This blog serves to answer the question “How Can I Challenge A Hillingdon PCN?” Evidence to be attached with your Hillingdon PCN challenge needs to be created by recording videos of your road journeys in the London Borough of Hillingdon and by getting any serious medical condition (you might be suffering from) diagnosed by a certified General Practitioner. Only genuine mitigating circumstances which affect your driving actions to the point where you cannot control your vehicle or are forced to abandon the vehicle can be considered for challenging a Hillingdon PCN.

How Can I Challenge A Hillingdon PCN?

You need to ascertain whether your Penalty Charge Notice was issued as a result of any special circumstances affecting your driving actions at the traffic violation scene or whether the contravention did not take place at all. The third possible reason cannot be used as a reason for your formal representation which would be that you had forgotten about the traffic sign or restriction in place and ended up breaching the Parking, Bus Lane or Moving Traffic contravention without making any effort to avoid it.

So you must be aware and focused on all the traffic restrictions regulating your movements across the streets and parking zones of the London Borough of Hillingdon. This can be accomplished by creating a mental map of all the locations you regularly drive through and matching the landmark buildings or roads with the relevant contravention code enforced there. Traffic signs can sometimes be missed or ignored as your mind may not be fully alert or focused on other matters and consciously remembering the contravention code in your head each time you visit the location can help to minimize chaces of ending up with a PCN (which was a result of forgetfulness).

Evidence which can be attached to show that a traffic contravention didn’t occur usually will only include photographs and video footage from the traffic violation scene. These need to clearly contradict the CCTV evidence provided by the Hillingdon Council in order to convince them to cancel your PCN. Other evidence material includes medical certificates from your doctor as proof of a serious health condition or disease whose symptoms led to the traffic contravention that day. These certificates should be dated from a week or so before you were served the Penalty Charge Notice and the illness should be serious enough to prevent you from properly driving your vehicle.

In many cases, PCNs are not enforceable and you may be able to win your case and avoid having to pay your fine.

You could begin the process by speaking to an online solicitor for as little as £5.

What is a Penalty Charge Notice?

A Penalty Charge Notice is a monetary penalty issued to drivers or motorists for committing certain traffic contraventions including violating Parking, Bus Lane and Moving Traffic restrictions. A PCN is issued for failing to follow Parking zone, bus lane enforcement and moving traffic restrictions mentioned in the Road Traffic Act 1984 and the Traffic Management Act 2004.

A penalty charge notice can be handed to you by a Civil Enforcement Officer or dispatched to your (DVLA) residential address by post. CCTV cameras and Civil Enforcement Officers observe traffic contraventions before a violation is detected and the vehicle is charged with a PCN.

A PCN might also be issued for failing to pay road charges on time. You have 28 days to decide how and if you would like to challenge your Penalty Charge Notice. After 28 days if you have neither paid nor challenged your PCN, you will be sent a charge certificate from Transport for London.

If you don’t challenge a PCN, you should pay the fine within 28 days, otherwise, its amount will increase by 50%. A £130 PCN will be worth £195 if you pay it in the 14 days after receiving your charge certificate.

What is the procedure for appealing against a Hillingdon PCN?

You can submit a formal representation to your Hillingdon PCN by writing a letter addressed to the London Borough of Hillingdon or by filling in the online formal representation form on the website..

You need to brainstorm reasons to challenge a Hillingdon PCN from the day of the incident and list them down in word processing software or on paper. It is essential to have some authentic evidence to attach with your PCN appeal in the form of video footage of the traffic violation, medical certificates explaining your mitigating circumstances, or pay and display tickets.

The evidence must be matched with the grounds for your appeal before describing the incident from your point of view. Your rough formal representation can be edited for clarity multiple times before it is ready to attach to your online appeal to the London Borough of Hillingdon Council. You need to visit the London Borough of Hillingdon website and click on “Challenge A PCN Online”. You will be redirected to Hillingdon Apcoa Parking to enter your PCN number and your Vehicle Registration Number for submitting a formal representation to your PCN. You need to click on “Search” to view your PCN details before filling in the online appeals form.

It is essential to upload authentic evidence material with your PCN challenge to describe your mitigating circumstances to the Hillingdon Council and for explaining your point of view of the events which took place at the traffic violation scene. The text of your appeal must state the relevant contravention code on your PCN and explain how you attempted to avoid the error (supported by photos or video footage).

Once you have proofread your appeal to eliminate any reasons for your challenge which might convey a disregard for traffic contravention codes enforced in the London Borough of Hillingdon by mixing up the contraventions) or reasons which involve forgetfulness to justify your actions, you can submit the formal representation.

Another way to send in your Hillingdon PCN challenge is by mail. You can write down a formal representation on paper and attach evidence documents or photographs to the form using a stapler or paper clip. Your letter should mention your PCN number, date of issue of the PCN, your vehicle registration number, and personal details.

Your PCN appeals form and all accompanying evidence documents (enclosed in an envelope) need to be sent to:

Parking Appeals and Processing,

PO Box 1180,

Uxbridge,

UB8 9DH

Which moving traffic contravention codes are enforced in the London Borough of Hillingdon?

The following moving traffic contravention codes are enforced in the London Borough of Hillingdon:

Code 31 Entering and stopping your vehicle inside a box junction or preventing vehicles behind you from moving out of a box junction. A vehicle may pause at a box junction for a certain period of time in order to make a right turn at the traffic signal.

Code 32 (Left turn) Failing to steer your vehicle or guide your vehicle in the direction of an arrow shown inside a blue-colored sign.

Code 32 ( Left turn ahead) Failing to slow your vehicle or steer it correctly into the approaching sharp left turn on the road. This direction is displayed on a traffic sign by a (left curved) white arrow enclosed in a blue-colored sign.

Code 32 (One-way traffic) Failing to drive on the correct side of the road or approaching the (one-way) lane from the opposite side. This traffic sign is indicated by an upward pointing white arrow enclosed in a blue-colored sign.

Code 33 (Using a street or road where restrictions are in place) Failing to adhere to the restrictions on vehicles entering a bus and cycle (only) lane. This traffic sign is indicated by a depiction of a bus and a cycle above it.

Code 33 (Using a street or road where restrictions are in place)) Failing to adhere to the restrictions on vehicles entering a tramcar-only road or street. This traffic sign shows a depiction of a tramcar, enclosed in a blue-colored sign.

Code 37 is applied to charge vehicles for failing to leave a space for vehicles moving in the opposite direction. The sign indicates a priority to be given to vehicles from the other direction on the road which means slowing down and keeping your car aligned to the left side of the road. The road sign shows a larger black-colored arrow pointing downwards to the right of a smaller red-colored arrow pointing upwards.

Code 37 (Giving way to oncoming vehicles) indicates drivers give way to vehicles moving in the opposite direction. The road sign for the contravention has the following sentence printed in black “Give way to oncoming vehicles”

Code 38 indicates drivers to keep their vehicles on the left or right side of the road. This moving traffic contravention is indicated by a downward pointing arrow tilted toward the left side or a downward pointing arrow tilted toward the right side.

Code 50 (Making a banned turn) This contravention code indicates no right turn for vehicular traffic. The road sign for the traffic contravention is shown by a red prohibition symbol on a right-curved black arrow

Code 50 (Making a banned turn) This contravention code indicates no left turn fpr vehicular traffic. The road sign for the traffic contravention is indicated by a red prohibition symbol on a left curved black arrow.

Code 50 (Making a banned turn) This contravention code indicates the prohibition of a U-turn at the location. The road sign for this traffic contravention displays a red prohibition symbol on an (n-shaped) arrow which shows a vehicle making a u-turn.

Code 51 ( Not following a no entry sign) This contravention code indicates the breach of a no entry sign.

Code 52 (Using a street or road where restrictions are in place) Failing to adhere to the restrictions on vehicles entering a lane only used by non-mechanically propelled vehicles used by pedestrians. This traffic sign is indicated by a red colored circle.

Code 52 (Using a street or road where restrictions are in place) Failing to adhere to the restrictions on motor vehicles entering a certain street. This traffic sign is indicated by the depiction of a motorbike above a car.

Code 52 (Using a street or road where restrictions are in place)) Failing to adhere to the restrictions on all motor vehicles except solo motorcycles. This traffic sign is indicated by the depiction of a car.

Code 52 (Using a street or road where restrictions are in place) Failing to adhere to the restrictions on all motor vehicles except cars. This traffic sign is indicated by the depiction of a motorcycle.

Code 52 (Using a restricted street or road) Failing to adhere to the restrictions on goods vehicles exceeding the maximum weight limit.. This traffic sign is indicated by the depiction of a goods vehicle with the weight limit, in tonnes stated inside the vehicle symbol

Code 53 (Using a street or road where restrictions are in place) Failing to adhere to the restrictions on vehicles entering a pedestrian-only lane. This traffic sign is indicated by a sign displaying the words “Pedestrian Zone” above a circle containing a motorcycle and a car the days for the Pedestrian Zone restrictions to be applicable are stated under the sign. There are specific operational hours for loading vehicles under these restrictions stated under the sign.

How Can I Pay my Hillingdon PCN fine?

You can pay your Hillingdon PCN on the online payments page, by sending a check or postal order through the mail or by calling the London Borough of Hillingdon’s automated payments hotline.

If you choose to make your PCN fine payment online, you should visit the London Borough of Hillingdon Apcoa payments website. On this page you can enter your PCN number to initiate your PCN fine payment. In the next step of paying your PCN, you need to enter your payment card details to complete the online payment process. The London Borough of Hillingdon accepts Visa, Mastercard, Maestro Card and Delta Card for PCN payments.

You might want to call the London Borough of Hillingdon’s automated payments hotline. For this you have to call on 03300 571 889. On the call you will need to enter your PCN number and your payment card details. You can use the * key to enter the letters in your PCN number. This payment hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You should wait to receive a confirmation code for your PCN payment before ending the call.

You can also pay your Hillingdon PCN by sending a check or postal order payable to “London Borough of Hillingdon”. You also need to attach the payment slip in your “Notice To Owner” document to this payment. The check or postal order should have your PCN number and Vehicle Registration Number written at the back. This payment needs to be sent to:

Hillingdon Council,

Parking Services,

PO Box 1180,

Uxbridge,

UB8 9DH

How much is the PCN fine for each of the 3 kinds of PCNs served in the “London Borough of Hillingdon”?

The 3 kinds of PCNs served in the “London Borough of Hillingdon” are a Parking PCN, a Bus Lane PCN, and a Moving Traffic PCN. A lower level parking PCN fine is £50 lesser than a higher level parking PCN, at £60.

The Penalty Charge Notice fine for a Hillingdon Council Parking PCN is set at £110 for a higher level traffic violation and £60 for a lower level traffic violation. A 50% discount applies to early payment so If you pay your higher level parking PCN within 14 days, you just have to pay £55. Similarly, if you pay your lower level parking PCN within 21 days, you just have to pay £30.

If you pay a Bus Lane PCN within 28 days, you will be charged £130 and if you pay it within 21 days, you just have to pay £65. The PCN fine for a moving traffic PCN in the “London Borough of Hillingdon” is £130. There is a 50% discount for paying it within 14 days, which reduces the fine to £65.

What will happen if I don’t pay my Hillingdon PCN within the 28-day limit?

You should not ignore traffic contraventions or the Penalty Charge Notices resulting from them or cultivate a careless attitude towards driving in the London Borough of Hillingdon. As per your driving license rules, you are bound to abide by Parking, Bus Lane, and Moving Traffic contravention codes in the London Borough of Hillingdon.

If you neither pay your Hillingdon PCN within 28 days nor decide to appeal against it, you will be sent a charge certificate from Transport for London. The charge certificate increases your PCN fine by 50%, which means you will be paying £195 now. You should pay the charge certificate within 14 days as it cannot be appealed and ignoring the charge certificate may result in the filing of a court order (for recovery of debts) against you by the London Borough of Hillingdon..

You will be sent a “Notice of Debt Registration” and a witness certificate from Transport for Londonl, if you don’t pay the charge certificate amount within 14 days. The unpaid amount will be treated as a debt with the Traffic Enforcement Centre at the Northampton County Court.

The court order for debt recovery enforces that the charge certificate amount must be paid in full within 21 days or the county court will have to use additional powers to recover the money from your possession which means employing Enforcement Agents to (contact you or) visit your personal premises.

Can I dispute a Hillingdon PCN with the London Tribunals if the council dismisses my appeal?

Yes, you can dispute a Hillingdon PCN with the Traffic Adjudicators at London Tribunals within 28 days of getting your “Notice of Rejection of Representations” from the council. You have to fill in the form provided to you with the Notice of Rejection and mail it to this postal address:

London Tribunals,

PO Box 10598,

Nottingham,

NG6 6DR

You can also choose to dispute the “Notice of Rejection” from your council with the London Tribunals online by clicking on the “Access the Appellants Portal” button on this webpage. All you will be required to do is simply enter your Vehicle Registration Number, PCN number, and the reference number or code from your “Notice of Rejection of Representations” letter.

You can attach copies of evidence documents online to back up your appeal against the decision of the London Borough of Hillingdon. Such evidence may also include a signed and dated written statement describing what happened on the scene according to the viewpoint of a bystander.

London Tribunals will notify both you and Hillingdon Council of the hearing date. If the London Borough of Hillingdon contests your appeal, it will provide you with a copy of its application along with the evidence sent by it to the Traffic Adjudicators at London Tribunals. In case the independent parking and traffic adjudicator decides the case in your favour, the London Borough of Hillingdon will promptly withdraw the PCN.

If the PCN is cancelled at this stage, you will have to pay nothing. If the London Tribunals decide the case in the council’s favour, you will be given another 28 days to pay the PCN fine.

Conclusion

This blog post addressed the question “How Can I Challenge A Hillingdon PCN?” In order to send in a strong PCN appeal you must have evidence relating to your traffic violation in the form of photographs taken at the scene (which you will have if you regularly film your road trips) or proof of your mitigating circumstances such as a medical certificate describing a serious health condition. You should not be disheartened if a well-formulated appeal is rejected by the London Borough Of Hillingdon as you can dispute the “Notice of Rejection” at the Traffic Penalty Tribunal by creating another appeal.

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How Can I Challenge A Hillingdon PCN?