Bexley PCN – Pay or Appeal? 

Have you received a Bexley parking fine, and you’re not sure what to do next?

This is the perfect place to find your answers. Every month, over 130,000 people visit our website to understand fines and parking tickets.

In this easy-to-understand guide, we will cover:

• What a Bexley parking fine, or Penalty Charge Notice, really is.
• If you really have to pay Bexley parking fines.
• How you can make an appeal against a Bexley parking fine.
• Ways of dodging a parking fine in Bexley.
• What could happen if you decide not to pay the fine.

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 So it’s quite common to feel concerned about PCNs.

But don’t worry; this guide is here to make things clear and help you decide whether to pay your Bexley parking fine or appeal it.

Let’s dive in.

In a Nutshell

A Bexley PCN is a Penalty Charge Notice issued by Bexley Council in the southeast of London.

They may issue you a PCN in one of two ways. 

The first method is that they could leave the PCN stuck to the windscreen of your vehicle.

But if your contravention is spotted on camera, they will get the registered keeper’s address from the DVLA and send the PCN in the post.

The latter is usually the case if you commit a traffic offence, including driving in a bus lane when not permitted. 

Check out why this motorist got a penalty charge for parking with wheels on the pavement.

Source: Moneysavingexpert

How long do you have to pay a fine?

You have 28 days to pay your Bexley PCN.

Alternatively, you must appeal against the PCN during this period.

If you don’t pay or appeal the fine within 28 days the fine amount and your situation can get a lot worse. 

» TAKE ACTION NOW: Get legal support from JustAnswer

How much is it?

Penalty Charge Notices across London will cost the motorist either £80 or £130.

Less serious contraventions are charged at the lower amount and more serious contraventions are charged the higher amount. 

However, you can get a 50% reduction on your Bexley parking fine if you pay your fine within 14 days.

This means early payers will only have to pay £40 for less serious contraventions and £65 for more serious contraventions.

It’s a good incentive made by all local authorities to get you to pay quickly. 

Digital apps to reduce the risk of getting a notice

There are digital apps you can download which could help reduce the risk of getting a Penalty Charge Notice.

However, there are areas of the UK where the apps don’t work as well as they should.

How do you pay a parking ticket?

You can pay a Bexley parking ticket by:

1. Sending a cheque in the post
2. Paying with cash at Erith Library
3. Paying over the phone on a dedicated payment line
4. Paying online using the Bexley Council website

Full details on these payment methods can be found on this page of the local authority’s website. 

Can you appeal?

You can only appeal against a Bexley PCN if you make your appeal within the first 28 days.

The council doesn’t have to accept any appeals that are made outside of this timeframe. Plus, you should be honest when making an appeal. 

Common Defences

By selecting a defence that aligns with your circumstances, you improve your chances of successfully challenging the PCN.

There are a few common PCN defences that you can use if you decide to appeal your ticket.

Common PCN Defence	Explanation
You were parked correctly	By law, your ticket should be cancelled if you haven’t broken any parking laws.
Unclear, incorrect, or missing signage	It is a legal requirement that all parking areas or roads with parking restrictions have clear road markings or signage. You also have a good defence if your ticket was sent in the post, but there were no signs warning of CCTV or ANPR systems when you parked.
You had no way to pay	You can appeal your ticket if you can prove that the only available ticket machine was broken or damaged. You also won’t win your appeal if there is a sign telling you not to park if there is no way of paying.
It wasn’t you who committed the parking infraction	The ticket should be cancelled if you didn’t commit the parking infraction as someone else was driving your car.
You couldn’t get back to your car	People with some disabilities or small children are protected from discrimination by the 2010 Equality Act. Struggling to get back to your car could be legitimate grounds for appeal.
Your car had broken down	If you got a ticket whilst waiting for your car to be towed or fixed, you have strong grounds for appeal. The ticket issuer should have understood that you physically couldn’t move it.
You were only just out of time	Late by just 5 or 10 minutes? You can appeal as you are entitled to a ‘grace period’ after your parking time runs out.

How do you appeal?

To challenge your Bexley PCN you must use the council’s online service.

Use your vehicle registration number and PCN reference number to identify your parking ticket and lodge an appeal against it. 

Your appeal must include a statement of why you want to challenge the ticket, along with relevant evidence when able to provide it.

The council will decide on your appeal and write to you to let you know their decision. 

Appeal or Pay?

If you have a good reason to appeal a Bexley PCN, and there aren’t many reasons why you shouldn’t.

However, you may want to take advantage of the 50% reduced fine by deciding not to appeal and swiftly pay the PCN instead. 

There’s not a 100% right or wrong decision for everyone.

It will come down to the strength of your potential appeal and personal preferences. 

Bexley Contact Details

Pay by phone:	0330 088 3736
Pay by post:	Bexley Parking Services, PO Box 1166, Wellington House, Uxbridge UB8 9BD
Website:	https://www.bexley.gov.uk/
Bexley parking enforcement contact number:	N/A
Bexley PCN contact number:	N/A

References

1. SkyNews – Parking Tickets Statistics