Complaint & Appeal: templates and forms

For the driver or keeper of a vehicle given a council penalty charge notice (PCN) for parking in Scotland — on a street, in a council car park, or for pavement or double parking — who thinks it is wrong and has not yet received a Notice to Owner (for pavement or double parking, an enforcement notice). The letter gives the notice's details, the reasons it should be cancelled and the evidence. The council's free online challenge form does the same job; this letter suits post or email. A bus lane or Low Emission Zone penalty sent by post is answered with formal representations instead. Not for private car park charges.

For the driver or keeper of a vehicle given a penalty charge notice (PCN) for parking in Northern Ireland — on the street by the Department for Infrastructure, or in a council car park — who thinks it is wrong and has not yet received a Notice to Owner. The letter gives the ticket’s details, the reasons it should be cancelled and the evidence, and asks for any reduced charge to be held open. The online challenge route printed on the ticket does the same job; this letter suits post or email. Not for private car park charges.

For a worker in Northern Ireland whose employer, or former employer, has not paid wages, final pay, overtime or holiday pay that is due: a letter setting out what is owed and how it is worked out, the total, the unlawful-deductions rule in Article 45 of the Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996, and 14 days to pay, naming the next steps — early conciliation with the Labour Relations Agency, which is free, then an industrial tribunal claim within three months. Sent first class and by email.

For an employee in Northern Ireland made redundant after at least two years' continuous employment whose redundancy pay has not been paid: the written claim to the employer that the law asks for within six months, giving the dates, your figure if you have one, 14 days to pay and a request for the written calculation, then naming early conciliation with the Labour Relations Agency and the industrial tribunal. A week's pay counts up to £783 from April 2026. nidirect explains redundancy pay free. Sent by recorded delivery and by email.

For a private tenant in Scotland whose home needs repairs — damp and mould, a broken boiler, leaks, faulty electrics. The tribunal’s Housing and Property Chamber publishes a free sample notification letter; this letter does the same job in full. It notifies your landlord in writing of each problem, with dated photos, reminds them that the home must meet the repairing standard throughout the tenancy, asks to arrange an inspection within 14 days and confirms you will keep paying the rent. Notifying the landlord is the step required before a free application to the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland. Send it by recorded delivery and keep a copy.

For the driver or keeper of a vehicle given a council penalty charge notice (PCN) for parking in England or Wales who thinks it is wrong and has not yet received a Notice to Owner. The letter gives the ticket's details, the reasons it should be cancelled and the evidence. Councils generally hold the 50% discount while they consider a challenge made within 14 days. The council's free online challenge form does the same job; this letter suits post or email. Not for private car park tickets or police fines.

For a worker in England, Wales or Scotland whose employer, or former employer, has not paid wages, final pay, overtime or holiday pay that is due: a letter before claim setting out what is owed and how it is worked out, the total, the unlawful-deductions rule in section 13 of the Employment Rights Act 1996, and 14 days to pay, naming the next steps — Acas early conciliation, which is free and online, then an employment tribunal claim. Sent first class and by email.

For an employee in England, Wales or Scotland whose statutory request for flexible working has been turned down: a letter appealing against the decision, giving your grounds — a reason outside the eight the law allows, wrong facts, no real consultation — and any alternative you would accept, asking for an appeal meeting with a companion. The whole decision, appeal included, must be made within two months of the request unless you agree longer. Hand it in and email it.

For a worker in Northern Ireland with a problem at work that talking has not solved — treatment by a manager or colleague, workload, pay, bullying, a change imposed without agreement: a formal written grievance under the Labour Relations Agency's Code of Practice, saying what happened and what you want, asking for a meeting without unreasonable delay and to bring a colleague or union representative. The LRA's Code and helpline are free. Hand it in and email it.

For an employee in England, Wales or Scotland made redundant after at least two years' continuous employment whose redundancy pay has not been paid: the written claim to the employer that section 164 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 asks for within six months, giving the dates, your figure if you have one, 14 days to pay and a request for the written calculation, then naming Acas early conciliation and the tribunal. GOV.UK's redundancy pay calculator is free. Sent first class and by email.

For a worker in England, Wales or Scotland with a problem at work that talking has not solved — treatment by a manager or colleague, workload, pay, bullying, a change imposed without agreement: a formal written grievance under the Acas Code of Practice, saying what happened and what you want, asking for a meeting without unreasonable delay and to bring a colleague or union representative. Acas's Code and guidance are free. Hand it in and email it.

For an employee in Northern Ireland who has been dismissed, warned or demoted after a disciplinary process: a letter appealing within your employer's time limit, setting out your grounds and what you ask for, and requesting an appeal meeting before a manager not involved in the decision, with a companion. For a dismissal it is the appeal step of the statutory dismissal procedure Northern Ireland keeps, and asks for the reasons in writing. Hand it in and email it.

For an employee in Northern Ireland whose flexible working application has been turned down: a written, dated notice of appeal setting out your grounds — a reason outside the business grounds the law allows, wrong facts, no real discussion — and any alternative you would accept. The appeal goes in within 14 days of the decision; the employer must then hold an appeal meeting within 14 days and decide within 14 days after it. Hand it in and email it.

For an employee in England, Wales or Scotland who has been dismissed, warned or demoted after a disciplinary process: a letter appealing within your employer's time limit, setting out your grounds and what you ask for, and requesting an appeal hearing before a manager not involved in the decision, with a companion, as the Acas Code expects. If you have been dismissed, it asks for the reasons in writing. Hand it in and email it.

For a claimant in Northern Ireland who disagrees with a Department for Communities decision on Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Employment and Support Allowance, Carer's Allowance or another benefit. A written request to look again at the decision, within one month of it, or later with your reasons: it names the decision, says why it is wrong, lists new evidence, asks for the evidence used and for a mandatory reconsideration notice, the step before an appeal to The Appeals Service. The journal and the phone line are free alternatives. Posted first class. Sold blank.

For a claimant in England, Wales or Scotland who disagrees with a DWP decision on Universal Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker's Allowance, another DWP benefit or, in England and Wales, Personal Independence Payment. A written request to look again at the decision, within one month (or up to 13 months with reasons): it says why the decision is wrong, lists new evidence and asks for DWP's evidence and a mandatory reconsideration notice. The journal and DWP's own form are free. Posted first class. Not for Social Security Scotland's benefits, such as Adult Disability Payment: they have a redetermination. Sold blank, as it may hold health data.