How to Spot a Fake Penalty Charge Notice

Received an unexpected parking demand? Verify it with the alleged issuer through its official website before paying or sharing personal information.

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In this guide, we’re going to assist you in understanding:

• How to spot a fake Penalty Charge Notice.
• Ways to challenge the charge if you think it’s not right.
• Times when you might not need to pay.
• What could occur if you decide not to pay.

Scams can arrive by email, text, post or a notice on the vehicle. A familiar logo or vehicle registration does not by itself prove that a demand is genuine.

We have been in your shoes, and we’re here to help you understand the details. Let’s get started!

What is a fake Penalty Charge Notice?

A fake Penalty Charge Notice could refer to a scammer trying to trick motorists into thinking they have received a Penalty Charge Notice from a council. 

It might also be when a private parking company issues a “Penalty Charge Notice”, which should be called a Parking Charge Notice. 

I explain this in further detail below…

#1: A fake Penalty Charge Notice from a scammer

A fake Penalty Charge Notice from a scammer is when someone issues you with a Penalty Charge Notice and instructions to pay, but they are not representing an authority that can issue these fines. 

They are issuing the fake PCN to make you pay to their own bank account, and therefore to rob you of your money. 

A fake Penalty Charge Notice could be:

• Sent in an email
• Sent in the post
• Left on your windscreen

We’ll return to these different methods of issuing fake Penalty Charge Notices later. 

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#2: A Penalty Charge Notice from a private company

You might also get a Penalty Charge Notice from a private car park operator.

These companies are supposed to issue a different type of parking ticket called a Parking Charge Notice. 

This name itself sounds very much like a Penalty Charge Notice.

The similar names can be confusing, but a private Parking Charge Notice is not automatically a scam. A valid contractual charge may be legally owed.

Check the issuer, alleged contravention and stated legal or contractual basis. Do not decide whether to pay solely from the abbreviation PCN.

If a notice appears to claim statutory powers the issuer does not have, query it using independently verified contact details and keep a copy.

It’s not just fake Penalty Charge Notices that motorists are sent, there are plenty of fake Parking Charge Notices as the message below explains.

Source: Moneysavingexpert

Misleading wording should be challenged, but it is not evidence that every private operator is deliberately deceiving motorists.

How to spot a fake Penalty Charge Notice

I have put together some key information below, which explains how to spot fake Penalty Charge Notices that are issued in these different ways. 

Fake Penalty Charge Notices by email

Treat an unexpected email demanding parking payment with caution. Initial statutory parking notices follow prescribed service rules, but legitimate follow-up correspondence can be electronic. Verify the case independently instead of assuming every email is fake or ignoring a genuine deadline.

There is one particular fake PCN email that states it’s from the HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS). The email includes a link where you can pay.

Do not click a suspicious payment link or use its contact details. Check the alleged case with the authority through its official website. HMCTS publishes guidance on messages impersonating courts.

Some of the additional ways you can tell this is fake is by looking at the spellings of some words.

Poor spelling or an unusual address can be warning signs, but correct spelling and an apparent official sender do not prove authenticity. Sender details can be imitated.

Report this scam by forwarding the email to [email protected].

Fake Penalty Charge Notices in the post

You can receive a fake Penalty Charge Notice in the post, which could be effective for scammers because some Penalty Charges are sent this way.

This can feel more like a personal attack because the sender has probably identified your car registration and other details to make it look real.

The best way to check if it’s real or not is to contact the supposed issuing authority, such as the local council.

Don’t use the contact details on the PCN you received, but look up their contact information from their official website and call them up. 

Fake Penalty Charge Notices on your windscreen

A fake Penalty Charge Notice could be placed on your windscreen by someone pretending to work for the council, hoping you will transfer funds to the bank account on the notice. 

You can again verify its authenticity by getting the contact details of the supposed issuer independently and then verifying the PCN is real with them directly. 

Fake Penalty Charge Notice pranks

You can even buy fake Penalty Charge Notice stickers from some of the most visited online retailers, including Etsy and Amazon. 

These stickers don’t have payment instructions and are predominantly used by people wanting to joke around with friends.

But they could be used by scammers as well, so keep your eyes peeled. 

A prank notice can cause distress and confusion. Verify any demand before acting and do not use joke notices to pressure someone into paying.

A word on fake Parking Charge Notices too!

There are even reports of scammers trying to impersonate private parking companies and get people to pay them fake Parking Charge Notice fines. 

One story reported by The Sun told of a couple returning to their vehicle and finding a note pretending to be a Parking Charge Notice from a parking company. 

This scam wasn’t very sophisticated as the note didn’t look real at all.

But it reminds us to be aware of fake Parking Charge Notices as well! 

Check whether a parking company is accredited

Check any claimed BPA or IPC membership against the trade association’s official directory, and contact the operator using independently verified details. Membership does not authenticate a particular message, and absence of membership does not automatically invalidate every contractual claim.

Ask the alleged issuer to confirm the reference, vehicle, location and amount. Keep screenshots or copies of the suspicious demand.

Is a Penalty Charge Notice legally enforceable?

Yes, a Penalty Charge Notice is legally enforceable.

An unpaid civil PCN can progress through statutory notices and ultimately enforcement. A charge certificate can increase the penalty by 50% once the applicable conditions are met; a timely challenge or appeal affects which steps are permitted.

The difference between a Penalty Charge Notice and Parking Charge Notice

A Penalty Charge Notice is sent by local authorities and transport groups. They must be paid or appealed successfully, or these groups can easily take legal action to get the money back.

A private parking charge follows a different civil contractual process. It can still be enforceable and should not be dismissed as unimportant.

They are not classified as real fines but more like invoices that could be contested in court. 

Use the correct challenge process for the notice. A council PCN and a private Parking Charge Notice have different appeal and enforcement routes.

Do you legally have to pay private parking fines?

Private parking tickets are not considered fines.

They are equal to a business sending an invoice, and if that invoice isn’t paid, the business might take court action to get the money it believes it’s owed. 

This is the position of private parking companies. 

They might not be as easy to enforce payment compared to a Penalty Charge Notice, but the private car park operator could still take court action.

Provided they adhered to industry regulations, laws and operating rules. 

Appeal Process Steps

If a private charge is valid and you are liable, payment can be due before any court case. If you dispute it, follow the operator’s appeal procedure, submit evidence and keep proof of submission.

When	Action
On receiving a council PCN	Read the notice, keep it, gather evidence and note all payment and challenge deadlines.
Windscreen or handed-to-driver PCN	An informal challenge may be available before the Notice to Owner. Early challenge can preserve a discount under the authority’s policy; 14 days is not a universal final appeal deadline.
Postal PCN or Notice to Owner	Normally make formal representations within 28 days as stated on the notice. Do not assume there is an extra informal stage.
Representations rejected	The Notice of Rejection explains how to appeal to the appropriate independent tribunal, normally within 28 days.
Appeal unsuccessful	Pay by the deadline given in the decision or obtain advice on any available review. Further statutory charges can follow if you do neither.
Other ticket type	Private parking charges and FPNs use different procedures; follow the actual notice.

Further guidance: Traffic Penalty Tribunal; Citizens Advice.

Court enforcement measures require the relevant judgment and enforcement process. Do not ignore a letter before claim or court papers merely because an earlier demand was disputed.

Need info on real Penalty Charge Notices?

If your Penalty Charge Notice is real and you need advice or guidance on the appeals process, why not read my comprehensive Penalty Charge Notice guide? 

The page is packed with easy-to-read tips and information. Arm yourself with MoneyNerd’s support now! 

References

1. SkyNews – Number of parking tickets issued every day in UK revealed