Heathrow Drop Off PCN – Pay or Appeal? 

Have you received a Heathrow Drop Off Penalty Charge Notice (PCN)? You’re not alone. Our website is visited by over 130,000 people each month for guidance on fines and parking tickets.

In this article, we’ll explain:

• What a Heathrow Drop Off PCN is, and why you might have received one.
• If you have to pay the charge right away.
• How you can appeal against the charge if you think it’s not correct.
• Situations where you might not have to pay the charge.
• What could happen if you decide not to pay the charge.

In 2021, Churchill Motor Insurance reported an 8% increase in penalty charge notices (PCNs) in Britain, with over 5.2 million issued.¹ So rest assured, you’re not alone.

We’ve been where you are now, and we’re here to help. So, let’s guide you through the details.

What is a Heathrow Drop-Off Charge?

If, like many others, you didn’t know about the £5 Drop-Off charge at Heathrow terminals, chances are that getting a PCN is a surprise.

Motorists must pay the fee when they drop people off at the terminals.

According to Heathrow’s management, the new airport charge was introduced last November to compensate for the airport’s financial losses during the COVID pandemic and improve air quality. It is pretty consistent with other UK airport charges.

The charge is £5 for every car that drops people off in drop-off zones, and each ticket is valid for 12 months.

You can pay a drop-off fee online using an auto-pay function. Alternatively, you could pay for Heathrow terminal parking using the automated telephone service.

You can’t pay any other way!

Plus, there’s no getting out of paying the £5 fee because it applies 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. In addition, every car number plate is recorded using ANPR cameras!

They are pretty tough on ANPR parking enforcement.

Note: The only way to avoid paying a drop-off fee at Heathrow airport terminals is to drop people off at long-stay car parks and stay within the Heathrow Airport parking rules! There’s a free bus transfer system to the terminals.

What happens if you don’t pay?

You could get an £80 fine, which is reduced if you pay within 14 days to £40 when you don’t pay a Heathrow Drop-off fee.

Remember, this is a parking fine issued by a private operator!

Is a Heathrow Drop Off PCN the same as a penalty charge notice?

No. A Heathrow Drop-Off PCN is a parking charge notice.

Therefore, it’s not covered by UK law. Only a court can order you to pay a fine on private land, not an operator.

In short, a parking charge notice differs from a penalty charge notice and should not be dealt with in the same way.

A penalty charge notice is from a local authority such as the council or Transport for London where a parking charge is through private parking enforcement.

However, if you refuse to pay, you may well be taken to court by the private operator, and a CCJ could be issued.

This could stop you from taking out any credit for six years – including getting a mortgage or renting a property – and if you fail to pay, bailiffs could be sent to remove personal property.

Can you challenge a Heathrow Drop-Off fine?

You can contest a Heathrow Drop-Off PCN if you believe the fine was issued incorrectly.

Also, you can file an appeal against the ticket or request a refund from the operator through the Heathrow PCN appeals process.

The appeals process might vary from one institution to another, but the broad strokes are as follows.

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.

Are there any exemptions to paying the fee?

Yes, but only very few exemptions exist, which include:

• Permitted operational vehicles
• Emergency services
• Military vehicles

Some vehicles enjoy discounts, so they don’t have to pay a drop-off fee at the terminals. This includes:

• Black licenced cabs
• Blue badge holders
• Roadside recovery vehicles
• Two-wheeled motorbikes
• Valet Parking (Heathrow)
• Buses and coaches

How do you appeal the drop-off PCN?

You can contest the fine when you feel the parking charge notice is unfair or when you think the fine was incorrectly issued. Plus, you can view the evidence against you online.

First, gather as much evidence as possible.

You can check what evidence there is of the offence online via the official website. Also, ensure you can provide the parking charge reference number and vehicle registration details.

Options on how to contest a Heathrow Drop-Off PCN include:

• You can also challenge the PCN via email. Again, you must provide supporting evidence to challenge the fine.
• Alternatively, you could call the operator’s customer service on 0333 200 7459
• You can request a refund by sending a message to [email protected]
• Plus, you can lodge a complaint against the PCN by calling 0333 200 7459
• You can also challenge the PCN by writing to DRPL, PO Box 230, MANCHESTER, M34 0DW

What reasons can you use to challenge it?

You could contest a Heathrow Drop-Off PCN for a number of reasons, such as:

• You got the PCN over 14 days after the alleged infringement
• The signage was unclear
• You couldn’t find a way to pay even though you tried within 24 hours of dropping someone off at a terminal.
• You can prove you were not the driver dropping off at a terminal

How do you make a Heathrow Drop-Off PCN payment?

To make a Heathrow Drop OFF PCN payment, you will need the PCN number and your vehicle registration to hand.

Head to the official Heathrow Drop-Off PCN website and follow the instructions to pay the fine via their digital payment methods for parking.

Should you pay it straight away?

No. Don’t pay a Heathrow Drop Off PCN without first checking the following:

• That you committed the alleged offence and the details on the parking charge are correct
• Proof you were driving that resulted in a Heathrow Drop Off charge being issued
• The fine was sent to you within the 14-day deadline

What happens if you don’t pay?

Knowing your rights can help you decide how to pay or appeal a Heathrow Drop-Off PCN.

That said, when you don’t want to pay the fine, here’s what you need to know:

• Getting a Heathrow Drop-Off PCN is a civil offence.
• APCOA Parking issues the PCN
• The fee is applicable 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
• PCNs are enforced by ANPR cameras
• A Heathrow Drop Off PCN is £80 but £40 when you pay the fine within 14 days

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What if you lost your parking ticket at Heathrow?

Contact the issuer as soon as possible to retrieve the details. Remember that you can either pay the ticket or make an appeal.

Heathrow Drop-Off Contact Details

Customer Service Number	0333 200 7459
Lodge a Complaint	0333 200 7459
Email to request a refund	[email protected]
Challenge a PCN	DRPL, PO Box 230, MANCHESTER, M34 0DW

References

1. Direct Line Group — Parking Fines Statistics