Charges and stages for penalty charge notices

You can make an informal challenge against a PCN either online or in writing, if you have received:

• a PCN from a civil enforcement officer (CEO) for example for a parking ticket placed on your vehicle for a parking contravention
• a PCN issued by CCTV sent to you by post for a bus lane contravention.
  (please note the informal stage does not apply to PCNs issued by CCTV for other moving traffic contraventions such as vehicle no entry)

What happens at this stage:

• if you make your challenge within 14 days from the date of the notice, it will be put on hold at the discount amount until the council responds to your challenge
• if you make your challenge after the 14 days will be put on hold at the full amount and the case will be on hold until the council responds to your challenge

Read more about grounds for disputing a PCN.

You can make a formal representation regarding your PCN within 28 days, if you have received either:

• a notice to owner (NTO) for a CEO issued PCN
• an enforcement notice, relating to a bus lane contravention
• a PCN served by post as the CEO was prevented from serving the PCN.
  14 days discount applies, 28 days to pay or make a formal representation
• a PCN relating to CCTV moving traffic contravention served by post. 14 days discount applies, 28 days to pay or make a formal representation
• a PCN relating to CCTV parking contravention served by post. 21 days discount applies, 28 days to pay or make a formal representation

Read more about grounds for disputing a PCN.

• a charge certificate is a notice issued if a PCN is not paid or if an appeal is not received within the statutory period of time (as described above)
• the full penalty charge will increase by 50% at this stage with 14 days to pay
• the charge certificate is just an advisory notice and informs the registered keeper of the next step
• there is no right to appeal at this stage

• an order of recovery is issued if a PCN is not paid in full and a £9 debt registration fee is added
• PCN from a CEO – you have 21 days to pay or make a witness statement
• PCN issued by CCTV for parking contravention or PCN served by post as the CEO was prevented from serving the PCN – you have 21 days to pay or make a witness statement
• PCN issued by CCTV for bus lane or moving traffic contravention – you have 21 days to pay or make a statutory declaration

• a warrant of execution is issued and the case is passed to an enforcement agent (bailiff), once this happens the debt increases
• a £75 compliance fee is added by the enforcement agent on receipt of the warrant
• a letter will be sent giving 14 days to pay, if no contact is made with the enforcement agency, an enforcement agent will visit the warrant address. Once the enforcement agent has visited the warrant address an additional enforcement fee of £235 is added, this fee is added regardless of whether anyone is present at the time of the visit
• in the event that goods are removed a fee of £110 will also be added

If the PCN remains unpaid, it will be passed to an enforcement agent (formerly a bailiff), who will collect the debt in addition to their own recovery fees.

Please refer to the debt recovery FAQs below for information on penalty charge notices that are registered for debt and passed to enforcement agents.

If you have received an enforcement notice from an enforcement agent, you will need to contact them directly, as detailed below or in the letter. Please don’t call the Council.

• Equita – 01604 628 360
• Marston Holdings – 0845 074 3749
• Newlyn PLC – 01604 633 001
• Whyte & Co – 0345 458 9429
• Chandlers – 0800 085 6648

The additional charges applied by enforcement agents are added to the full charge of your PCN debt and are set out below.

These charges are in accordance with The Taking Control of Goods (Fees) Regulations 2014.

Enforcement agencies can add the following amounts to the outstanding debt;

• compliance stage – the enforcement agency writes to you about the debt £75
• enforcement stage – the enforcement agents visit your home £235
• sale or disposal stage – taking and selling your belongings £110

You can’t dispute the PCN with the Council after it has been passed to an enforcement agent.

If you wish to dispute the PCN or order for recovery after it has been passed to an enforcement agent, you will need to seek legal advice or contact the Traffic Enforcement Centre at Northampton County Court directly on 0300 123 1059 or email tec@justice.gov.uk.

Free legal advice is available from your local Citizens Advice Bureau.