Complaint & Appeal: templates and forms

For a passenger whose flight arrived three hours or more late, was cancelled at short notice, or who was denied boarding, on a flight covered by UK261 (Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 as it forms part of UK law): every flight from a UK airport, and flights to the UK on a UK airline or, from outside the EU, on an EU airline. The letter claims the fixed compensation in pounds — £220, £350 or £520 per passenger, by distance — from the airline that operated the flight, unless extraordinary circumstances caused the problem. Send it by email or the airline's claim form, and by first class post.

For the registered keeper of a vehicle in Northern Ireland who has received a Notice to Owner for a parking penalty charge from the Department for Infrastructure or a council and wants it cancelled. The letter makes formal representations on a ground printed on the notice — for example that the contravention did not occur, or that the vehicle had been taken without consent — with the facts and the evidence. Send it within the time the notice gives; if it is rejected, the Northern Ireland Traffic Penalty Tribunal hears a free appeal.

For the keeper of a vehicle in England or Wales who has received a council's Notice to Owner, or a penalty charge notice (PCN) by post from a camera, and wants it cancelled. The letter makes formal representations on one of the grounds printed on the notice — the contravention did not occur, you were not the owner, procedural impropriety and the others — with the facts, the evidence and any compelling reasons. It must reach the council within 28 days of the notice being served; the council's free online form does the same.

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 the keeper of a vehicle in Scotland who has received a council's Notice to Owner for parking, an enforcement notice for pavement, dropped kerb or double parking, or a penalty charge notice sent by post for a bus lane or a Low Emission Zone, and wants it cancelled. The letter makes formal representations on a ground printed on the notice — the contravention did not occur, you were not the owner, the vehicle was taken without consent, the charge was too high, or another ground listed — with the facts, the evidence and any compelling reasons. It must reach the council within the time on the notice; the council's free online form does the same.

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 parent in Northern Ireland whose child has been refused a place at a primary or post-primary school they applied for. An appeal against the Board of Governors' decision to the independent admissions appeal tribunal the Education Authority sets up: it names the decision and sets out why the school's published admissions criteria were not applied, or not applied correctly — the question the tribunal decides. Lodge it by the deadline in the Education Authority's letter, through EA Connect, on its paper form or as this letter, posted first class with the decision letter.

For a patient or service user in Northern Ireland, or someone complaining with their consent, unhappy with care from a GP practice, a dentist, a hospital or another health and social care service. A formal complaint to the trust or practice under the complaints procedure every HSC organisation has followed since 1 January 2026: it says what happened and what you want done, asks for an answer within the procedure's time limits and names the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman as the next step. The Patient and Client Council helps free. Sent by email. Sold blank, as it holds health data.