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How Can I Challenge an NSL PCN?

By HuutiMoney
Page last updated: 02/27/2023 | Next review date: 02/27/2025
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This blog serves to answer the question “How Can I Challenge an NSL PCN?” Your NSL PCN challenge aims to either convince the parking management firm that the traffic violation never occurred or that it happened due to your mitigating circumstances. You have to attach authentic evidence material from the traffic violation scene in order to prove your case to Royal Parks Ltd, whether you mention that the traffic violation didn’t happen or otherwise.

How Can I Challenge an NSL PCN?

You can challenge an NSL PCN by filling out the online formal representation form on the Royal Parks Ltd website or by writing a formal representation on the reverse of your “Notice to Owner” document and sending it in to the Royal Parks Processing address.

You are required to take into account the contravention code on your PCN while deciding on the kind of evidence to use with your PCN challenge. This is because a PCN which relates to parking your vehicle for a time limit that exceeds your parking permit will require evidence in the form of a copy of your parking permit used that day (and perhaps a video to show how you did actually remove your vehicle from its designated parking space within the required time).

A PCN that relates to not parking your vehicle properly inside the markings of its designated parking space will require you to show photographs or video evidence to contradict the perspective put forward by the Royal Parks management. You can (regularly) record video clips of your vehicle moving inside Royal Parks parking lots and focus on it being properly parked in the designated parking space.

A PCN that relates to your vehicle being parked for a purpose that the Royal Parks Ltd car park is not meant for will also require video evidence and some kind of identification relating to your trip there (for instance a hotel stay requires a booking). You can add the video clip to your challenge which shows that you actually parked inside the Royal Parks Ltd parking space with the intention of using a nearby facility. 

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 the procedure for appealing against an NSL PCN?

You can submit a formal representation to your NSL PCN by writing a letter addressed to Royal Parks Ltd or by filling in the online formal representation form on the Royal Parks Ltd website..

You need to brainstorm reasons to challenge an NSL PCN from the day of your parking violation incident and list them down in word processing software or on paper. It is essential to have some authentic evidence to attach with your Parking PCN appeal in the form of video footage of your actions inside the car park or videos of you parking your vehicle within the marking of your parking space. You can make sure to record these each time you visit a Royal Parks Ltd run car park to have some evidence for challenging a future PCN. You need to save scanned copies of your medical certificates explaining your mitigating circumstances, or scanned copies of your pay and display tickets used at Royal Parks managed car parks. 

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 Royal Parks Ltd. You need to visit the Royal Parks Ltd website to submit a formal representation to your PCN. On this webpage, you need to enter your Parking Charge Reference Number and your Vehicle Registration Number.

After this you just 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 Royal Parks Ltd 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 Royal Parks Ltd run car parks (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 NSL PCN challenge is by mail. You can write down a formal representation on the Notice to Owner document 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:

Royal Parks Processing,

PO Box 196,

Sheffield,

S98 1LX

Royal Parks Limited will respond to your PCN appeal and your PCN will be cancelled or you will be sent a Notice of Rejection or Representations, which needs to be received promptly in order to contest the notice with the Parking on Private Land Appeals service..

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. Traffic contraventions are observed by CCTV cameras and Civil Enforcement Officers 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, your unpaid PCN amount will be registered as debt at the Traffic Enforcement Centre at the Northampton County Court.

Which parking contravention codes are enforced in Royal Parks Ltd’s car parks?

The following parking contravention codes are enforced in Royal Parks Ltd’s car parks:

  • Contravention Code 71 parked within an electric vehicle’s charging space without being charged (in restricted hours)
  • Contravention Code 73 parked without paying the required parking charge.  (with a 10-minute observation time)
  • Contravention Code 80 parked in a parking space for a duration longer than that allowed by the car park.  (with a 10-minute observation time)
  • Contravention Code 82 parked after the expiry of the time limit mentioned on the parking permit or pay and display ticket (with a 10-minute observation time)
  • Contravention code 83. Parked in a Royal Parks car park without clearly showing the parking permit or pay and display ticket on its windscreen  (with a 10-minute observation time)
  • Contravention code 84. Parked in a Royal Parks car park with payment made to extend(parking) beyond the original time limit first paid for. You can only buy parking for your vehicle once when you bring your vehicle to the Royal Parks car park and this amount (time duration) should be enough for your visit.
  • Contravention code 86. A vehicle that is shown not to be clearly parked within its designated parking space.
  • Contravention code 90. A vehicle that has been reparked within the same car park within one hour of leaving the zone
  • Contravention code 93. A vehicle has been left parked inside a car park, while the Royal Parks car park was closed.
  • Contravention code 94. A vehicle that has been left parked inside a pay-and-display car park without properly displaying 2 pay and display tickets where required.
  • Contravention code 95. A vehicle that has been left parked within a Royal Parks parking zone for a different purpose than that which the car park is meant for.
  • Contravention code 96. A vehicle that has been left parked in a Royal Parks car park with its engine on (where prohibited)

How Can I Pay An NSL PCN fine?

It is best to make your NSL PCN fine payment online on the Royal Parks website using Visa Card, Master Card, Direct Debit or Maestro Card. This method saves time and is also more precise. 

You need to enter your PCN Charge Number and your vehicle registration number after opening this webpage to pay your NSL PCN by using a credit card..To complete your fine submission online you also have to enter your payment card details in the next window after clicking “Search” You must remember to wait for 24 hours after your PCN is issued before attempting to pay it.

But if you want to pay by post you need to attach a check or postal order payable to “The Royal Parks” and send it to this address:

Royal Parks Processing,

PO Box 196,

Sheffield,

S98 1LX

You should remember to write down your NSL PCN number (12 digit reference number) and Vehicle Registration Number on the back of your check or postal order.

Your NSL PCN fine is also payable by telephone. You need to dial the following number to connect to The Royal Parks Ltd payments system: 0343 2082 089. Next, you need to enter your payment card details on the call as well as your card’s billing address. Your vehicle registration number and NSL PCN number are also needed to complete your payment. This automated payments hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

What happens if I don’t pay my NSL PCN within 28 days?

You should not consider a private car park PCN any less than a regular PCN issued by your local council. The higher level parking contravention codes enforced by the Royal Parks Ltd make you legally bound to respect them while using the company’s parking zones.

If you neither pay your NSL Parking PCN within 28 days nor decide to appeal against it, you will be sent a letter from the car park company to pay your PCN in full within 14 days. If you donot pay the PCN within the next 14 days, your (nonpayment) case will be passed on to Enforcement agents or Bailiffs. Your actions will also result in the filing of a court order (for recovery of debts) against you by Royal Parks Ltd.

Your unpaid Parking PCN 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 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 my Notice of Rejection with POPLA if Royal Parks Ltd dismisses my appeal?

You can dispute your Notice of Rejection of Representations from Royal Parks Ltd with the Parking on Private Land Appeals service (POPLA). Your challenge can be sent in 2 different ways, the first method is to download the POPLA Appeals Form, print it out and send it to the Parking On Private Land Appeals service postal address:

POPLA,

PO Box 1270,

Warrington,

WA4 9RL

The letter must mention the 10 digit reference number contained in your Notice of Rejection from Royal Parks Ltd. You need to remember that the appeal to POPLA is just like a regular Parking PCN challenge. You can upload evidence such as video clips of your traffic violation scenes (taken from inside your vehicle), medical certificates from a certified General Practitioner, and scanned copies of “pay and display” tickets.

The evidence is necessary to convince the Parking on Private Land Appeals service that you did not breach the relevant Parking contravention code. You should preferably memorise all these codes before using car parks run by Royal Parks Ltd, so that you know how to challenge a PCN and can do your best to avoid getting one.

If you have mentioned mitigating circumstances in your POPLA appeal, you must be able to explain the cause and effect relationship between the condition which led you to commit the traffic violation (such as leaving your vehicle parked for an extended period of time owing to a medical emergency). The evidence material to be sent with your written representation needs to be a document or photographs from the scene of the incident. You can convert a video clip into photographs by using a video player or video editing software by simply taking snapshots of the relevant frames showing your claim.

A first class mail letter takes between 1 to 2 days to reach POPLA and second class mail takes between 3 to 5 days. So you need to send in your challenge by the 20th day at the latest for it to be considered side by side with the Royal Parks Ltd legal proposition.

You also need to remember that you must submit a challenge to your Notice of Rejection from Royal Parks Ltd to POPLA within 28 days of receiving your Notice of Rejection. If your letter doesnt reach POPLA within 28 days, your hard work and time invested into creating the challenge will be wasted and so will the evidence you have sent with your letter. 

How can I submit my challenge to the Notice of Rejection of Representations from Royal Parks Ltd by using the online form?

In order to submit your challenge to the Notice of Rejection of Representations from Royal Parks Ltd online, you need to visit the POPLA website. On this page you need to first agree to the terms and tick each one off and enter your 10 digit verification number stated on the Notice of Rejection from Royal Parks Ltd. You need to click on “I Confirm that the operator is correct” and click on “Start Appeal” after that. On the next page you will be asked for your NSL Parking PCN Number, your Vehicle Registration Number, the reasons for your challenge and the evidence material to support your case (which can be uploaded onto the POPLA system).

Here you can easily attach evidence material such as video clips and scanned copies of your medical certificates (for supporting your mitigating circumstances) through your computer. It is also an advantage to be able to first edit the text of your formal representation in a word processing software and then transfer it onto the online appeals form on the POPLA website. A better worded parking contravention challenge which mentions the legal technicalities stated in the Road Traffic Act 1988 or the Traffic Management Act 2004 regarding your parking contravention code to put forward your challenge will be considered as a strong formal representation.

The evidence attached with your challenge should also be correctly matched with the grounds of your appeal and not seem out of place. The document or video clip needs to clearly prove your mitigating circumstances or show that the traffic contravention didn’t occur, and convince POPLA to accept your evidence over that provided by Royal Parks Ltd.

Once POPLA is satisfied that Royal Parks Ltd’s case has been refuted outright by your representation of the matter, the adjudicator (or assessor) of your case will probably make the final decision in your case.

This decision will be sent to both you and to Royal Parks Ltd via email simultaneously. If the decision by POPLA is made in your favour the NSL PCN will immediately be cancelled.

If your appeal is rejected by Parking on Private Land Appeals service, you will have to pay the fine within the next 28 days to avoid your case being taken to the debt collection stage by Royal Parks Ltd.

At POPLA “assessors” or adjudicators of your case will make their final decision based on :

  • The act of legislation your case (traffic contravention) refers to such as the Traffic Management Act 2004
  • The Code of Practice used by The British Parking Association
  • The articles of evidence put forward by Royal Parks Ltd and you which are representing opposing viewpoints of the situation.

Conclusion

This blog post addressed the question “How Can I Challenge an NSL PCN?” You must ensure that your case relies on using authentic information and portrays events as they occurred in real time on the day of your traffic violation. The formal representation which you write down after weeks of practice will be much better than a haphazard or generalized appeal written in haste and with little knowledge of the enforced contravention code.