Congestion Charge Appeal Letter Template

Did you recently get a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) for a congestion charge and feel unsure about what to do next?

Don’t worry; you’re not alone. Every month, more than 130,000 people visit our website for advice on fines and parking tickets, which is not surprising, as 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

In this handy guide, we’ll show you:

What a congestion charge PCN is and why you might have one.
If you have to pay it straight away.
How to write a letter to argue against the charge if you think it’s not right.
Times when you might not have to pay the charge.
What could happen if you decide not to pay it.

Receiving a PCN can be a bit of a headache, and the process might seem tricky. But we’re here to help you understand your options.

Most 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.

Chat below to get started with JustAnswer

Ask a question,get an answer ASAP!

*Around 35,000 people dispute their tickets each year with the Traffic Penalty Tribunal, and a striking 64% of those appeals are successful, so it’s well worth a try.

Why Did You Get a Penalty Charge Notice for Driving in a Congestion Zone?

Traffic cameras cover the entire congestion zone.

These cameras capture the vehicle registration number of every vehicle using the zone and the data is used for enforcement of the congestion zone.

If your registration number is captured by one of these traffic cameras inside the congestion zone, a record is kept.

If you do not pay the congestion zone fee by midnight of the third day after you used the zone, you will automatically be sent a penalty charge notice.

It is important to note that the congestion zone is managed very well, and mistakes are seldom made in relation to vehicles captured within the zone.

For example, the system automatically makes allowances for blocked roads, road works and diversions that take people into the congestion zone, with no way to avoid it.

Check out this message from a motorist who got a congestion charge pcn after lending his car to a friend from abroad.

Source: Moneysavingexpert

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.

Get started

In partnership with Just Answer.

Do You Have To Pay a Congestion Zone PCN?

You can either pay the penalty charge notice or appeal it.

As we learned in the previous section, if you intend to pay it, then pay it promptly to take advantage of the 50% discount.

Do not let payment slip beyond 28-days or you will face the higher cost of the charge certificate.

Don’t just ignore the PCN. You should either pay it, or move on to the appeal stage.

If you just ignore it, matters will become worse.

» TAKE ACTION NOW: Get legal support from JustAnswer

Can a Congestion Zone PCN Be Appealed Against?

A PCN can be appealed against, and you must do it in writing.

In my experience, a PCN appeal letter template is a good place to start. You can use the template as the basis of your own appeal.

A reason for appealing could be that the PCN was sent long after the offence which could be included in the appeal letter.

Once you sent the PCN appeal lette, the local authority will generally reply within 28-days—telling you whether the appeal was successful or not, or asking for additional evidence.

How do I appeal a congestion charge PCN?

You must challenge the PCN by making a representation which must be in writing.

You must also provide the following:
The grounds for challenging the PCN
Provide supporting evidence
Sign and date your representation

You must then follow the instructions on the PCN as to where you send it. While the process of appeal can sometimes vary slightly, there are typically some common steps to follow. Here’s a quick table summarizing everything you need to know.

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.