Wrong Registration Number on PCN
Did a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) land in your hands, but the registration number isn’t right? You’re not alone. Every month, over 130,000 people visit this site seeking advice on fines and parking tickets.
In this guide, we’ll help you understand:
- If you must pay the PCN even if the registration number is wrong.
- How to say no to the charge if you don’t think it’s right.
- Times when you might not need to pay.
- What could happen if you choose not to pay.
Churchill Motor Insurance reports that in 2022, UK councils issued 19,631 parking fines, every day – a 12% increase from the previous year.1 So rest assured, you’re not alone.
We’ve been in your shoes and are here to help. Let’s walk through the details step by step.
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
*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.
Not your registration number on a PCN – do you have to pay? (Quick answer!)
You might still have to pay a PCN if the vehicle registration number on the PCN doesn’t exactly match your vehicle registration.
However, if the registration number on your PCN does not match your vehicle’s registration number, it is advisable to contact the issuer for clarification.
» TAKE ACTION NOW: Get legal support from JustAnswer
Do you have to pay the Penalty Charge Notice?
You must pay a Penalty Charge Notice within 28 days or make an appeal.
If you plan on paying the fine, you should try to pay within 14 days to get a PCN discount, which could be as much as 50% of the penalty.
If you don’t pay or appeal within 28 days, you’ll be sent a charge certificate that asks you to pay a new fine that is 50% bigger than the original fine.
This will need to be paid within 14 days.
Note: If the PCN wasn’t on your windscreen, it will arrive within 14 days after the parking offence. You may not have to pay if it doesn’t arrive in this timeframe.
The only exception is if the DVLA takes longer to get back to the company that issued you the ticket, but it’s worth checking the dates.
Keep in mind that ignoring a charge certificate will result in a court order being issued for you to pay the fine.
If you ignore the order of recovery, you could face bailiffs who will come to your home. They’ll demand full payment or attempt to repossess your valuables to clear the debt.
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.
Is a parking ticket legal if it has the wrong registration number on?
A parking ticket is still legal if the recorded registration number doesn’t match your car registration.
This question was asked by a Sunday Times reader and answered by a road traffic lawyer.
If the registration is nothing like yours, there may have been a fundamental error, and you should ask the issuer to investigate further.
It could be that you were not the guilty party, and the PCN could be wiped.
Did you enter it wrong?
You may have paid for parking on private land and then returned to your vehicle shocked to see a PCN left on your windshield. Or you received it later in the post.
If you had to enter your vehicle registration number when paying, this could happen.
By inputting one of the digits incorrectly, your vehicle will not be registered as paid, resulting in a private car parking officer issuing a PCN fine.
A Real-World Case from Money Saving Expert Forum
This user on the Money Saving Expert Forum received a Parking Eye PCN and ignored a letter they’d received from Parking Eye after putting in the wrong registration number.
They are now worried they may have court summons. This could be a real possibility if you ignore a letter from a private parking company!
How do you pay a penalty charge notice?
Most PCN issuers offer a variety of options for the payment of penalty charges. One option includes online payment via the council or transport website.
To make an online payment of PCN, you’ll need to enter your vehicle registration number and PCN reference number.
This will identify your PCN and allow you to make an online payment with a debit or credit card.
If your PCN number is lost or your details are not working, you should contact the PCN issuer for support.
Based on my observations, many PCN issuers will only deal with the registered vehicle owner-even if you were the one driving and needed to pay the fine.
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How do you appeal?
To appeal against a PCN, you must make an informal or formal appeal within 28 days of receiving the notice.
Informal appeals are only required when the PCN was left on your vehicle or handed to you in the street.
You can then make a formal appeal if an informal appeal is rejected.
A formal appeal, also known as representation, is when you write to the PCN issuer explaining why you believe the PCN is unfair or unjustified.
When challenging a PCN, you should back up your claims with evidence, such as photos or witness accounts.
You can appeal to an independent traffic penalty tribunal if your representation is rejected.
You’ll have to re-state your case to the tribunal, which will decide in favour of the PCN issuer or yourself. Their decision is final.
Please note that the private parking fine appeal process differs from the PCN appeals process. In addition to information about disputing a PCN, we also have useful resources to help you deal with a private parking fine.
Tips for Preventing PCN Mistakes
Everyone makes mistakes. Unfortunately, getting a PCN can be an expensive mistake to make.
Here are a few tips to help you avoid a fine.
- Always take a moment to read the information given on a ticket machine and on the signs in the parking area
- Double-check your details at the ticket machine when entering your registration number
- If paying using a mobile app, make sure your registration number and the location number are entered correctly
- When placing a ticket in your vehicle, make sure the ticket is the right way up and in clear view
- Don’t park in bays designated for other drivers, such as taxi ranks and bus stops
- Park entirely within a marked bay
More discussions about PCNs and your rights!
Know your rights when dealing with or appealing against Penalty Charge Notices.
Our team have answered other PCN questions frequently asked by UK motorists and can tell you where to find legal advice for parking fines.
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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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