Charge Certificate – What You Need to Know
Have you received a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) and aren’t sure what to do next? You’re not alone. Each month, more than 130,000 people visit our website seeking advice on fines and parking tickets.
In this article, we’ll explain:
- What a Charge Certificate is, and when you might get one.
- The law that covers PCNs and what a PCN fine is.
- How to appeal a PCN if you think it’s wrong.
- What happens if you don’t pay a PCN.
- How a Charge Certificate could affect you.
64% of Appeals Succeed
In some circumstances, you might have a legitimate reason not to pay your fine.
It’s a bit sneaky, but the last time I needed legal advice, I paid £5 for a trial to chat with an online solicitor called JustAnswer.
Not only did I save £50 on solicitor feeds, I also won my case and didn’t have to pay my £271 fine.
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*Around 35,000 people dispute their tickets each year with the Traffic Penalty Tribunal, and a striking 64% of those appeals are successful. In partnership with Just Answer.
What is a charge certificate?
A charge certificate is a formal notice that you have failed to pay the PCN by the deadline.
The certificate simultaneously increases the PCN fine by 50% of its original value.
For example, if you received a £60 fine and didn’t pay within 28 days, you’ll be sent a charge certificate which increases your fine to £90.
You are given an additional 14 days to pay the increased fine once the charge certificate is served.
We understand that a PCN can be very puzzling and may cause worry. We’re here to help you figure things out.
How to appeal a charge certificate
There is no charge certificate appeal process.
Your opportunity to appeal the PCN is missed once a charge certificate has been issued.
There may be rare instances where a charge certificate has been served but you already submitted a PCN appeal within the 28 days.
This could be an administration error, and if it occurs, it’s best to speak to the council or transport group about the situation.
Successful Appeal Case Study
Situation
| Initial Fine | £100 |
| Additional Fees | £171 |
| Total Fine | £271 |
The Appeal Process
Scott used JustAnswer, online legal service to enhance his appeal. The trial of this cost him just £5.
| Total Fine | £271 |
| Cost of legal advice | £5 |
JustAnswer helped Scott craft the best appeal possible and he was able to win his case.
Scott’s fine was cancelled and he only paid £5 for the legal help.
In partnership with Just Answer.
What happens after a charge certificate?
What happens after a charge certificate depends on how you handle and react to the situation.
If you pay the increased fine within the additional 14 days, the matter will be over and nothing further will happen.
However, if you ignore the charge certificate and don’t pay the increased fine by the 14-day deadline, the council or transport authority will take further action.
They will apply for a court order which makes you legally responsible to pay the fine, and you may have to pay other fees as a result.
Continuing to ignore your obligation to pay can result in the use of bailiffs.
These bailiffs could come to your home to request full payment, which may now include expensive bailiff fees.
If you still refuse they may seize your goods, which will be stored and then sold at an auction to clear the debt.
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What can bailiffs do?
When bailiffs (enforcement officers) are charged to recover an unpaid PCN which becomes a debt, they have the power to:
- Contact you by phone, email or letter
- Visit your home to ask you to pay
- Seize possessions to sell at auction when you fail to pay the debt
Is it best to avoid a charge certificate?
It’s best to avoid being issued with a charge certificate because your fine will increase and there will be no alternative but to eventually pay.
Letting a PCN escalate to a charge certificate doesn’t benefit you in any way.
You shouldn’t ignore a PCN, but instead you should either pay early to take advantage of the reduced fine.
Or you should appeal the PCN when you have a strong case against it.
Hire a Parking Solicitor for less than a coffee.
If you’re thinking about appealing your parking ticket then getting some professional advice is a good idea.
Getting the support of a Solicitor can make your appeal much more likely to win.
For a £5 trial, Solicitors from JustAnswer can look at your case and help you create an airtight appeal.
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In partnership with Just Answer.
