Challenge a parking fine
If you want to challenge the parking fine (Penalty Charge Notice), don’t pay it as paying it means you accept liability. We will freeze the fine while we consider your challenge.
Our PCN numbers are 10 digits long and begin with:
- XP (for on-street PCNs issued in the Basildon, Brentwood, Castle Point, Chelmsford, Maldon or Rochford areas)
- CF (for off-street PCNs issued in car parks owned by us)
- BI (for off-street PCNs issued in car parks owned by Basildon Borough Council)
- CP (for off-street PCNs issued in car parks owned by Castle Point Borough Council)
PCNs beginning with BX, CH, HL, ID, IE, IF, IG, II, IH or UF are dealt with by the North Essex Parking Partnership (NEPP).
PCNs issued in bus lanes beginning with ES are dealt with by Essex Highways via Essex County Council.
You will only receive a PCN as a physical ticket on your vehicle or a letter to the registered keeper address associated with the vehicle. We will not text or email you a PCN. Any texts you receive about PCNs are a scam and you should not open any links.
For detailed information on the full appeal process, you can look at the Traffic Penalty Tribunal.
There are several stages for challenging a parking fine.
You can make a challenge to us within 28 days of the parking fine issue date.
You can only challenge a parking fine online or in writing. We can’t accept challenges over the phone.
Before you challenge your parking fine, you will be given information about the likelihood of us accepting your challenge.
To find out this information, you will need:
- the 10-digit parking fine (PCN) number
- the contravention number, which is on your parking fine (PCN) ticket
Once you have found out the likelihood of us accepting your challenge, you can choose whether or not to challenge your parking fine.
If you still want to challenge your parking fine, you will need:
- the 10-character parking fine (PCN) number
- your vehicle registration number
- your name and address
- the reasons why you are challenging the fine, including any evidence
- your Blue Badge reference number and the authority who issued it, if you have one
You do not need a web code. You only need this for the formal representation stage.
You may also be able to look at photos taken that relate to your PCN, but these may not always be available to view.
We will review your challenge, and make a decision within four weeks of receiving it. However, this can take longer if:
- your PCN challenge is complex
- we are dealing with an unusually large number of challenges
Currently, our average response time is six weeks.
If we accept your challenge, we will send you a cancellation letter and cancel the fine.
If we do not accept your challenge, we will send you a rejection letter. If you pay your parking fine within 14 days of the rejection letter date, we will reduce the fine by 50%.
We will issue a Notice to Owner if you challenge the parking fine, and then don’t pay the fine if we reject your challenge.
Once you receive a Notice to Owner, you will need to pay the fine in full or make a formal representation.
You can make a formal representation to us within 28 days of receiving the Notice to Owner.
You can only make a formal representation online or in writing. Some formal representations can only be made in writing (your Notice to Owner will state this). We can’t accept formal representations over the phone.
We will only accept your formal representation if:
- the offence did not occur
- you were unable to pay, as all nearby Pay and Display machines were faulty
- the information on the fine (PCN) is incorrect or incomplete
- the signs or road markings were incorrectly installed
- the legal order creating the parking restriction is invalid
- your vehicle had broken down, and you were in the process of moving it
- there were extenuating circumstances
To make a formal representation about a parking fine (PCN), you will need:
- the 10-character parking fine (PCN) number
- your vehicle registration number
- your eight-character web code (online only)
- your name and address
- the reasons why you are challenging the fine, including any evidence
- your Blue Badge reference number and the authority who issued it, if you have one
You may also be able to look at photos taken that relate to your PCN, but these may not always be available to view.
If we accept your formal representation, we will send you a cancellation letter and cancel the fine.
If we do not accept your formal representation, we will send you a Notice of Rejection. At this point, you can either pay your parking fine in full, or make an appeal.
If we reject your formal representation, you can make an appeal to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal once you have received your Notice of Rejection.
If the Traffic Penalty Tribunal accept your appeal, we will cancel the fine.
If the Traffic Penalty Tribunal do not accept your challenge, you will have pay the fine in full.