Challenge a parking fine

If you want to challenge the parking fine (Penalty Charge Notice or PCN), don’t pay it as paying it means you accept liability. We will freeze the PCN while we consider your challenge.

Our PCN numbers are 10 characters long, end in a number or a letter 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 PCN.

Challenge now

You can make a challenge to us within 28 days of the PCN issue date.

You can only challenge a PCN online or in writing. We can’t accept challenges over the phone.

Before you challenge your PCN, you will be given information about the likelihood of us accepting your challenge.

To find out this information, you will need:

the 10-character PCN number
the contravention number, which is on your PCN ticket

Once you have found out the likelihood of us accepting your challenge, you can choose whether or not to challenge your PCN.

If you still want to challenge your PCN, you will need:

the 10-character PCN number
your vehicle registration number
your name and address
the reasons why you are challenging the PCN, including any evidence
if relevant, 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 PCN.

If we do not accept your challenge, we will send you a rejection letter. If you pay your PCN within 14 days of the rejection letter date, we will reduce the PCN by 50%.

We will issue a Notice to Owner (NtO) if you challenge the PCN, and then don’t pay the PCN if we reject your challenge.

Once you receive a NtO, you will need to pay the PCN in full or make a formal representation.

Make a representation now

You can make a formal representation to us within 28 days of receiving the Notice to Owner (NtO).

You can only make a formal representation online or in writing. Some formal representations can only be made in writing (your NtO 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 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 PCN, you will need:

the 10-character PCN number
your vehicle registration number
your eight-character web code (online only)
your name and address
the reasons why you are challenging the PCN, including any evidence
if relevant, 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 PCN.

If we do not accept your formal representation, we will send you a Notice of Rejection (NoR). At this point, you can either pay your PCN 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 (NoR).

If the Traffic Penalty Tribunal accept your appeal, we will cancel the PCN.

If the Traffic Penalty Tribunal do not accept your challenge, you will have pay the PCN in full.