PCN Challenge
You can challenge a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) if you think
- it should not have been issued
- there is mitigation/mitigating circumstances why it should be cancelled.
There is no charge for challenging the issue of a PCN.
There are three stages to the appeal process:
- Informal Challenge (up to 28 days from issue of the PCN)
- Formal Representations (after the issue of a Notice to Owner)
- Traffic Penalty Tribunal (TPT)
Informal challenge
If you have received a Penalty Charge Notice that you do not think should have been issued, you must write to us within 28 days (before the Notice To Owner is sent out). You can make an on-line informal challenge to the PCN or write to the address below to explain the reasons for your challenge. Please do not telephone, as we are unable to solve these issues over the phone.
Liverpool City Council
Parking Services
PO Box 981
Municipal Buildings
Dale Street
Liverpool
L69 1JB
When we receive your letter or email, we will:
- consider your challenge
- decide whether the Penalty Charge Notice must be paid, we will write to you with our decision
- the reply will be in the form of a letter or NTO.
If you disagree with our decision you can make a formal representation.
Representations
If we don't receive a payment or challenge within 28 days of issuing the Penalty Charge we will issue a 'Notice to Owner' document to the registered owner of the vehicle. The fine will be £70, or £50 (dependant upon the contravention) and you must pay this unless you think you have grounds to make a formal PCN appeal (Representation). If you decide to make a Representation you must write to us at the above address within 28 days of the date of the Notice.
Even if we rejected your original challenge you can still make a formal Representation after we issue a Notice to Owner.
We will assign an independent Council Officer to deal with your Representation to ensure that your case is assessed fairly.
If you do not make a Representation or payment within 28 days, we will issue a Charge Certificate, and you will be liable to pay either £105, or £75 which you must pay the whole amount within 14 days.
Traffic Penalty Tribunal(TPT).
If we reject your Representation we will issue a 'Notice of Rejection'. If you still want to dispute the PCN you must appeal to the independent Traffic Penalty Tribunal within 28 days of receiving the Notice of Rejection. The adjudicator will consider the appeal and make a decision that is binding.
For information about the appeal process please contact the Traffic Penalty Tribunal (TPT):
Traffic Penalty Tribunal
Barlow House
Minshull Street
Manchester M1 3DZ
Telephone: 0161 242 5252 or 0845 6010561 (local rate)
Fax: 0161 242 5265
Website: www.trafficpenaltytribunal.gov.uk
Under the Traffic Management Act of 2004 you do not have grounds to make a representation or an appeal to TPT if you admit that you parked illegally, even if you argue that there were mitigating circumstances. However, the City Council will carefully consider any mitigating circumstances at the formal representation stage of the procedure.
The Department of Transport's website offers detailed information about the Traffic Management Act 2004 : Decriminalised parking enforcement