free to get in touch with our team who will be happy to help.
