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Havering PCN – Pay or Appeal?

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Scott Nelson

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MoneyNerd’s founder, Scott Nelson, has a decade of financial industry experience, including 6 years in FCA regulated loan and credit card companies. Troubled by a lack of conscience in the industry, he founded MoneyNerd to give genuine advice to those in debt and struggling financially.

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Janine Marsh

Financial Expert

Janine Marsh is an award-winning presenter and a valuable member of the MoneyNerd team. With a wealth of experience as a financial expert, she's been featured on BBC Radio 4, BBC Local Radio, and BBC Five Live, and is a regular on Co-op Radio.

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· Feb 7th, 2024
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Havering PCN

For free & impartial money advice you can visit MoneyHelper. We work with The Debt Advice Service who provide information about your options. This isn’t a full fact-find, some debt solutions may not be suitable in all circumstances, ongoing fees might apply & your credit rating may be affected.

“Just received a Havering council parking fine and are not sure whether to pay it or appeal it? This is the right place to find answers. Each month, over 130,000 people use our website to get advice on fines and parking tickets, so you’re not alone.

In this article, we’ll give you simple information on:

  • What a Havering parking fine is.
  • If you need to pay Havering parking fines.
  • How to appeal a Havering parking fine.
  • How to avoid getting a parking fine in Havering.
  • What could happen if you don’t pay the fine.

We know that getting a parking fine can make you feel upset, but there’s no need to worry. We have lots of helpful tips and examples to guide you.”

Let’s dive in.

Do You Have to Pay?

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

In partnership with Just Answer.

Should I pay a Havering parking fine on private land?

Make sure the parking fine is legit and that it was issued correctly before you pay the fine.

I suggest you do the following:

·         Check whether the operator is an ATA or AOS member

·         Are they members of the BPA or the IPC?

·         Did the operator follow the Code of Practice

·         Did you commit a parking violation that contravenes the T&Cs of using the car park

If the fine was issued correctly, you’ll have to pay it. Plus, when you pay within 14 days, you’ll benefit from a significant discount.

Should you appeal a Havering parking fine on private land?

If you believe the parking fine was not issued correctly or you did not break any rules, you could appeal the ticket.

I suggest you check the operator’s website to make sure they’re accredited.

Next, follow their process to appeal the ticket. If it’s rejected, the next step is to file an appeal with an independent appeals service.

This could be POPLA or the IAS depending on which association the operator is a member of.

Note: You must file an appeal against a private fine within 28 days or you could be taken to court.

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 legal help

In partnership with Just Answer.

What’s the cost if my appeal is unsuccessful?

The cost of a fine will increase If your appeal is rejected, whether the offence happened on private or public land.

If you committed the offence on public land, the council increases the fine by 50% if you didn’t file an appeal within 14 days.

However, if the offence occurred on private land, you’ll have to pay the full fine and won’t be offered the 40% discount.

That’s if you didn’t file your appeal to the operator within 14 days.

Should I pay a Havering PCN – Penalty Charge Notice?

Unfortunately, when a Penalty Charge Notice is given correctly and you committed a parking violation, you’ll have to pay.

That said, pay the fine within 14 days and the amount is significantly less than if you pay any later!

Take a look at the message posted on a popular forum by a motorist who got a Havering PCN even though they had never been to the area.

Source: Moneysavingexpert

How do I appeal a Havering PCN – Penalty Charge Notice?

If you got a Penalty Charge Notice in Havering and want to appeal it, you must make an informal appeal to the council which you can do online.

If your appeal is successful, the council will cancel the ticket.

When your appeal is unsuccessful, the council sends you a ‘notice of rejection’.

If you’re not happy about things, you have the right to appeal the ticket through the Traffic Penalty Tribunal (TPT).

Note: This only covers England and Wales

» TAKE ACTION NOW: Get legal support from JustAnswer

What happens if I don’t pay penalty notice?

When you don’t pay the PCN or you ignore it, the amount increases by 50% after 28 days!

If you continue to ignore paying the fine (the increased amount), the debt is registered with the County Court.

In short, you’ll get a CCJ on your credit history.

You have 14 days to pay the amount once the court has issued the demand.

If you fail to pay within the timeframe, a judge will issue a ‘warrant’ for civil enforcement agents to recover the debt.

My advice? Don’t ignore the PCN or official letters you get. I suggest you pay or appeal the fine to avoid things getting this far.

Havering Contact Details

Pay by phone: 0300 456 0630
Website: https://www.havering.gov.uk/

FAQs

What is a grace period?
Councils, other authorities and private car park operators should give you a 10 minute grace period before issuing a ticket after the time you paid for expires.
What is the 56 rule?
Councils and other authorities should reply to an appeal within 56 days of receiving it telling whether they accept or reject your reason to have a fine cancelled.
Are Penalty Charge Notices enforceable?
Yes. Penalty Charge Notices are official fines which are enforceable under the Road Traffic Act.

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.

Try it below

Get started

In partnership with Just Answer.

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The authors
Scott Nelson Profile Picture
Author
MoneyNerd’s founder, Scott Nelson, has a decade of financial industry experience, including 6 years in FCA regulated loan and credit card companies. Troubled by a lack of conscience in the industry, he founded MoneyNerd to give genuine advice to those in debt and struggling financially.
Janine Marsh Profile Picture
Appeals Expert
Janine Marsh is an award-winning presenter and a valuable member of the MoneyNerd team. With a wealth of experience as a financial expert, she's been featured on BBC Radio 4, BBC Local Radio, and BBC Five Live, and is a regular on Co-op Radio.