Should You Pay Or Appeal A PCN In Lewisham?
One can appeal a PCN in Lewisham only if they are sure of not being liable to pay the fine and have proof to support their appeal. While the aim of this blog post is to discuss whether you should pay or appeal a PCN in Lewisham, we will also assess the consequences of not paying a PCN, how many days you have to pay a PCN and the modes of payment.
Should You Pay Or Appeal A PCN In Lewisham?
According to the Traffic Management Act 2004, a vehicle’s registered owner is bound to pay the Penalty Charge Notice issued by the local council in the case of a parking or traffic contravention.
If you are in Lewisham Council, this payment can be made online by accessing the council’s portal and adding one’s Vehicle Registration Number and PCN number. You can also make this payment by calling the automated telephone line of the council.
On the other hand, if you believe that you’ve been fined in error and should not be held liable to pay the fine, you can challenge the PCN by appealing against the fine. This can also be done online; however, if one intends to challenge a PCN, they should not pay the fine until the appeal process is complete and a decision is made against their appeal.
There are three stages to the appeal process. This includes the following:
- objection/challenge a PCN
- representation
- appeal
If your appeal is made within 14 days of being issued a PCN, the Lewisham council authorities will put your payment on hold while your appeal is in process.
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.
How Do You Appeal Against A Lewisham PCN?
You can appeal and re-appeal against a PCN at different stages of the PCN process and until you pay the fine.
In the first stage when the PCN is handed over to the driver or posted on the car windscreen, you have 14 days to avail a 50% discount if you pay the PCN and 28 days to pay the fine in full. You can make an “informal challenge” against the PCN by not paying the fine and contacting the council office that issued the PCN. This contact should ideally be made after 24 hours of being issued a PCN and within the 28-day limit for payment of the fine. You may be required to provide evidence in support of your challenge.
If the council accepts your claim, the PCN will be waived off and you will not have to make any payment. However, if the council rejects your challenge, a new PCN will be issued with another 14-day discount offered. This time, you will be issued a “notice to owner” (NTO). If you wish to pursue your appeal, you can do so by issuing a “formal representation” in response to the NTO.
If the formal representation is rejected by the council, the NTO recipient will then be informed to appear before an independent adjudicator at the Traffic Penalty Tribunal as the process goes into the next stage.
You can appeal to the independent adjudicator as a last attempt to challenge the PCN. If your appeal is accepted, the PCN is waived off and the matter is dismissed. However, if your appeal is rejected, there is no more room to appeal and you will have to make the payment within the next 28 days.
Do You Have To Pay A PCN In Lewisham?
Yes, you have to pay a PCN in Lewisham if you are found to be in violation of traffic or parking rules. Some of these include the following:
- a valid ticket or permit not displayed
- you do not have a virtual parking permit
- the maximum period of stay has been exceeded
- your vehicle is parked on a yellow line during restricted times
- the vehicle is parked on the pavement
- the vehicle is not parked wholly in a bay
- you have parked in a bay when it has been suspended
Unless you’ve been fined in error and you have evidence to support an appeal against a Penalty Charge Notice, you will have to pay a PCN.
If you avoid paying a PCN and do not challenge it as well, you may have to deal with legal action as part of the response taken by the council authorities for an unpaid PCN.
What Happens If You Don’t Pay A PCN In Lewisham?
If you do not pay your PCN within 28 days, you will be issued a charge certificate after which you will have 14 days to clear your dues. If you fail to do so, an additional amount of 50 per cent will be added to your PCN charges.
How a PCN payment works is that once a penalty charge notice is issued by council authorities, you will have 28 days to make the payment. In case the amount is paid within 14 days, you may even get a 50 per cent discount on the fine.
If your PCN is more than 60 days old, you have been issued an ‘Order for Recovery of Unpaid Penalty Charge Notice’ more than 21 days ago or you’ve been issued a bailiff’s letter, you will not be able to make an online payment to clear your PCN charges. In this case, you may have to pay through cheque, postal order or in person at the council post office.
Can You Avoid Paying A PCN In Lewisham?
No, you cannot avoid paying a PCN; unless you have been fined in error and intend to challenge the fine before the due date. In case you appeal against a PCN and your claim is rejected, you will then have to pay the charges.
PCN payments are mandatory and deliberately caused dues can be responded to with legal action by the authorities.
How Do You Pay A PCN In Lewisham?
You can pay your Parking Charge Notice (PCN) or parking fine in one of the following ways:
- cash
- cheque
- credit card
- debit card
- postal order
In case of payment through cheque, you are advised to write your PCN number on the reverse side of the cheque. In the case of postal orders, cash should not be sent through the post.
In case you choose to make an online payment through the council’s website, you will need to use a debit card or credit card to make the payment.
Conclusion:
Whether your choose to pay or appeal against a PCN in Lewisham will depend on your circumstances. If you have an unpaid PCN without appropriate evidence to prove that you are not liable to pay it, it is best to pay the PCN; ideally within the first 14 days to get a 50% discount. If you wish to pursue the PCN with a challenge, you should have evidence to support your claim.
FAQs: Should You Pay Or Appeal A PCN In Lewisham?
How much is Lewisham’s parking ticket?
A parking ticket in Lewisham can range between £70 to £130.
How do I pay for my Lewisham parking ticket?
You can pay for your Lewisham parkin ticket online using a debit or credit card. Otherwise, you can also pay by calling the council office on 020 8787 5397 or by sending a cheque through the post.
How do I contact Lewisham Council?
You can contact Lewisham Council by calling them on 0800 028 2 028 or sending an email to enquiries@lewishamhomes.org.uk
Where can I park for free in Lewisham?
Free on-street parking in Lewisham is available at the below-listed spots:
- Lewisham Central
- Grove Park
- Rushey Green West
- Murillo Road
- Elverson
- Hither Green West
- Canadian Avenue
- Catford West
Is there disabled parking at Lewisham Hospital?
Yes, there are 18 disabled parking spots at Lewisham Hospital. Blue Badge holders should register at the main register and park for up to four hours.
References:
Pay, view evidence or challenge a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN)