I have responded to the issuer of my ticket with my reason for overstay (dead battery & AA came to fix on site - they could have confirmed this with their cameras easily), but I had no direct evidence. I responded to keep within the appeals timetable.
I checked with this forum and decided to adapt the proforma letter provided - I now had proof of my claim for being immobile from the AA, fully timed, and asked the same department to reconsider as I had new and substantive evidence. This was taken as a second appeal to them, which they denied.
They told me to proceed to IAS and appeal with them for a "binding decision".
I realise now that I should have said that further information would be forthcoming, or not replied until I had that evidence. Everything I read here would suggest that I don't get involved with IAS, but I now do not have a stage 1 to resort to...
Thanks
ProfessionalWindow