Redbridge PCN – Pay or Appeal? 

Just got a Redbridge Penalty Charge Notice and are unsure whether to pay or appeal it? This is the right place for guidance. Every month, over 130,000 people use our site to understand parking fines and penalties.

In this easy-to-understand article, we share details about:

• What a Redbridge Penalty Charge Notice is.
• If you must pay Redbridge parking fines.
• How to make an appeal against a Redbridge PCN.
• What might happen if you don’t pay the fine.
• Ways to avoid getting a parking fine in Redbridge.

We know that receiving a parking fine can be upsetting, but you’re not alone. In fact, Churchill Motor Insurance reports that in 2022, UK councils issued an average of 19,631 daily parking fines, a 12% increase from the previous year.¹

Don’t worry; we’re here to help. With plenty of useful tips and examples, we can guide you through this. Let’s start finding out more about Redbridge PCN – to pay or to appeal? That’s the age-old question.

What is it?

A Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) is the official name for a fine handed out by local councils, most often for parking contraventions. But a local authority can also issue motorists with a PCN if they have committed some traffic offences, such as using a bus lane during hours they are not allowed. 

Therefore, a Redbridge PCN is a fine from Redbridge Council, most often for parking offences but not always. The cost of the fine can range from £80 to £130. It’s not the same as a parking ticket from a private car park in the Redbridge area, which is called a Parking Charge Notices and isn’t a real fine. 

Do you have to pay?

You have to pay a Redbridge parking fine from the council within 28 days. Otherwise, you must challenge the Penalty Charge Notice within the same timeframe. You should never ignore PCN or things can get worse. 

» TAKE ACTION NOW: Get legal support from JustAnswer

How do I pay?

You can pay a Penalty Charge Redbridge online using the council’s website. You will need your vehicle registration number and your PCN reference number to identify your fine before making an online payment. The PCN reference number can be found at the top of your Redbridge Borough PCN next to “Notice No”. 

Click this link to visit the Redbridge Council PCN payment portal. If you have lost your Redbridge PCN number you must contact the council to retrieve it first.

Get a 50% discount on your ticket

Redbridge Council like most other local authorities rewards motorists for paying their parking tickets quickly. You will receive a 50% discount on your parking fine if you pay within the first 14 days. This means most motorists who pay their London Borough of Redbridge Penalty Charge Notice quickly will save at least £40 and maybe more. 

Should I challenge it or pay?

There is no single and correct answer when deciding whether to pay your Redbridge parking fine or make a Redbridge Penalty Charge appeal. Some people want to take advantage of the 50% reduction and avoid the whole appeals process. Whereas other people are sure their parking ticket is wrong and want to appeal.

It all depends on the circumstances surrounding what led to your fine, what evidence you have and your personal preferences. There’s no right or wrong answer for everyone considering a Redbridge PCN challenge. 

Can you challenge a Penalty Charge Notice?

You can challenge your Penalty Charge Notice to try and get it cancelled, but you must make your appeal within 28 days. You cannot make a Redbridge parking PCN challenge after 28 days. 

How to make an appeal

To challenge a Redbridge PCN, you have to make a formal statement of why you think the PCN should be withdrawn and attach any evidence to support your claims. This is officially known as a Redbridge PCN representation and must be lodged within 28 days of receiving the PCN. 

For example, if you argue that you could not pay because the ticket machine was out of order, you should state this and supply a photo or video of the ticket machine not working at the time if possible. However, you might want to check the Redbridge PCN evidence held against you online first. This is usually possible through the council’s website.

Appeal Process Steps

To help you better understand how to appeal your Redbridge PCN, I’ve created this table. If you want to learn more about PCNs, be sure to check out our detailed guide.

Process:	Steps you should take:
When you receive the ticket…	You should gather as much evidence as you can to support your appeal claim and prove that the ticket was unfairly issued.
If you were given the ticket in person/attached to your car…	You must make an informal appeal (sent to the local authority/council that issued the PCN) within 14 days. This should be a letter with the evidence proving why the ticket was incorrectly given.
If it was posted to you…	You will be given 21 days to submit an informal appeal (from the day you received the letter). Your informal appeal should be a letter with the evidence proving why the ticket was incorrectly given.
If the informal appeal is rejected…	You will receive a Notice to Owner and will have 28 days to respond to this with a formal appeal. You can conduct the formal appeal online or via paper form. The Traffic Penalty Tribunal can send you one of these forms.
If the formal appeal is rejected…	You will receive a Notice of Rejection. From here, you are free to challenge the council’s verdict at an independent tribunal.
If the independent tribunal disagrees with your appeal…	You should pay the ticket within 28 days of the tribunal rejecting your appeal. If you don’t, the fine will be increased by 50%. If you don’t have the money to pay the fine, you should contact Citizens Advice or another debt charity.

Keep in mind that MoneyNerd is making it easier for Redbridge motorists to appeal against their parking fine. You can download our appeal PCN letter for free right now. Simply add your own details and arguments and send it off. 

There is no Redbridge PCN appeal email address, you’ll need to submit your Redbridge PCN appeal online or send it in the post.

A formal representation is always required if you received your PCN in the post, but those who receive their PCN on their vehicle have to make an informal appeal first. Informal appeal rejections can be escalated to representations. 

» TAKE ACTION NOW: Get legal support from JustAnswer

Challenge rejected – now what?

If Redbridge Council has rejected your PCN appeal, this doesn’t have to be the end of your parking ticket challenge. You have the legal right to escalate your appeal to an independent tribunal for a final decision. All escalated Redbridge PCN appeals will be handled by London Tribunals. 

PCN Redbridge Contact Details

The Redbridge Penalty Charge Notice contact number above will allow you to speak to someone at the council. It isn’t the payment hotline. There isn’t a specific Redbridge pcn email address, but you can use the online contact form to make a PCN-related enquiry.

References

1. SkyNews – Parking Tickets Statistics