What do I do if I have been issued with a Penalty Charge Notice?
Please note: on Monday 31 March 2008, sections from the Traffic Management Act 2004 took effect. Certain Penalty Charge Notices issued on or after 31 March 2008 will be affected.
Penalty Charge Notices issued prior to 31 March 2008
When a parking or bus lane Penalty Charge Notice is issued, you must:
- pay the charge within 28 days, or
- write in to explain why you think it should be cancelled, or
- wait for the Notice to Owner and follow the instructions contained in that letter.
A discount of 50% will apply if the penalty charge is paid within 14 days.
If the charge is not paid, a Notice to Owner will be sent to the registered keeper of the vehicle.
When a moving traffic Penalty Charge Notice is issued you must:
- Pay the charge within 28 days, or
- Write in to explain why you think it should be cancelled (This is known as a formal Representation).
If your Representation is not successful at this stage, you will be provided with an appeals form. This form allows you to make an appeal to the independent adjudicator (PATAS).
A discount of 50% will apply if the penalty charge is paid within 14 days.
Please note that a Notice to Owner will not be issued for a moving traffic PCN.
If the charge is not paid after 28 days, a Charge Certificate will be sent to the registered keeper. This will increase the fine by 50%.
If you receive a Notice to Owner you must either:
- pay the charge within 28 days; or
- make representations to the council - see Appeals against a Penalty Charge Notice.
If you do nothing, a Charge Certificate will be sent and the charge increases by 50%.
If you receive a Charge Certificate you must:
- pay the charge within 14 days. There is no right of appeal at this stage.
If you do not pay the charge it will be registered as a debt in the County Court, a court fee is added and an Order for Recovery is sent.
If you receive an Order for Recovery, you must either:
pay the charge within 21 days, or
complete a Statutory Declaration which will be sent with the Notice of Debt Registration.
If you do nothing, the Court will grant authority for a warrant to be issued and a bailiff will be asked to recover the debt from you. The bailiff will charge you for this.
Please remember
- To pay your Penalty Charge Notice within 14 days to receive the discount
- Do not ignore any letters from us
- If you have to write to us, do so promptly
What if I don't pay or appeal?
- If after 14 days the charge remains unpaid the full value of the Penalty charge will be payable.
- If the charge remains unpaid, it increases by 50% upon issue of a Charge Certificate.
- If the charge is subsequently registered as a debt, a £5 court fee is also payable.
- If bailiffs are instructed to recover the debt, bailiff charges are also payable.
Penalty Charge Notices issued on or after 31 March 2008
I returned to my car to find a PCN on the windscreen of my vehicle - what do I do?
- When a PCN is issued by a Civil Enforcement Officer on street you have 28 days in which to pay the charge.
- If you pay the PCN within 14 days a discount of 50% will apply to the charge.
- If you believe the PCN should be cancelled you must write to us.
- If you write to us within 14 days and your request is denied, you will be allowed a further 14 days to pay at the discount rate.
Notice to Owner
If a Penalty Charge Notice is issued on street by a Civil Enforcement Officer and payment is not received within 28 days then a Notice to Owner (NTO) will be sent to the registered keeper of the vehicle.
When you receive a NTO you must pay the full charge within 28 days or you can write in making formal representations against the PCN.
I received a postal PCN for a parking contravention - what do I do?
- When a Parking PCN is captured by a CCTV and posted to you, you have 28 days in which to pay the charge.
- If you pay the penalty charge within 21 days a discount of 50% will apply to the charge.
- If you believe the PCN should be cancelled you must write to us.
- If you write to us within 21 days and your request is denied you will be allowed a further 21 days to pay at the discount rate.
I received a CCTV PCN for moving traffic - what do I do?
- When a Moving Traffic PCN is captured by a CCTV and posted to you, you have 28 days in which to pay the charge.
- If you pay the penalty charge within 14 days a discount of 50% will apply to the charge.
- If you believe the PCN should be cancelled you must write to us.
- If you write to us within 14 days and your request is denied you will be allowed a further 14 days to pay at the discount rate.
I received a Bus Lane PCN - what do I do?
- When a PCN is issued for a bus lane contravention you have 28 days in which to pay the charge.
- If you pay the PCN within 14 days a discount of 50% will apply to the charge.
- If you believe the PCN should be cancelled you must write to us.
- If you write to us within 14 days and your request is denied you will be allowed a further 14 days to pay at the discount rate.
Enforcement Notice
If payment is not received within 28 days then an Enforcement Notice will be sent to the registered keeper of the vehicle.
When you receive an Enforcement Notice you must pay the full charge within 28 days or you can write in making formal representations against the PCN.
What happens if I don't pay or write in within the required time?
Charge Certificate
If payment has not been received and you have not written in to contest the Penalty Charge then a Charge Certificate will be sent out. This increases the original penalty charge by 50%.
You have 14 days in which to pay the charge. There is no right of appeal at this stage.
Order of Recovery
If you do not pay the charge it will be registered as a debt in the County Court, a court fee is added at this point and an Order of Recovery will be sent out. You have 21 days in which to pay the charge. If you cannot do so you must complete a witness statement which will be sent with the Notice of Debt Registration.
Bailiff Stage
If you do nothing at this stage the Court will grant authority for a warrant to be issued and a bailiff will be asked to recover the debt. Bailiffs will add their own charges for action taken to recover the debt.
Viewing CCTV images
If you received a PCN that relates to a contravention captured by CCTV, then you can book an appointment to view the footage of the alleged contravention - please call us on telephone: 020 7926 9000.
Please note:you must be the registered keeper of the vehicle or have written permission from the registered keeper to be allowed to book the viewing.
You can also view the still photos online at http://parkingphotos.lambeth.gov.uk